STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The Bay City Public Schools Board of Education believes that if students are to receive the best education possible, they must be in daily attendance.  Attendance in the classroom helps instill concepts of self-discipline and exposes students to group interactions with their teachers and other students.  Participation in class instruction, discussion and other related experiences are appropriate educational expectations.

Additionally, as part of "No Child Left Behind" legislation, public schools are required to monitor student attendance to avoid sanctions as a result of excessive student absences from school.  So much of a student's learning happens during classroom instruction, discussion and exploration during the school day, and this type of learning is difficult to make up when a student is absent from class.  Absences and tardies will affect a student's achievement.

ATTENDANCE DEFINITIONS

A - Absent
A (PC) - Absent (Parent Contact)
A (E1, E4-E6) - Absent (Extenuating Circumstance)
E - Excused (Extenuating Circumstance E2 & E3)
T - Tardy
T (LA) - Tardy (Late Arrival / 30 minutes or less late a.m. or p.m.)
T (LE) - Tardy (Left Early / 30 minutes prior to the end of the school day)

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE

Your child may be absent from school for a variety of reasons throughout the school year.  These are usually unavoidable situations resulting in an absence for the full day, half day or maybe just an hour out of the school day.  We encourage you to try schedule appointments so that your child does not miss classroom instruction.  In the event this is not possible, please contact the Attendance Office Associate at (989) 662-4921, (press option #1), to report your child's absence from school.  This extension is voicemail only and all you will need to do is record your child's name, classroom teacher name and reason for the absence from school.

We understand the need, at times, for you to pick up your child early from school due to appointment, family emergencies, etc.  If a student leaves school before the end of the school day (3:39p.m.) it does affect their attendance record.  Leaving more than fifteen minutes before the dismissal time, an afternoon absence is recorded on the student's attendance record.  If the student leaves within fifteen minuted before the end of the school day, an afternoon tardy is recorded.

If the absence is an "extenuating circumstance," please provide documentation such as a doctor or dentist visit receipt so that the absence can be coded as an excused absence due to an "extenuating circumstance."
Extenuating Circumstances include:
(E1)  Medical Related Absence; hospitalization, doctor's appointment, dentist appointment, etc.
(E2)  School Authorized Absence; field trip, etc.
(E3)  Discipline Related Absence; suspension, etc.
(E4)  Funeral; death in immediate family.
(E5)  Religious Observances.
(E6)  Administrator Approved Absence; circumstances approved by the building administrator.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The primary purpose of the attendance policy is to encourage students to be present in their classes in order to realize the maximum potential from classroom instruction.  Absences and tardies can affect a student's academic and social achievement in school.  The following steps will be implemented to keep you informed to ensure that your child is not affected academically by excessive absences from school.  Please note that documentation of "extenuating circumstances" will be taken into consideration when implementing this attendance policy.
BCPS Student Code of Conduct Attendance Policy Steps:
(Step 1)  5 or more total a.m. or p.m. absences (non-extenuating circumstance):  Formal written notification to parent.
(Step 2)  10 or more total a.m. or p.m. absences (non-extenuating circumstance):  Formal written notification to parent and parent contact.
(Step 3)  15 or more total a.m. or p.m. absences (non-extenuating circumstances):  Referral to the BCPS District Attendance Officer and formal written notification to parent.
(Step 4)  20 or more total a.m. or p.m. absences (non-extenuating circumstances):  Referral to the BCPS District Attendance Officer, parent contact, and potential Court referral.

If you have any questions regarding your child's attendance record, please contact our Attendance Office Associate between the hours of 12:00-3:30p.m. Monday-Friday at (989) 662-4921, extension #2100, or, e-mail our Attendance Office Associate.

EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE

Students will be recognized each marking period for "excellent" attendance.  To receive this recognition and certificate, students cannot accumulate any more than 6 half day (3 full day) absences from school each marking period.