Attendance Policies

Colorado Requirements

Every student should strive for perfect attendance. To comply with Colorado compulsory attendance statutes (CRS 22-33-104), GVA-N must hold students and parents/guardians accountable for absences. To be in good standing at the end of the year, a student must have no unexcused absences and nine or fewer excused absences. Absences due to extended illness will be handled case-by-case in concert with parents/guardians.

The following accountability procedures are mandatory:

School Attendance Line

School Day

Absences

A significant part of a student’s educational experience is derived from classroom participation, activities, discussion, and relationships. Regular and punctual daily attendance is critical to students' ability to benefit from the educational process. Except as otherwise allowed by state law, all children between the ages of 6 and 17 must enroll in and attend school. Students who are absent for part or all of a school day may be restricted or prohibited from participation in after-school or extra-curricular events on the day of the absence

Excused Absences

Excused absences are caused by and excused due to one or more of the reasons defined in this section.

To excuse an absence, a telephone call to the attendance line (303.446.7100 ext 103) or a signed note from the custodial parent/legal guardian, medical practitioner, or other authorized official must be submitted within two school days of the school day absent.
If you have multiple consecutive absences, you must submit an excuse within two school days of the last school day you were absent.

Parents/Guardians must call the school before 8:00 AM to report absences.

School Attendance Line: 303.446.7100 ext 103.

Student absences for participation in school-sponsored or authorized activities are not considered absences from school.

Excused absence reasons are defined as follows:

A verified illness, injury, or physical, mental and emotional disability
A religious observance generally recognized by an established and bona fide religious organization
Absence required by a legal body (court, juvenile authorities or police)
A family emergency, such as a serious illness or death of an immediate family member
Absences due to suspension
Medical/Dental appointments (with a medical excuse)
Appointments/Serious Circumstances (must be approved by the school)
Extracurricular activities (must be approved by the school)
The student must be in good academic standing
Family vacation (must be pre-approved by the school)
The student must be in good academic standing

The building administrator or attendance officer may restrict acceptable reasons for excused absences or require additional documentation beyond the guidelines established in this policy.

.

Additional documentation requirements typically apply to students with a history of habitual truancy, including students on school attendance contracts or under truancy court orders.

All absences not covered in the above-excused section will be unexcused (special circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis).

If your student will be absent for more than three days, please stop by the front desk and complete a Request for Extended Absence form. If you anticipate only one day’s absence and it is longer, you must call the school’s attendance line each successive day. Cumulative attendance will be reported on report cards.

Chronic Absenteeism

Public schools are required to submit attendance records to the Colorado Department of Education. Students who miss more than 15 school days in an academic year (excused or unexcused) are flagged as “federally chronically absent.” Once a child is considered “chronically absent,” the school will contact the parents to develop a plan for improving attendance rates for the student.

Additionally, in Colorado, educational neglect is defined as “habitual absenteeism from school averaging at least five days a month.” Mandated reporting laws require that educators report when there is reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect to Child Protective Services for potential investigation.

Tardies

A tardy is a student who enters a class 5 minutes or more after the scheduled start time. School officials may impose consequences for excessive tardies.

Students will be marked tardy at 8:05 AM.
Students arriving after 8:05 AM must check in with the attendance office and receive a tardy pass before going to class.
Students arriving after 8:30 AM must be accompanied by an adult and signed in with the front office.
Once classes have begun, parents need to set appointments to speak with teachers and are discouraged from walking students to class to avoid disruptions.

Partial Absences

A partial absence is defined as a student entering or departing class 10 or more minutes from the class's scheduled start or end time. Partial absences will be determined to be either excused or unexcused according to the same criteria as all other absences.

Excessive partial absences, defined as absences in a number that negatively impact the student’s achievement and/or ability to complete make-up work comparable to in-class activities, may result in consequences at the discretion of school officials, including the initiation of an attendance contract.

Attendance Recognition Criteria

Withdrawal for Non-Attendance

A student of any age missing ten consecutive days without prior approval of school administration shall be reported to a School Resource Officer for investigation. The Officer may direct the school to implement truancy action and/or to withdraw the student from school when warranted. Students withdrawn for non-attendance should not be on campus without administrative approval. Students under the age of 17 who are seeking to withdraw with a stated intent of enrolling in a different school or educational program may not be officially withdrawn until educational records have been requested from the receiving school.

Eligibility for Homeschooling (Home-Based Education)

Eligibility for Homebound or Out-of-School Support Services

Parents of a student who is anticipated to be absent for more than 15 school days due to a physical, mental, or emotional disability may request an assessment by school staff to consider whether homebound instruction or other out-of-school education support services may be appropriate. Specific documentation and appropriate confidentiality waivers allowing physicians treating the child to communicate with district officials are required for a student to be considered for out-of-school educational support services.