Attendance

School Attendance/Tardy Policies
The nature and design of an Expeditionary Learning school requires regular attendance. According to ARS 15-803, students are expected to attend school until their 16th birthday. Statutes establish that the parent/guardian is responsible for the child’s daily attendance and to inform the school of absences in a timely manner. It is impossible to gain the full benefit of any class experience through make-up work. “Absences may be considered excessive when the number of absent days exceeds ten percent of the number of required attendance days,” as stated in ARS 15-802. Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy allows a total of 14 absences, excused or unexcused, or four (4) unexcused absences per class per semester prior to losing credit for that class. When a student reaches five (5) unexcused
absences or a total of 15 of unexcused or excused in a class, they will lose credit.

Students have the right to:
Know how school policy defines and handles absences and tardies.
Ask that a penalty for an absence be reviewed.
Make-up work missed during an excused absence.

Students have the responsibility to:
Attend classes and be on time.
Ask parents/guardians to notify the school when absent within 24 hours of the absence occurring.
Ask teachers for, and complete, make-up assignments. This should be done in advance when possible.

Excused absences are defined as absences caused by illness, death in the family, medical or dental appointment, religious observance, and court appearance. The building administration determines whether the absence is excused or unexcused. Students are allowed to make-up work missed. However, due to the nature of some class activities, such as labs, presentations, or discussion, make-up work may not always be available and the work missed may reflect negatively on the grade. Excused absences count toward the 14 absences allowed each semester. Homework may be requested if the absence is longer than three (3) days. Planned absences should be discussed with teachers in advance so work can be prepared. The responsibility for learning falls upon the student with regards to attendance.

Unexcused absences (Truancy) are defined as absences that are unnecessary and avoidable. This type of absence includes, but is not limited to, absences not verified by a parent/guardian within 24 hours and leaving class without permission or leaving campus without checking out through the office. No make-up work is given and unexcused absences count toward the 14 absences allowed each semester. Students with five (5) unexcused absences in a class will receive no credit and ten (10) consecutive unexcused absences will result in withdrawal from school.

Some absences from class do not count toward the 15 absences, and make-up work is allowed. These are always arranged through the school office. Examples include: school sponsored opportunities such as field trips, athletic events, or other necessary activities and assigned in or out of school suspension.

Make-up Work:
For each excused absence, students will be allowed one day plus the number of days absent to turn in work or make-up tests. Students will be required to meet all due dates for work if the due date was announced prior to the absence. Work missed due to school sponsored activities should, whenever possible, be made up prior to the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with his/her teachers for make-up tests and any other assignments upon returning to class. Not all assignments can be recreated or pre-assigned due to their complexity. The nature and design of an Expeditionary Learning school requires regular attendance.

Attendance Procedures
For absences to be excused, a parent/guardian must call within 24 hours and state the reason. Notes will only be accepted from families without phones. Absences become unexcused if there has been no contact by 4:00 pm the day following the absence. Emancipated students are also required to call. Absences are included in the count when a student arrives to class late. Missing more than 15 minutes of any period results in an absence for that class period. Even MEDical absences or tardies can result in a loss of credit.

If a student is absent they are marked UNVerified until the parent provides a reason for the absence. It is then changed to ILLness, MEDical, PERsonal or UNX unexcused. If a student is truant it will read CUT.

Excessive absences will be reported to the Yavapai County Attorneys office for review.

Absences
Attendance calls are made daily for an unexcused absence. If you are marked absent by mistake, contact your teacher the next school day and have the absence corrected. Attendance is available online through In-Touch at www.prescottschools.com/northpoint. In the event that poor attendance becomes excessive, the student’s Crew Leader will make contact with the family. This staff member will also assist the office in preparing a letter to be mailed home when a student reaches 3 unexcused or a total of 8 absences, excused or unexcused, in a class in a semester. At 15 absences, the letter will notify the student of loss of credit and explain the appeal procedures.

Fifteen absences, excused or unexcused, will result in the loss of credit, an insufficient (I) for that class for the current semester. A score of I renders a student ineligible for activities. Students receiving an I at the time of the loss of credit will receive an I on their transcript. A student or parent/guardian may appeal the incomplete. Students under 16 years of age will be referred to the Yavapai County Attorney. Students are still required to attend class after losing credit, pending the outcome of the appeal, or face disciplinary consequences. Exceptions to the attendance procedures are at the discretion of the administration.

Appeal Procedure
A written request for an appeal, including rationale justifying the absences may be turned in to the school office. Appeal requests received by 4:00 pm on Friday will be scheduled for the next Thursday. Students are allowed one (1) appeal per semester. Appeals must be heard within one week of the semester ending.

Step 1- Pick up an appeal packet in the Attendance Office. A hearing will be scheduled no later than five (5) school days after the completed appeal packet is received. The committee is composed of the student’s Crew Leader, three to five teachers, and one administrator. A decision to grant or deny the appeal will be made on the day of the appeal.

Step 2- If the student or parent/guardian is not satisfied with the decision, they may appeal to the Director within five (5) school days of the Attendance Committee’s decision. A hearing will be scheduled with the Director within five (5) school days of the request. The decision of the Director is final.

Students entering Northpoint after the first day of school, who have not been enrolled in another school, will have those days added into their 15 days.

Tardy Policy/Procedure
Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy believes that all students can demonstrate one of the Discovery 6 P’s by being PROMPT to all classes. Bells will ring indicating that students are to be in the room. No “warning bells” are available, as we expect students to pass promptly between their classes.

Classroom tardies:
In the event that a student is tardy to class, the teacher will document that tardy in the school record keeping system per semester. This will reflect in a students HOW grade.

After three tardies (on the fourth tardy) the student will be referred to the office for a conference.

Consequences will be discussed and determined. If additional tardies are accrued referrals will include parent contact and alternative behavior plans.

Tardy to school/morning tardies:
Any student arriving after the starting bell must visit the office for a pass and the late arrival must be cleared by a parent by written notification, phone call or visit in person. Excessive morning tardies may result in review sessions, parent contact and referral to Yavapai County Attorney.

Any tardy that is in excess of 15 minutes is considered an absence. This applies also to arrival to class with a pass from the office or any teacher. Refer to attendance policy above for information regarding maximum absences allowed for credit retention.

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