Attendance is a key factor in student achievement and therefore, students are expected to be present each day school is in session. The attendance supervisor shall oversee the entire attendance program which shall include.

1. All accounting and reporting procedures and their dissemination;
2. Alternative program options for students who severely fail to meet minimum attendance requirements;
3. Ensuring that all school age children attend school;
4. Providing documentation of enrollment status upon request for students applying for new or reinstatement of driver’s permit or license; and
5. Notifying the Department of Safety whenever a student with a driver’s permit or license drops out of school.

NOTE: For information regarding denial of motor vehicle license or permit see TCA 49-6-3017. This law defines school attendance and academic performance required to obtain or retain driver’s license/permit for students under the age of eighteen (18). Perfect attendance in Tipton County Schools is defined as follows: Students who have been tardy or checked out early during school hours according to the attendance program and have not accumulated a full day’s absence will be considered as having perfect attendance. Any unexcused attendance event (tardies and/or check outs) will disqualify a student from perfect attendance. Absences shall be classified as either excused or unexcused as determined by the principal or his/her designee.

Excused absences shall include:
1. Personal illness (a physician's statement may be required);
2. Death in the family (not more than three (3) days absence shall be excused);
3. Religious observances;

Absences other than those outlined above may be considered unexcused. After a total of five (5) excused absences due to head lice, a student will not be excused any more days due to this particular problem. An excuse for absence must be made in writing by the parent(s) or guardians(s) and should include the name of the student, the date(s) he/she was absent, the reason for the absence and parent’s or guardian signature. For a student to be excused by a parent/guardian note, the note must be turned in no later than two (2) days starting the day the student returns to school following his/her absence.

After being absent from school ten (10) days, a student’s absence will only be excused upon the presentation of a health provider’s statement (i.e. doctor’s note) specifying the days(s) to be excused. After ten (10) healthcare provider statements an assessment meeting may be held. All questions concerning student attendance records should be directed to the local school attendance coordinator.

The principal shall be responsible for ensuring that;
1. Attendance is checked and reported daily for each class;
2. Daily absentee sheets contain sign in/sign out sheets and indicate students present or absent for the majority of the day;
3. All student absences are verified;
4. Written excuses are submitted for absences and tardiness;
5. System-wide procedures for accounting and reporting are followed.

Any student having passed the compulsory attendance age may be dropped from the rolls after three (3) consecutive unexcused absences, or an aggregate of five (5) unexcused absences. A hearing committee will be established in each school to deal with appeals due to unusual or exceptional circumstances. Truancy is defined as five (5) or more unexcused absences for an entire school day, a major portion of the school day or the major portion of any class, study hall or activity during the school day for which the student is scheduled. A Prevention Meeting will be held at the school following the student’s eighth (8th) unexcused absence. After ten (10) unexcused absences, a student may be referred to the Tipton County Truancy Board. An accumulation of four (4) other unexcused attendance events (tardies and/or checkouts) during the school day will equal one unexcused day to be used for truancy record purposes. Students participating in school-sponsored activities whether on or off campus shall not be counted absent. In order to qualify as “school-sponsored”, the activity must be school-planned, school-directed, and teacher-supervised. Students with excused absences will be required to make up work and may be assigned academic detention or Saturday school. Absences occurring at the end of the year may be made up in summer sessions. Student attendance records shall be given the same level of confidentiality as other student records. Only authorized school officials with legitimate educational purposes may have access to student information without the consent of the student or parent/guardian.

Requests for students to attend school in counties in adjoining states shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.1 PROMOTION/RETENTION Elementary and middle school students will be permitted a maximum of twenty (20) days absence during a school year. Any student who exceeds the maximum of twenty (20) days may be retained in his/her present grade. Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified after the 15th absence and the 19th absence.

High school students will be permitted a maximum of 4 absences per semester for each class. Students with unexcused absences will be required to make up work at academic detention or Saturday school. Absences occurring at the end of the year may be made up in summer sessions. Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified after three (3) days absent. Appeals for any failing grades due to attendance will be heard at the end of each semester at the student’s respective high schools.