Taylor School District
High School Attendance Regulations

  1. Parents within the Taylor School District are required by law to assure that their children attend school continuously and consistently until they reach the age of 16.
  2. Students within the Taylor School District are required to attend school continuously and consistently until they reach the age of 16.
  3. All Taylor students are required to attend twelve trimesters, or equivalent to graduate.
  4. All students shall be in attendance with no more than six (6) days absent per trimester. Every two (2) tardies to a class will equate to one (1) absence for that class.

The definition of an absence is not present for a class more than 50% of the class period.
The following absences will not be used to determine the 6 days maximum standard:

School-related absences

  • In House Restriction (ISR)
  • Absences due to documented funeral attendance
  • Court mandated appearances (must have court documentation)
  • Absences documented with a doctor’s note: the note must be given to the attendance secretary immediately upon return to school. Doctor’s notes must contain the date(s) the student was unable to attend school, and the doctor’s signature.
  • Up to 5 college visitations. The visits must be pre-approved through the student’s counselor and the attendance office. A college official’s signature on the college stationary must be turned into the attendance office immediately upon return to school.
  • Excused if caused by observance of religious occasions formally recognized by an organized faith to which the student, or the student’s family, belongs and which require abstinence from the activities of daily life or the attendance at religious services. A note from a parent or a note on the letterhead of the religious organization is required.

All other absences including family emergencies, vacations, truancies, and out of school suspension will count toward the limit of six.

Long term illnesses and or/family emergencies that necessitate absences will be reviewed by the appropriate personnel to determine whether or not the class requirements have been fulfilled.

Regardless of the number of absences, students are required to attend all classes until the end of the trimester. in addition to the cumulative exam, students may be subject to discipline for excessive absenteeism and/or excessive tardiness. Discipline may range from administrative intervention to expulsion.

  1. Each and every absence should be accounted for by parents calling the school attendance office. A taped recording is available to accept messages during non school hours.
  2. Students reporting late to school must report to the counseling secretary before going to class (sign-in pass). During 1st block, students must sign in at the designated area. HST students sign in by the counseling door. Sign-In’s less than 50% of the class count as tardies.
  3. Early dismissals and late arrivals, other than those assigned to a student’s schedule, must be accounted for by a parent through a phone call to the counseling office at that time.
  4. Documentation excusing absences due to attending a funeral, college visit, court mandated appearances, doctor’s notes, and other approved days must be given to the attendance office the day the student returns to school.
  5. Parents/guardians are encouraged to check their student’s attendance records through Parent Connect. Attendance records will be displayed on all progress reports and report cards sent home during the trimester.
  6. School-related absences must be verified by the event sponsor and a list provided to the attendance office.
  7. Students who are under 16 years old and have attendance problems mat be referred to Juvenile Court.
  8. It is a student’s and parent’s responsibility to monitor his/her attendance. Prior to the end of each trimester, students who have not met the attendance requirement will be notified about taking a compulsory exam to receive credit.

Make-Up Work

The student has been absent has the responsibility for getting and completing make-up assignments. If the absence is longer than (3) days, the student or his/her parent must contact the school and request make-up work to be assigned and held for pickup on or before the day the student returns to school. If no contact is made, the work will not be available. All assignments, quizzes, and tests would have to be made up within the number of absent or one week whichever is shorter.

Upon request from a parent, a documented long term illness and/or family emergency that necessitate longer absences will be reviewed by appropriate personnel to determine the time frame when assignments, quizzes and tests would be due. The decision will be communicated to the parent(s) in a timely manner.

Student Tardiness Policy

Being punctual is a life skill that is important to the success of any individual. Schools have the responsibility to teach this skill. Tardiness of an individual disrupts instructional time. Being prompt gives the teacher the ability to maximize instructional time for all students.

Students are required to be in all classes on time every day. Tardiness to a class is defined as not being physically in the classroom when the bell stops ringing. Students with a legitimate pass will not be considered tardy (not including sign-in). Two (2) tarries per block shall equal one (1) absence, which shall count toward the total limit of (6) absences per trimester. For example, if a student is tardy for the first hour Monday and then again Tuesday, the student has accumulated one (1) absence for the first block.

Compulsory Exam Procedure

  • Compulsory exams will be given at the conclusion of a trimester.
  • If the student is absent over (6) days, is passing the class, and fails the compulsory exam, then the original grade will be calculated.
  • If a student is absent over (6) days, is passing the class, and fails the compulsory exam, the student will loose credit and has the option to repeat the class, complete credit recovery, or attend summer school at the student’s expense.
  • If a student is absent over (6) days, is failing the class, the student will be given a grade of E. The student has the option to repeat the class, to complete credit recovery, or attend summer school at the student’s expense.