Webster County Schools

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Webster County Schools
Attendance Policy Overview
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School Assistance Team

• Acts as attendance committee
• Principal acts as attendance coordinator
• Resolves absence, tardy, and early departure
  issues
• Maintains records of all decisions
• Resolves issues relating to make-up work

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What constitutes a full day/half day of school?

• Full Day
• Present at least .74 of the school day

• Half Day
• Present at least .50 of the school day

Principal must approve all early departures,
regardless of age
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Excused Absences

• Illness
• Parent-3/5 total per year
• Drs excuse
• Death in immediate family
• Family illness
• Physician verification
• Calamity
• Fire, flood, family emergency
• Bus does not run

• Co/extra-curricular activities
• Verified legal obligations
• Medical/dental appointments
• Leave of educational value
• Prior principal approval
• 10 days max.

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Initial Referrals

• Initiated by any member of school system to the
  principal after 5th absence
• Principal must hold a meeting with the parent,
  guardian, or custodian after 5th cumulative
  absence each semester
• Determine reason for absence and develop a plan
  to improve attendance

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Incentive Programs

• Each school is required to develop an incentive
  program (LSIC?)

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Referrals to Attendance Director

• After five consecutive or ten total unexcused
  absences
• Required to serve written notice on parent,
  guardian, or custodian
• Parent has 10 days to respond
• Must notify principal of results of contact

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ViolationsChild Under 18

• First Offense
• Accompany child to school
• 60 day improvement period
• No jail confinement

• Second Offense
• Fined 50.00-100.00 prosecution costs
• Accompany child to school
• Jail confinement 5-20 days

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ViolationsStudent Over 18

• First Offense
• Misdemeanor
• Shall be fined 50-100
• Require to attend school
• May delay imposition of fine for 60 days after
  conviction if attends school

• Second Offense
• Required to remain in school until graduates or
  drops out
• Jail sentence of 5-20 days

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Drivers License

• Current Policy
• Enrolled in school
• Less than 10/15 unexcused absences

• After 9/15/08
• Enrolled in school
• Less than 10/15 unexcused absences
• Not suspended for a safe schools violation
• Making satisfactory academic progress (end of
  2008-09 year)

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McKinney Vento Act

• Education
• for
• Homeless Children and Youth

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Criterion for Designation

• Awaiting foster care
• In substandard housing (no electricity, no water,
  and/or no heat)
• With friends or family because child is a runaway
  or unaccompanied youth

• In a shelter
• In a motel, hotel, or weekly-rate housing
• In a house or apartment with more than one family
  because of economic hardship or loss
• In an abandoned building, a car, at a campground,
  or on the street

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Immediate Enrollment Without Documentation for
Homeless Youth

• Proof of residency
• School records
• Original birth certificate
• Legal guardianship papers
• Immunization records and/or a TB skin test
  result
• Homebound instruction provided for out of state
  students without this documentation

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Services Provided for Homeless Youth

• Continue to attend the school in which last
  enrolled
• Receive transportation from the current
  residence back to the school of origin
• Qualify automatically for Free and Reduced Meals
  
• Participate fully in all school activities and
  programs
• Receive assistance from the district liaison to
  resolve any disputes that arise during the
  enrollment process.

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Contact Information

• Susan Chericalo
• Phone [phone], ext. 122
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail ssmyers_at_access.k12.wv.us
• NAEHCY
• http//www.naehcy.org/
• NCHE
• www.serve.org/nche
• WVDE http//wvde.state.wv.us/osshp/section1/Resour
  cesforHomeless.htm