Attendance Practices, Reporting Absences and Early Releases Procedures

KAISER H.S. ATTENDANCE POLICY & PROCEDURES

Regular Attendance - Students are expected to regularly attend all classes. 

[Note: Section 298-8, Public schools; attendance, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), requires a child who is six years of age and not yet eighteen on or before December 31 of any school year to attend either a public or private school unless properly excused from school. Section 298-13 Enforcement, HRS, places the responsibility for enforcing compulsory attendance with the Department of Education (DOE). Exception from the compulsory attendance law is permitted only under specified conditions pursuant to Section 298- 9, Attendance compulsory; exceptions, HRS, and DOE regulations relating to compulsory attendance exceptions.] 

Absences 

For all absences, it is the student’s responsibility to coordinate and plan make up opportunities for missed classes, assignments, and assessments with their teachers. 

Illness, Other Verifiable Medical Reasons, and Family Bereavement 

Upon return to school, student submits a note to the front office including: 

• Student’s Name, Grade 
• Dates of Absence 
• Reason for Absence 
• Parent/Guardian Name & Contact Phone Number 
• Parent/Guardian Signature 

* Note must be received by the front office within 3 business days upon returning to      school. With a note, absence(s) will be marked excused. 

More than 3 Days: Make-up work can be requested through the counselor. Teachers will need a minimum of 24-hour notice to prepare assignments. Parents can call on Day 3 to request make-up work for Day 4. 

 

School Related Events/Activities 
DOE and school approved events/activities, such as field trips, performances, athletics, will be designated as Authorized School Activity (ASA) for attendance. ‘ASA’ are not considered absences. 

Extended Absences 
For situations when students need to miss 3 or more school days, prior notification and administrative approval can be documented with the Extended Absence Form. Forms are available in the front office and should be turned in completed to the student’s grade level counselor at least one week prior to the absence. Based upon reason and approval, student’s attendance will be marked “Excused absence” or “Unexcused absence”.

Suspension 
For suspensions between 1 and 10 days, teachers will provide make-up work and set deadlines for completion. Serious discipline, suspensions beyond 10 days, will have an alternative education plan put in place.

Truancy
Truancy means that the student is absent from school or class without authorization of the principal or designee. The school administrator will proceed with consequences as outlined by DOE regulations, in concert with working agreements with HPD and/or the Family Court. 

Early Release 

For appointments that cannot be arranged outside of school hours, a note must be submitted to the front office before the start of the school day. Note must include: 

• Student’s Name, Grade 
• Date & Time of Release 
• Reason for Release 
• Parent/Guardian Name & Contact Phone Number 
• Parent/Guardian Signature 

* If requests are not turned in before school begins and/or cannot be verified with a parent/guardian, the request may be denied, unless the student is picked up by the parent/guardian at the school office.

School Absence Follow-Up

1. Parents/Guardians will be alerted via telephone call through the school’s automated attendance reporting system. 

• The system will make contact with the primary phone # given to the school. (Please update your primary phone and email contacts. Parents can choose an alternate number, i.e. personal cell phone. Contact the Registrar’s Office for updates.) 
• Each instance of an absence or tardy will be communicated through the system. Please be aware that phone calls going home can be intercepted, forwarded or automatically rejected. 
• The communications will be made between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. 

2. Teachers will communicate with parent/guardian if missed class time is affecting student learning and grades.
   
   

3. Throughout the school year: Attendance reports will be reviewed weekly. 

• Once a student attains 5 or more unexcused absences in any period, the student and parent/guardian will be notified by the student’s counselor. 
• If a student acquires additional unexcused absences for any period, an administrator will notify student and parent/guardian of appropriate consequences. Consequences may include detention and/or progressive  actions for additional unexcused absences.

An unexcused absence includes class cutting and any absence without a note. 

Notes from parent/guardian, including the information stated on page 1, must be received by the front office within 3 business days upon return from illness, other verifiable medical reasons, and family bereavement. Absences with a legitimate note will be marked “excused”.

4. For students with 18 or more Unexcused Absences for the year, a family court truancy petition may be filed. 

Tardies 

Students who miss more than half of the class period will be considered absent for that period. 

School Tardies Follow-Up 

1. Per quarter: Tardy reports will be reviewed weekly. 

• Once a student attains 5 or more tardies in any period, the student and parent/guardian will be notified by the student’s counselor. 
• If a student acquires additional tardies for any period, an administrator will notify student and parent/guardian of appropriate consequences. Consequences may include detention and/or progressive  actions for additional tardies.

2. Student tardies to re-start from zero each quarter in regards to consequences.