Attendance Policy and Procedures

Attendance

The CDC attendance policy is designed to promote positive work habits and attitudes in our students. Missed learning experiences and lab opportunities are usually difficult and sometimes impossible to make up. The CDC teachers and office staff will document daily attendance and consistently enforce CDC attendance regulations.

Tardiness

Any student arriving WITHOUT A PASS to a first block class after attendance has been taken must be reported to the CDC via telephone or in person so that accurate attendance records can be maintained.

• Tardiness for more than ½ a class period counts as an absence from that class.
• Teachers will assign consequences, including additional class assignments, assessing appropriate work habits or teacher assigned detention

A pattern of tardiness that draws attention to the student’s attendance record or class performance will result in teacher – parent contact to resolve the attendance problem..

Absence

When a student returns from an absence, he or she must provide to the CDC office either:

• A note from the parent, guardian, or other authority stating the reason for the absence.
• A re-admit slip or pass from the sending school stating the reason for the absence.

All notes must include the student’s name, the date(s) of the absence, reason for the absence, and signature of parent, guardian, other authority, or doctor/nurse.

Leave of Absence

Occasionally special circumstances arise for which leaves of absence are granted. Leaves of absence must be thoroughly documented. Further, they are not included towards loss of credit due to absence. Students are responsible for making up all class work missed during the absence. The following criteria must be met for a leave of absence to be granted:

• Doctor’s note or School Nurse’s excuse which indicates that the student was unable to be in school as required by a medical condition or order.
• Documentation of a scheduled appointment with admissions or financial aid staff of a College or other educational institution.
• Documentation that student’s sending school was not in session and transportation was not offered (including snow days).
• Documentation of school-sponsored or required events within the CDC or the student’s sending school (e.g., field trip, exchange, Model Congress)
• Bereavement. Documentation may be required.

Loss of Credit due to Excessive Absences

Students with excessive absences (explained and/or unexplained) are subject to loss of credit. EVERY absence counts toward loss of credit unless it meets the criteria for Leave of Absence. (see above) All classes (full-year and half-year) are subject to the following schedule:

• 5 absences per semester will result in a warning letter and a phone call to parent/guardian.
• 10 absences per semester will result in a warning letter and a phone call to parent/guardian.
• 15 absences will result in a loss of credit and may result in removal from course.
On review of the student’s situation, a CDC attendance committee may choose to grant exceptions for loss of credit due to extenuating circumstances documented by the student. An application to restore credit must be jointly submitted by the student and program teacher in order for credit to be restored.

Class Cut

A class cut is any absence for which the student cannot provide written documentation from their sending school or a parent or other guardian or other authority. A class cut will be dealt with as a disciplinary issue.

• First Offense –Detention with teacher/phone call home by teacher/referral to Administration
• Second Offense –Detention with teacher/phone call home by teacher/referral to Administration
• Third Offense – Detention with teacher/phone call home by teacher/referral/Parent-Teacher-Administrator Conference
• Fourth Offense – Loss of one credit*

(*Loss of credit after 2nd cut in introductory, semester long courses. E.g. Forensic Investigation)