Attendance

The Attendance Review Committee

The Attendance Review Committee is composed of student services representatives and an administrator or administrative designee. The committee provides guidance and support to students with significant absences and is responsible for the following:

1. Early Intervention — The committee will convene when students accumulate:

• Five (5) unexcused absences in a semester course, or
• Ten (10) unexcused absences in an annual course, or
• Ten (10) tardies in a semester course, or
• Twenty (20) tardies in an annual course.

Mater Virtual Academy at Narcoossee 6–12 Attendance Policy

• All absences will be marked unexcused until the student submits a written note to the main office or completes the official online absence form on the school website. Documentation must include:
  • Student’s name
  • Student ID number
  • Grade level
  • Date(s) of absence
  • Reason for absence (acceptable reasons listed below)
  • Parent/guardian name and signature
  • Contact telephone number for verification
• A doctor’s note is required when a student is absent for three (3) or more consecutive days.

Excused Absences

Absences may be excused for the following reasons:

• Student illness
• Medical appointments (doctor’s note showing date and time required)
• Death in the immediate family
• Observance of a religious holiday recognized by Orange County Public Schools
• Official court summons

Family vacations are not considered excused absences.

Documentation Requirements

• All absence notes must be submitted within 72 hours of the student’s return to school.
• Parent notes will excuse only the first three (3) consecutive days of absence.
• Absence documentation must be submitted in writing to the front office or through the official online absence form.
• Absences exceeding three (3) consecutive days require a doctor’s note to be excused.
• Students absent for five (5) or more consecutive days must provide official documentation upon return.
• Absences beyond the control of the parent or student must be approved by the Principal or administrative designee.
• Transportation issues and parent/sibling illness will not be considered excused absences.
• School-sponsored field trips will not negatively affect attendance records.

Make-Up Work

• Make-up work, tests, or projects will not be provided until absences are excused.
• It is the student’s responsibility to request and complete all make-up work.
• Failure to excuse absences in a timely manner may result in a grade of “F” for missed assignments.
• Teachers will designate a reasonable timeframe for completion of make-up work.

Extended Illness

• Students who are repeatedly absent due to illness must be under the care of a physician to receive excused absences.
• Students with chronic or extended illness may be referred to Hospital Homebound Services.

Excessive Absences and Credit

• Students accumulating:
  • Ten (10) or more unexcused hours in an annual course, or
  • Five (5) or more unexcused hours in a semester course
• may be subject to withholding of credit pending a conference and review by the Attendance Review Committee.
• Students with excessive absences (excused or unexcused) may be reported for truancy to the Department of Juvenile Justice, and legal action may be taken to ensure regular attendance.
• The Attendance Review Committee will convene quarterly to analyze attendance and may issue No Credit if a student exceeds allowable attendance limits.

Unexcused School Absences

Any absence that does not fall into one of the approved excused absence categories will be considered unexcused. A student who is absent will be marked unexcused until the required documentation is submitted as specified in the attendance policy. Failure to provide proper documentation within three (3) school days of the student’s return will result in the absence remaining unexcused.

Unexcused absences include, but are not limited to:

• Absences due to vacations, personal services, local non-school events, programs, or sporting activities
• Absences due to older students providing childcare for siblings
• Absences due to illness of family members
• Absences due to non-compliance with immunization requirements (unless lawfully exempted)
• Absences due to transportation issues

Early Dismissal Policy

Early release of students disrupts instructional time and may create safety and security concerns. No student will be released during the final 30 minutes of the school day unless authorized by the Principal for an emergency (such as illness or injury).

1. Parents/Guardians or another authorized adult (21 years of age or older) listed on the Emergency Contact Card must report to the front office to request early dismissal.
2. The adult picking up the student must present valid photo identification. This information must match the Emergency Contact Card for the student to be released. Students will not be dismissed to individuals not listed on the Emergency Contact Card.
3. After a student’s fifth (5th) early dismissal, a doctor’s note will be required for make-up work to be provided for missed classes.
4. Early dismissals count as absences and will affect the student’s attendance record for the classes missed.
5. Students who frequently miss the same class periods due to early dismissal may be referred for administrative review.

Truancy

Students with excessive unexcused absences or tardies will be monitored and supported according to the following guidelines:

• Students with 5 or more unexcused absences or tardies during a quarter will be identified by the teacher, and parent contact will be initiated.
• Students with 10 or more unexcused absences or tardies will be referred to the Truancy Coordinator during the second grading period. School counselors will schedule a parent meeting, and the student may be placed on an academic and/or behavioral contract for the remainder of the school year.
• Students with 15 or more unexcused absences within 90 calendar days, with or without the knowledge or consent of the parent/guardian, will be subject to a formal truancy referral and required to attend a conference with the school Dean and Principal.

Florida law (Section 1003.436, Florida Statutes) defines a full credit as a minimum of 135 hours of bona fide instruction in a designated course of study. While this requirement relates to graduation standards, it does not mandate automatic denial of credit for students attending fewer hours. However, state law permits schools to impose academic consequences related to attendance.

No Credit (NC)

Any student who accumulates:

• Ten (10) or more unexcused hours in an annual course, or
• Five (5) or more unexcused hours in a semester course

may be subject to withholding of credit regardless of the student’s academic grade.

For schools operating on a block schedule (approximately 90-minute class periods), two (2) absences equal approximately three (3) hours of missed instruction.

This policy also applies to students who accumulate:

• Ten (10) or more tardies in a semester course, or
• Twenty (20) or more tardies in an annual course

The Attendance Review Committee will meet quarterly to evaluate student attendance. A designation of No Credit (NC) may be issued if a student exceeds the allowable attendance limits.