Attendance FAQ
Do I need to send in a note when my student is late or just absent?
Anytime your student is late to school, other than a late bus, a note is appreciated. When you sign in on the check in log, you will write the reason for the tardy. If it was because of a doctor/dentist appointment, turn in the note the doctor/dentist office gave you. Any other reason, turn in a handwritten note. All tardy and/or absent notes must be received within 3 days of returning to school.
What does my note need to include?
Every note, whether tardy or absent, must include the following:
- Today’s date
- Student’s name
- Parent’s name
- The date(s) of absence(s)
- The reason for absence(s)
- Parent’s signature
Will my student’s absence(s) be excused?
All notes, whether provided by a doctor or handwritten by a parent/guardian, must be received by the Attendance Clerk, within 3 days of returning to school.
Handwritten notes are only accepted for 10 absences. If a parent/guardian has provided 10 days of handwritten excuses (not 10 letters but 10 absences), a doctor’s note is required for any subsequent absences.
Georgia State Board of education delineates excused absences for the following reasons:
• Personal illness or attendance in school endangers a student’s health or the health of others
• A serious illness or death in student’s immediate family necessitating absence from school
• A court order or an order by a governmental agency including pre-induction physical examination for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school
• Observing religious holidays, necessitating absence from school
• Serving as a page for the Georgia General Assembly (Students will be marked present)
• Local boards of education may allow a period not to exceed one day for registering to vote or voting in a public election
• Conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety
• Up to five school days when a parent is called to duty or on leave from a combat zone or a combat support posting
• Students in foster care who attend court proceedings related to their foster care (Students will be marked present)
• Up to two days per school year for a student who successfully participates in the Student Teen election Participant program (Students will be marked present)
What happens if the absence(s) are unexcused?
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Three (3) unexcused Absences
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A notification letter will be sent to parent(s)/guardian(s) reminding of possible penalties/consequences of absences, as well as explaining attendance expectations. The principal designated attendance designee and the school social worker will collaborate weekly to review data and ensure that letters have been generated and processed according to procedures.
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Five (5) unexcused Absences
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Principal designated attendance personnel will send a notification letter reminding parent(s)/guardian(s) of possible penalties/consequences of misdemeanor violation and requesting participation in Student Attendance committee (SAC) Meetings. The purpose of the meeting is to identify and implement strategies to deter continued absenteeism. The school may refer the family to the school social worker to assess the attendance problem, increase intensity of strategies, and/or refer to community agencies. Community agencies may include the Attendance Support center Saturday Sessions or other agencies to support student attendance.
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Ten (10) or more unexcused Absences (Truancy Protocol)
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Additional Student Attendance committee (SAC) meetings may take place, and appropriate referrals to clayton county child Student Team (Quad CST) may be initiated. The school system may refer the student and family to the clayton county Juvenile court if parent(s)/guardian(s) are noncompliant with attendance interventions or attendance does not improve after the student has accumulated ten
unexcused absences according to House Bill 242.
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How can I receive updates and notifications regarding my student?
The Infinite Campus Parent Portal allows you to access your student’s schedule, attendance, grades and school announcements. Please visit www.clayton.k12.ga.us/campus/portal/clayton.jsp
Adamson Middle School’s website is full of tools and resources to help keep you informed. Each teacher has a webpage on our site with information regarding their classes, assignments and reminders. You can also download attendance and other resources from our site. Visit http://019.clayton.k12.ga.us/
Who can I talk to about my student’s attendance record?
As the parent/legal guardian, you may contact April Salter, Attendance Clerk. Please come to the Counselor’s Office, call or email with questions or concerns you may have. 770-968-2925 ext. 2 or [email protected]