The Jones County Board of Education recognizes that regular attendance is critical to student achievement. Students are required to meet all requirements governing compulsory school attendance. To receive maximum benefit from the instructional activities, students are expected to be in school each day unless excused for legitimate reasons. Good attendance habits positively impact the learning process and carry over into the world of work. While teachers and administrators are charged with the responsibility of providing worthwhile daily activities for students, the students and their parents must assume responsibility for being punctual and regular in attendance. It is the position of the Jones County Board of Education that every day at school is important and that no student should be absent except for extraordinary reasons. Therefore, a student shall not be absent from school or from any class or other required school hours except for illness or other providential cause, unless with written permission of the teacher, principal, or duly authorized school official. No student shall encourage or counsel other students to violate this policy.
Guidance from the Jones County school system for student attendance protocol can be found on the school website. The following information highlights some of the more frequently discussed information that relates to student attendance.
Compulsory Attendance
Jones County School authorities, in cooperation with other county agencies and courts, shall enforce the Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law, O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.1, Mandatory Attendance, which requires every parent, guardian, or other person residing in the state having control of any such age child or children between the ages of 6 and 16 enroll and send such child or children to school. Further, all children enrolled for 20 school days or more in the public schools of Jones County prior to their SIXTH birthday shall become subject to all provisions of the law. All students missing more than 5 unexcused days in Georgia are declared as truant by the law.
Jones County Student Attendance Protocol
Level I Two (2) Unexcused Absences Parent/guardian will be contacted via email, phone call, or letter.
Level II Five (5) Unexcused Absences Principal’s designee will request for the parent/guardian to sign an Attendance Contract.
Level III Ten (10) Unexcused Absences For compulsory age middle/high school students, a CHINS Attendance Review meeting with the student’s parent/guardian and the CHINS committee will be held at the Jones County Board of Education. Level IV If the student accrues additional unexcused absences after the CHINS meeting, charges will be filed with the appropriate court(s).
Any parent, guardian, or other person residing in Georgia who has control or charge of a child or children and who violates O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.1 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to:
A fine not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100.00, Imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, Community service, orAny combination of such penalties, at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction.
Excused and Unexcused Absences
Absence from school is classified as either excused or unexcused. Reasons established by the Georgia Board of Education as excused absences are set forth in this policy. Students may be temporarily excused from school when:
-Personally ill and when attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others. A serious illness or death occurs in their immediate family. Mandated by order of governmental agencies, including preinduction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, or by court order.
-Celebrating religious holidays observed by their faith. Registering to vote or voting, for a period not to exceed one day.
-Students should present a written excuse within two (2) days after an absence whether excused or unexcused.Failure to do so will result with the absence(s) remaining unexcused.
Upon returning to school, students should complete makeup work within five (5) school days. Parents may pick up homework assignments in the school office.
The items listed below should be included on each written, emailed, or faxed excuse. -Date the excuse is written -Date and day of the absence -Reason for absence -Signature of parent/guardian
Excessive Excused Absences
A parent/guardian note for a student’s illness related absence is only valid for five (5) days per semester. After a student exceeds five days within a semester, a doctor’s note is required to excuse the student’s absence(s). The Principal and Executive Director of Student Services retain the right to excuse absences on an individual basis.
Tardy/Early Dismissal
Tardy is defined as a student not being in the classroom when the class is scheduled to begin. Early dismissal is defined as a student leaving school prior to the ringing of the last bell.
No student dismissal or check out will be allowed after 3:00. Parent/Guardian must follow the same process to excuse (personal illness, illness in immediate family, death in the family, religious holidays, or court order) an early dismissal or tardy as they do to excuse an absence. Each school will develop interventions to address excessive tardiness. Non-attendance for instructional activities is established by tardiness, early sign-outs, or absences for all or any part of the school day. Principals have the discretion to excuse tardiness for extenuating circumstances.