CLEARANCE FROM SCHOOL

Only the legal parent or guardian, with identification, may withdraw a student from school. When clearing a student, parents must provide a change of address, as appropriate, and name of the new school. Students are responsible for returning all textbooks and/or equipment in order to receive clearance. Grades at the time of withdrawal are not considered final grades. Students and their parents should check with the counselor concerning the transfer of student’s grades prior to clearance.

ATTENDNACE POLICY

Regular attendance and class participation are an integral part of our students’ learning experience and together determine student success. Morningside High School is committed to promoting model attendance habits. A student is tardy when he/she is less than 30 minutes tardy to a single scheduled class period. A student is absent when he/she is more than 30 minutes tardy or is not present during a scheduled class period. A student is truant when he/she is absent from class without school and parent/guardian knowledge or permission, or when he/she leaves class or school campus without permission before the class or school day is officially over. All unverified absences will be considered truant after 3 school days. Excessive absences will result in failing grades and loss of credit. Students who fall into this pattern often become discouraged and have a difficult time graduating. In an effort to instill good attendance habits in our students, Morningside High School has established the following policies:

  1. CLASSIFICATION OF ABSENCES

Excused Absences:

  • Illness
  • Doctor/Dentist Appointment
  • Bereavement for immediate family (1 Day in state; 3 days out of state)
  • Exclusion for required immunizations
  • Court appearance
  • Religious holiday/activity
  • Family emergency

Unexcused Absences:

An unexcused absence is an absence without a valid excuse. The following are not valid excuses: overslept, alarm failed, missed ride/bus, flat tire, car out of gas, car trouble, nothing to wear, etc.

  1. UNEXCUSED ABSENCE POLICY

First and Second Unexcused Absences:

If an excused readmit is not given by the student within two days from absence, the teacher will:

  • Use the symbol sheet to mark the student unexcused.
  • Automated system will generate a phone call to the parent of legal guardian informing of the absence.
  • Notification will be given to student to attend Saturday School

Third Unexcused Absence

  • The teacher will fill out an unexcused absence referral form and forward it to the appropriate counselor.
  • The counselor will contact the student’s parent/s.
  • Counselor will set up Student Attendance Review Team (SART) meeting with parent/s and student to review attendance and sign SART contract.

Fourth Unexcused Absence

  • Per Education Code 48260, the student is now considered a truant.
  • The teacher will fill out an unexcused absence referral form and forward it to the appropriate counselor.
  • The counselor will notify the attendance office that the student is now truant.
  • The counselor will complete the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) referral, submit to the Child Welfare and Attendance office for SARB meeting with the Los Angeles County Juvenile District Attorney office.
  1. TRUANCY POLICY

Reports of Truants to the Attendance Supervisor

California Education Code 48260:

EC Section 48260 (a) A pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than a 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, shall be classified as a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor or to the superintendent of the school district.

Parent Notification

 California Education Code 48260.5: Upon a pupil’s initial classification as a truant, the school district shall notify the pupil’s parent or guardian, by using the most cost-effective method possible, which may include electronic mail or a telephone call: (a) That the pupil is a truant.  (b) That the parent or guardian is obligated to compel the attendance of the pupil at school.  (c) That parents or guardians who fail to meet this obligation may be guilty of an infraction and subject to prosecution.

(d) That alternative educational programs are available in the district.  (e) That the parent or guardian has the right to meet with appropriate school personnel to discuss solutions to the pupil’s truancy.  (f) That the pupil may be subject to prosecution under Section 48264.  (g) That the pupil may be subject to suspension, restriction, or delay of the pupil’s driving privilege pursuant to Section 13202.7 of the Vehicle Code.  (h) That it is recommended the parent or guardian accompany the pupil to school and attend classes with the pupil for one day.

School Attendance Review Team Referral

Upon notification of truancy the counselors or Assistant Principal of attendance will review the student’s attendance and notify the parent/guardian of a SART meeting that they must attend. The student and parent must sign a School Attendance Review Team Contractual Agreement. The attendance office will make a 30, 60, 90-day report to monitor positive/negative attendance of the student. The Assistant Principal shall report the failure to follow these directives to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) for possible legal action.

School Attendance Review Board

California Education Code 48263:If any minor pupil in any district of a county is an habitual truant, or is irregular in attendance at school, as defined in this article, or is habitually insubordinate or disorderly during attendance at school, the pupil may be referred to a School Attendance Review Board (SARB). The supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance shall notify the minor and parents or guardian of the referral.

  1. TARDY POLICY

Regular, punctual attendance is essential for students to be successful at school. Morningside High School places a high importance on punctuality. Ant time a student is late to class, to avoid being picked-up in a campus tardy sweep; he/she will need a note or pass. If student arrives late to school, he/she must proceed to the lecture hall/attendance office for tardy processing conducted by counselors and assistant principal of attendance. At these locations students will be given. After a student’s 3rd tardy to school that student will began serving lunch time/afterschool detention.  If campus security or other staff members stop a student during class time and he/she is out of class without a pass, the student will be assigned lunch/after school detention and escorted back to their scheduled class to resume instruction. The consequences for being tardy are as follows:

First Tardy:

  1. Verbal Warning by classroom teacher/counselor/administrator

Second, Third, Fourth Tardy:

The teacher/counselor/administrator/attendance office

  1. Contact parent/s.
  2. Assign one (1) detention, to be held by administrator or counselor in lecture hall.
  3. Assignment of Saturday School
  4. Check to see if student served detention and update student discipline profile in AERIES student data system.

Fifth Tardy

The teacher will:

  1. Complete a Tardy Referral Form and forward it to the appropriate counselor. (The student will remain in class)

The counselor will:

  1. Summon the student from class and contact parent/s
  2. Mail letter home to parent’s regarding unexcused tardies.