Attendance Policy for Tarpon Springs High School and Pinellas County School Board

A state law requires that the parent (or guardian) notify the school of the reason for the student's EVERY absence. AS SOON AS HE RETURNS to school, the student should take his parent's note that explains the reason for his absence to Student Services within 48 hours of the absence. (next to the clinic).When writing a note to verify an absence, the parent/guardian must:

• Use student's full legal name; we often have students with very similar names. Do not use nicknames. If calling, spell the student's last name.
• Give the student's grade level.
• Give the parent's/guardian's name (first and last) and accurate phone number where parent/guardian may be reached.
• Give correct day and date of absence being verified. If this information is incorrect, the student will not be allowed to make up his work.

REMEMBER that THE STUDENT is responsible for:

• Making sure that his absence is verified within 48 hours of the absence
• Getting his make-up work as soon as he returns to school
• Completing his make-up work and turning it in on time

The automated attendance caller goes out daily to the homes of students who have been tardy or absent.

A student may waive the final exam in a course under the following conditions:

• A grade of "A" or "B" has been maintained for the entire semester.
• Both the teacher and parent/guadian must approve the student's final exam waiver.
• If another School Board Policy applies in the individual student's situation, the sudent may not be allowed to waive the exam (e.g., a student who has been absent four (4) or more days during a semester must take and pass the final exam.)

Recieving a "Code 3" for a religous holiday requires that 1) the holiday be of the student's faith, and 2) the parent's note is submitted before the absence. This category of absence (Code 3) is not counted when counting absences related to the high school "4-day" rule.

Religous institues, conferences, or workshops (only two days) require that the parents and the minister, priest or rabbi (sign the request and submit it to the school before the absence. (These absences are not counted as "Code 3" absences, but rather as excused absences.)

A student is allowed four college visitation days beginning in the junior year. A college visitation day counts as an absence if the student follows this procedure exactly:

• Student picks up a "Request for a College Day" form from Ms. Savoldy (down stairs) in Student Services.
• Student returns the completed form to Mr. McKnight at least three days in advance of the proposed visitation. Mr. McKnight will notify the student as to whether the college day is approved or denied. (Note: The school the student wishes to visit must be outside of Pinellas County.)

Immediately upon return from a college day, the student must present Mr. McKnight with something (e.g. parking garage ticket) from the school visted. That item must have a parents signature on it from the postsecondary school visited. The letter must have a parent's signature on it.