Absences

Regular attendance is extremely valuable to every student. Days missed can never be replaced. When your student is unable to work on his/her assigned course work or unable to attend a scheduled on-site class, please call the school office at 830-6363. It is important to notify DCS of the absence and the reason for it. Please send a note with your student the first day he/she returns to school-related activity. The note should include the following information: The student’s name, date(s) of absence, reason for absence. This information is very important to the school attendance accounting records.

If your family is going to be away, please inform your Educational Coordinator about arrangements to continue his/her program by completion of an alternative, related assignment. This program helps keep your student on track to complete his/her educational program on schedule and allows the school to maintain funding for what would otherwise almost always be an “unexcused” absence.

Home-hospital instruction may also be arranged through the school when a student is unable to access the Internet due to a serious medical condition.

Unexcused Absences/Tardiness

Students are encouraged to establish a habit of promptness when attending on-site classes. Students are at a disadvantage when they enter late, as they frequently miss directions given by the Educational Coordinator, or major concepts covered that hour or day. Late arrivals are also a disruption to the other students in the class.

The State Education Code states that any student with 3 unexcused absences or tardies (if for more than 30 minutes) shall be classified as truant. Parents will be notified if a student is in danger of being classified as truant.

Excessive unexcused absences from classes or failure to complete PLP assignments is sufficient reason for an Educational Coordinator to assign a failing grade. If attendance problems persist, the student may be placed on academic probation. If attendance problems continue, parents and students may be exited from the DCHS program.

Attendance problems: These actions, shall, whenever possible, precede referral to the Administration:

1.    The Educational Coordinator talks to the student and attempts to determine the cause of the problem.

2.    The Educational Coordinator notifies the parents and attempts to discover the reasons for the continued absences.

3.    Disciplinary action such as loss of classroom privileges and/or extracurricular activities may be in order.

4.    If the problem continues, the Educational Coordinator refers the matter to the Administration for appropriate action, which may include, but not to be limited to, placing the student on academic probation.

5.    The Administration shall schedule a parental meeting at the school to discuss the problem and future action. The Educational Coordinator and student’s presence may be required.

6.    When a student has been declared a habitual truant, the Administration may dis-enroll the student and notify the S.A.R.B. officer in the District in which that student resides.

A copy of the student’s attendance log is to be completed and turned in to the Administration for all students with 5 or more unexcused absences.

S.A.R.B. is a countywide board that deals with students who are classified as truants, have excessive absences or tardies, or serious behavior problems. In situations where attempts have failed to improve a student’s attendance or disruptive behavior patterns, the matter will be turned over to S.A.R.B.

Make-up Work

Students are expected to make-up work missed due to absence. It is the responsibility of the student, upon returning to school, to make an appointment with the on-site class Educational Coordinator to obtain make-up assignments, assistance or instructions.