Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Logo Title

Student Attendance Policy
Student Attendance Policy
website icon

Please see Effingham County Board of Education Policy JB (Student Attendance) which can be accessed via the link provided in the Appendix or by visiting: www.effinghamschools.com/attendance-policy.

Administrative Procedures For Absences And Excuses

ATTENDANCE, GRADE, AND DISCIPLINE ENHANCEMENT (MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS)

The Effingham County Board of Education recognizes that student attendance, grades, and discipline are of primary importance. Students with excessive absences, poor grades, and discipline problems are forfeiting a valuable degree of their total education experiences.

In an attempt to improve attendance, academic achievement, and overall discipline at the middle and high schools, the following procedures shall be followed for students in grades six through twelve:

Students shall have the privilege of driving automobiles to school and shall be issued a parking permit if they qualify under existing procedures (i.e., parental consent, licensed, and properly insured).

To be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities (i.e., clubs, pageants, field trips, “10-Day” activities), a student must:

  • Earn a 70% or higher in five classes at the end of each nine- weeks’ grading period;

  • Have less than six unexcused school day absences in a nine-weeks’ grading period. For the purposes of eligibility, a student is considered present at school for a full day if they are present four of seven periods;

  • Have four or less discipline referrals in a nine-weeks’ grading period;

Students who do not meet the above criteria shall lose their opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities, and
“10-Day” activities during the following nine weeks’ grading period. Middle school athletics will follow high school guidance of eligibility changing at the semester.

Students with good attendance, good grades, and good discipline shall be allowed to regain their privileges to participate in extracurricular activities and to participate in “10-Day” activities.

To regain eligibility to participate in extra-curricular activities (i.e., clubs, pageants, field trips, “10-Day” activities), a student must:

  • Earn 70% or higher in five classes at the end of a nine-weeks’ grading period;

  • Have less than six unexcused school day absences in a nine-weeks’ grading period. For the purposes of eligibility, a student is considered present at school for a full day if they are present four of seven periods;

  • Have four or less discipline referrals in a nine-weeks’ grading period.

For students attending school for only a portion of the year, absences, grade point averages, and discipline referrals will be appropriately prorated for the time enrolled in school when making an eligibility determination.

General Middle School & High School Athletics (GHSA) Eligibility Requirements

Students gain eligibility to practice or compete for the middle school or high school in Effingham County in which they are enrolled after they have been certified by the principal of that school, after the eligibility forms have been processed by the GHSA office (if applicable), and after the students have met the standards of:

  1. Academic requirements
  2. Age
  3. Semester in high school
  4. Residence in the school's service area
  5. Georgia High School Association transfer rules (if applicable)
  6. Annual physical examination

Specific Academic Requirements Middle or High School Athletics

To be eligible to participate, practice, and/or try out in interscholastic activities, a student must be academically eligible. First year students (entering 6th or 9th grade) are eligible academically.

To be considered eligible for athletics, a student must:

  • Earn a 70% or higher in five classes at the end of 1st Semester
  • Yearlong final grades will be used for 2nd Semester reporting
  • Have less than six unexcused school day absences in a nine-weeks' grading period. For the purposes of eligibility, a student is considered present at school for a full day if they are present four of seven periods.
  • Have four or less discipline referrals in a nine-weeks' grading period

The grade reported to GHSA (high school) for the spring semester will be the yearlong grade.

Athletic academic eligibility lasts for one semester and must be reviewed after each and every semester. The Athletic Director at each high school will submit eligibility reports each semester to the Georgia High School Association. Each school principal is required to provide and monitor the school’s ineligibility list for attendance and discipline each nine-weeks’ grading period.

GHSA Eligibility Requirements High School Credits

  • Five (5) high school credits after 1st year
  • Eleven (11) high school credits after 2nd year
  • Seventeen (17) high school credits after 3rd year

 

Administrative Procedures: Senior Privilege Period

Rising seniors who have met the eligibility requirements at the end of the second semester of their previous school term may be eligible to be exempted from either the first or the last period of their seven period schedule during their senior year (Senior Privilege Period). Students will not be allowed to remain on campus during the Senior
Privilege Period; therefore, personal transportation is required. This privilege is earned during the second semester of the junior year and may be lost if the student fails to follow school rules and Senior Privilege Period guidelines.

Certain school environments or classes may require more restrictive dress due to safety issues, i.e., Career/Technical Agricultural Education (CTAE) classes, Science labs, and Physical Education. Students are expected to comply with safety guidelines.

The principal shall have the authority to interpret dress code and make case by case determinations for the appropriateness of dress which is questionable or which is not covered in this policy. The principal may also make exceptions to this uniform and dress code for special events such as spirit week and approved school organization or team affiliated garments. The principal will ultimately decide if the clothing is appropriate.

To be considered for this exemption, a student must:

  • Earn a 70% or higher in five classes at the end of the previous semester;
  • Have less than six unexcused school day absences in a nine-weeks’ grading period. For the purposes of eligibility, a student is considered present at school for a full day if they are present four of seven periods;
  • Have four or less discipline referrals in the previous nine-weeks’ grading period;
  • Have earned the minimum credits for promotion to grade 12 as required by the local system’s policy.

Seniors may have their Senior Privilege Period revoked at the principal’s discretion for violation of rules within the Effingham County School System Code of Conduct. Parent permission is required for student to participate.

Additional Guidelines

Students, and their custodial parent(s) or guardians, are ultimately responsible for attendance and absences; however, school officials may attempt to contact, notify and inform custodial parent(s) or guardians of students who have unusual patterns of absences in any class, for any reason, during a nine-weeks’ grading period.

Under no circumstances is it acceptable for a student to falsify their attendance records.

Pre-K and Preschool Intervention Program (PSI) students will follow the attendance guidelines provided by Bright from the Start. According to Bright from the Start guidelines, Pre-K students that are absent for ten consecutive days may be dropped from the program. 

Late Arrival/Early Departure Procedures

For unexcused late arrivals to school and unexcused early departures from school, the following procedures will apply:

  • Students who have a total of five yearly cumulative unexcused late arrivals and/or early departures from school will be considered in violation of the Compulsory School Attendance Law and notice will be sent home regarding violation of this law.
  • Excuses for tardies/early departures shall be accepted for the following reasons:
    • Personal illness and whose attendance may be detrimental to the health of themselves or others;
    • Illness or death in the immediate family;
    • Special and and recognized religious holidays;
    • Mandated by the order of a government agency (such as jury duty or physical exam for armed services);
    • Serving as Page to the Georgia General Assembly.
  • A student whose parent or legal guardian is in military service in the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard and such parent has been called to active duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting will be granted excused late arrivals or early departures to visit with his or her parent prior to the parent's deployment or during the leave.

Indication of an excused early departure or late arrival specified on a school sign in/out sheet by a parent/guardian shall be accepted as a substitute for a written excuse.

Unless a student is signed out of school at least ten minutes prior to the regular school dismissal time, the student will need to remain in class until the regular dismissal time.

Students who accumulate excessive unexcused late arrivals or early departures from school during a nine-weeks' grading period shall receive the following consequences:

Elementary School

Grades: Upon the third (3rd) and any subsequent unexcused late arrival or early departure per nine-weeks' grading period, the student may receive a zero for class participation in the first (for late arrival) or last (for early departure) academic subject of the day for each and every violation during the nine-weeks' grading period. This is a site-based decision at the authority of the principal.

Make-Up Work: Teachers may not be required to provide make-up work for unexcused late arrivals/early departures unless the school principal determines that circumstances warrant the granting of such make-up work. If the student needs to complete make-up work due to unexcused late arrivals and/or unexcused early departures, the student shall make up the work during P.E., music, or recess on the same or following day.

Pre-K Bright from the Start Policy States: "Children who do not attend class, are late, or leave early for ten consecutive days without a medical excuse or other reasonable explanation, must be removed from the roster, and Bright from the Start must be immediately notified in writing that such action has been taken."

Middle School

Discipline: Students who accumulate more than two unexcused late arrivals and/ or more than two unexcused early departures from school during a nine-weeks' grading period shall be subject to the appropriate consequences according to progressive discipline measures which may include detention, in-school suspension, and out-of-school suspension. *Days suspended will increase accordingly after eight unexcused tardies/early departures during a nine-weeks' grading period.

High School

Discipline: High school students missing more than 10 minutes from any class are considered absent for that class. Missing less than 10 minutes from any class is considered to be a tardy/early departure. Students who accumulate more than two unexcused late arrivals and/or more than two unexcused early departures from any class during a nine-weeks' grading period shall be subject to the appropriate consequences according to progressive discipline measures which may include detention, in-school suspension, and out-of-school suspension. *Days suspended will increase accordingly after six (6) unexcused tardies/early departures during a nine-weeks' grading period.

 

Teen-Age & Adult Driver - Responsibility Act

Georgia’s Teen-Age and Adult Driver Responsibility Act of 1997 requires that local school systems certify whether or not a student’s attendance pattern and discipline record allow him or her to have a Georgia Driver’s permit or license. This section of the law became effective on January 1, 1998. O.C.G.A. § 40-5-22 stipulates that the
issuance of a driver’s license and driver’s permit to minors will be based on student enrollment.

Driving curfews also apply to any Class D license holders prohibited from driving between 12 AM and 5 AM. During the first six months an individual holds a Class D driver’s license, they may not drive with any non-family passengers under the age of 21.

 

Certificate of School Enrollment

Students must present a Certificate of School Enrollment when applying for a driver’s license or permit. This certificate may be obtained from the counselors’ office for a $5 fee. Allow at least 48 hours (two working days) for the certificate to be prepared. This certificate is good for 30 days. If a driver’s license or permit is applied for after the certificate has expired, then the student must obtain another certificate for $5 and allow at least two working days for processing.

Students who plan to obtain a permit or license during the summer months must obtain a Certificate of School Enrollment prior to summer break. Certificates issued prior to summer break are valid for 90 days.