• School Attendance

     

    School Attendance...Parents Make the Difference

    ABSENCE IS EXCUSABLE FOR SPECIFIC REASONS

    West Virginia Code §18-8-1 and West Virginia Board of Education Policy 4110 permit students to be excused from school for:

    • Parents may excuse up to 10 absences per year by a parent note.  Verification by a physician is required when the absences exceed ten total days per year." 
    • Failure of bus to run.
    • Serious illness or death in the immediate family of the student.
    • Observances of religious holidays.
    • Leaves of educational values with prior approval of the school principal not to exceed five days.
    • Calamity such as fire in the home or flood.
    • Verified legal obligations.      

    A NOTE IS REQUIRED WHEN RETURNING TO SCHOOL

    When a student has been absent for any reason, a note from home is required on the day the student returns to school.  This note should include:

    • Student's first and last name
    • Date(s) of absence
    • Date of the note
    •  Signature of parent /guardian

    ABSENCE FOR OTHER REASONS CANNOT BE EXCUSED

    Any absence not meeting the stated requirements shall be considered an unexcused absence (West Virginia Code  §18-8-1).  Questions regarding any of the listed reasons may be answered by a school administrator, the Attendance Director, or your school counselor.

    TARDINESS/EARLY DEPARTURES

    Tardiness is defined as any arrival of a student after the time scheduled for classes or school to begin without an excused reason.  Early departure is defined as any departure before the time scheduled for classes or school to end without an excused reason.  Student tardiness/early departures will be handled according to procedures and/or rules established by each school and Wetzel County Policy JEAA.

    STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKEUP OF SCHOOL WORK MISSED DURING AN ABSENCE

    Students are responsible for work missed during an absence.  Each school shall advise students of the procedures and the time line for makeup work as stated in Wetzel County Schools Policy.

    ABSENCE REPORTED TO PARENTS

    Absences for school are reported to parents by report cards, telephone calls, letters, conferences with the Attendance Director, or through home visits.  Home visits may be made by the Attendance Director or other school personnel.

    PARENTS: WHAT YOU CAN DO

    • Emphasize academics.
    • Provide a quiet place for homework.
    • Encourage reading.
    • Require daily school attendance.
    • Know how your child is doing in school.
    • Teach non-involvement in alcohol/drugs.
    • Set a good example.
    • Recognize your child's accomplishments.

    WEST VIRGINIA'S COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAWS

    §Who must attend - Children from the ages of six to seventeen, or as long as they are enrolled, must attend school.

    §Duty of parent or guardian - Each person who has under his/her control a child who is six to seventeen years old, or as long as the child is enrolled in school, must see that the child attends school regularly.

    §Penalties - Any person who permits or encourages a a child to absent himself/herself unlawfully from school is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of $50-$100 a day or to a jail term of 5-20 days.

    §Truancy is unlawful in the State of West Virginia.