Attendance Policy & Procedures

Pupils are required by State Law to attend school punctually and regularly. Regular school attendance has much to do with success at school. Students who are absent or tardy miss important instruction time and lab work. At Mile High, instruction occurs during the full 181 school days.

The number for the attendance line is 445-0906 and is available 24 hours a day.

Prescott Unified School District#1 Attendance Policy J.2.6
Arizona's compulsory attendance laws require regular school attendance. Each student is expected to be in attendance every day that school is in session, except for illness or other unusual circumstances (ARS 15-321).

On the third unexcused absence and/or chronic absences, the school will notify the city attorney and the court will contact parents. The education of each student is the joint responsibility of the home and the school. Only through cooperation can the student be assured of receiving all educational advantages available. Student participation in class activities, listening to presentations, clarifications and explanations, and attendance at school assembly programs are considered integral parts of the educational program. It is impossible to gain the full significance of any class experience through make-up work.

Perfect Attendance Award
At the end of each school year, awards are given to students with perfect attendance. To receive such an award, a student must be in attendance every day that school is in session. Exceptions to this are:

-- School sponsored activities such as athletic and field trips.

-- Excused absence up to 16 class periods due to medical or dental appointments.

Student Absences
Parents are required to telephone the Attendance Office at 445-0906 the day of the absence. An answering machine is on 24 hours a day and will accept all calls. Students will be excused per the parent/legal guardian phone call. The call must include the parent's name, the student's name, the date(s) of the absence, and the reason for the absence. Those students who do not have a note or phone call from their parent will be unexcused.

Excused Absence:

-- Personal or family illness, medical or dental appointments usually preceded by communication with the school.

-- Trips which occur with the prior knowledge and approval of parents and school officials.

Truancy: Truancy is an absence that is intentional and a planned violation of state attendance laws (ARS 15-321). Absences not excused by a note or phone call within 24 hours will be considered a truancy and after the third unexcused absence, a letter is sent to the city attorney for legal action.

Late in the Morning
Students should go directly to class when they arrive late in the morning. After 8:15 a.m., students should go to the Attendance Office. Upon the 4th late arrival, excused or unexcused, the teacher should make parent contact. On the fifth late arrival and every one thereafter, the student will be referred to the office for disciplinary action. Lateness creates a disruption in classroom instruction for the teacher and students. We encourage parents to stress the importance of punctuality.

Leaving School
Mile High Middle School operates on a "closed campus policy." Students may not leave campus after being dropped off in the morning by district transportation or parents. Students may not leave campus for lunch unless checked out at the attendance office by a parent or guardian. If a student wishes to go to lunch with someone other than the parent, the parent must provide the school with written authorization for their child to leave with someone else.

-- If, for any reason, a student finds it necessary to leave during the school day, he/she must first obtain permission from the Attendance Office. Before school starts, students must bring a note from home stating the time, day, and reason for wanting to leave school early. Students are not permitted to leave campus unless they have first obtained a properly signed excuse from the attendance office. Students must check in with the Attendance Office upon return. If someone other than a parent or guardian is to pick up the student, written permission from the parent or guardian is required. Identification may be required of anyone signing out a student. Legally, Mile High cannot release without written permission from the parent.

-- A student who becomes ill at school must obtain permission from the nurse before leaving for home. If the nurse is not available, the student must see an administrator, counselor, or secretary.

-- There will be no exceptions to this procedure. If a student makes his/her own exception, he/she will be referred to the discipline office for corrective intervention. Parents will be notified of the student's disregard for this procedure. Leaving school or the campus without permission is classified as a truancy.

-- Parents are reminded not to ask to take a child's friend to lunch.

Tardiness
Tardiness creates a disruption in instruction for the teacher and other students. Students are encouraged to be punctual to class. Students are allowed five minutes between classes. This is ample time for all students to report to class. Each tardy requires a 15-minute after-school detention. Accumulation of four or more tardies will result in further disciplinary action. Continued tardies can result in poor academic achievement, parent conference, and in-school or out-of-school suspension. Students will be referred to the office on the fourth time tardy and each time thereafter during a semester.

Transfers/Withdrawals
Before a student withdraws or transfers, he/she should bring a note from home stating where he/she is moving and when. Parents are asked to send this note at least one day prior to withdrawal so that proper checking out procedures can be accomplished and all school property returned. In addition, in order for the student to be properly withdrawn from Mile High, the parent must still sign an official withdrawal slip.