Attendance Polices

General – Students are expected to be at school every day and to report to their classes on time. Frequent absences and tardiness seriously affect academic progress and are disruptive to the teaching environment.  Alcuin School requests that parents and students thoughtfully consider the effects of any absence other than one of a medical or family emergency. Alcuin School does not support taking students out of School prior to a school break.  Parents are asked to plan trips during regular school vacation times.  Days taken off for pleasure trips or vacations are considered unexcused.  Students with excessive tardies or absences, excused or unexcused, may be denied re-enrollment or promotion. Whenever possible, regularly scheduled doctor/dental/medical appointments should be made outside of School hours. 

If an All Day Montessori Toddler has a morning doctor/dental/medical appointment or another situation arises and is not able to arrive by 10:00 am, they should be kept out of school that day due to the disruption in the work cycle. 

If a Half-Day Toddler or Half-Day Primary student has a morning doctor/dental/medical appointment and is not able to arrive by 9:30 am, they should be kept out of school that day due to the disruption in the work cycle. 

Extended Day Primary students must arrive no later than noon.

A Middle School student who is tardy to school due to a doctor, dental, or medical appointment will be marked as tardy.  A student who misses 2 or more class periods will be marked as half-day absent.

Middle School students must attend 90% of class periods in order to receive credit for the class. 

Upper School students are expected to be present 90% of the instructional time.  Students with absences or tardies exceeding 10% will complete recovery of credit.

Upper School students are expected to be present 90% of the instructional time.  Students with absences or tardies exceeding 10% will complete recovery of credit. 

A student absent from school may not attend MPC or BASE that day. 

Students must be in school at a minimum of a half-day (at least 3 hours) in order to participate in regulation athletic events or after-school activities or dances.

Attendance - Each day is a crucial part of a student’s education. What transpires in the classroom environment is difficult to duplicate. Daily attendance is extremely important.   If a doctor/dental/medical appointment must be scheduled during the school day, please do not schedule subsequent appointments at the same time in order to prevent missing the same work schedule.  Please note:  Students who are out of school due to school trips, school sponsored activities, or athletic competitions will not be counted as absent.

A parent must notify the Health Office either by (972/239-1745, x. 276) or email ([e-mail]) before 9:00 a.m. to report absences and late arrivals.  Parents are asked to call the night before, if possible. Missing the three-hour uninterrupted work cycle within the day or missing classes in Middle or Upper School is considered an absence. Off campus Going Outs and OEE’s are considered part of the curriculum. Missing any one of these trips is considered an absence. If a child has 7 absences in a semester, a parent conference with the Division Head may be required before the child will be permitted to return to school.

Absences totaling 10 days or more in a given year, regardless of the reason, may result in attendance probation, remaining in the current level or a request to withdraw from school. This policy applies to all students in extended day primary through Upper School.

Excused Absences

• Illness validated by a parent or guardian.  For an extensive illness involving at least 3 days of absence, the School requires a statement from a physician stating the nature of illness, when child is released to return to school, and whether there are any limitations to activity.  The note is to be turned in to the Health Office. 
• Illness or death in the immediate family.
• Religious holidays subject to prior approval from the appropriate Division Head.

Any student not well enough to attend all of his or her classes during the school day may not participate in any co-curricular, extra-curricular, or sports activity that afternoon or evening, except with the specific approval of the Division Head.  Questions about the approved status of an absence should be directed to the Division Head.

Unexcused Absences - All other absences from school will be considered unexcused, subject, however, to the review and discretion of the appropriate Division Head.  When an absence is considered unexcused, students are not permitted to make up tests, examinations, or quizzes that are missed, unless prior arrangements have been made.  Missed assignments must be made up.  These guidelines apply to all school days including those immediately before and after vacations.

Please note:  Absences for school visits are unexcused.

Upper School parents and students should reference Upper School Attendance (Appendix II) for further information on absences.

Absences During/Returning to School Following Intensive Psychiatric Treatment -

The emotional well-being of our students is of paramount importance.  Occasionally, a family may be faced with their child requiring psychiatric treatment in an intensive outpatient program or inpatient hospital setting that may result in extended absences from school.  The school will be available to work collaboratively with the parents and the child’s treatment program staff in coordinating any school work that can be completed during the time the student is out of school, if necessary.  Upon being discharged from such an intensive treatment program, the school will require documentation (e.g., a discharge summary, post-treatment support plan, etc.) in order to best know how to support the student’s transition back into his or her daily school routine.  A meeting involving the student’s Division Director, the Director of Student Support and/or Student Support Specialist, and the parents will be held prior to the student’s return to school in order to make sure that all supports are in place for the student’s successful transition back into school.