Attendance Policies

Purpose:

Regular attendance and application in classes are critical to success in school. ACHS attendance policies are designed to promote an effective learning climate for students and an efficient use of teacher time.

Definitions:

Absence: Any class missed for any reason other than a field trip, in-school suspension, suspension, or other administratively excused absence.

Excused Absence: An absence accompanied by a telephone call from the parent or guardian to 708-467-5800 before 3:00 p.m. on the day of the absence for one of the following reasons:

• Illness;
• Death in the immediate family;
• Family emergency;
• Observance of a religious holiday 

OR

• a prearranged absence from school must be presented to a Deans’ secretary, at 708-467-5800 at least five (5) days prior to the student’s expected absence for one of the following reasons:
• Scheduled/non-emergency medical appointment, with written proof from a doctor or hospital;
• Court appearance;
• College visit (2 per year w/ appropriate documentation from the counseling office);
• Family vacation days
   

Voicemail is available 24 hours a day for your convenience. A call from the parent/ guardian should include the following information: student’s name, student ID number, reason for absence, name of person calling, and contact number.

In the case of an extended illness, notification on the first day of absence is sufficient. However, the school may require subsequent re-verification from a physician.
 

AN ABSENCE FOR ONE OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED REASONS WILL BE CONSIDERED AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE IF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN FAILS TO CALL THE SCHOOL BY THE REQUIRED DEADLINES.

• Any absence after 12 will be considered UNEXCUSED unless medical documentation is received within two school days of absence to validate the absence(s) and/or is deemed excused by Administration.
• Unexcused Absence: Any absence that is not an excused absence. Unexcused absences may result in consequences including, but not limited to, detention, social suspension and in-school suspension.

Invalid Reasons for Absence:

• Oversleeping
• Missing the bus
• Car problems
• Work
• Babysitting
• Completing work for class

Tardy to Class or Study Hall:

A student is tardy if the student is not physically present in the classroom when the bell stops ringing without written authorization. Excessive tardiness to class, study hall or lunch may result in disciplinary action.

Consequences will be as follows:

• 10 tardies in one semester (cumulative/total per semester)= detention
• 15 tardies in one semester (cumulative/total per semester)= extended detention
• 20 tardies in one semester (cumulative/total per semester)=ISS
• 30 tardies in one semester (cumulative/total per semester)=Tier 1 social suspension.  A student can be removed from Tier 1 social suspension if the student is not tardy for 10 consecutive school days AND is passing all classes.
• 40 tardies in one semester (cumulative/total per semester)=Tier 2 social suspension.  A student can be reduced from Tier 2 social suspension to Tier 1 social suspension if the student is not tardy for 10 consecutive days AND is passing all classes.
• 50 tardies in one semester (cumulative/total per semester)=Tier 3 social suspension
   

Absence due to medical condition:

If a student misses school due to a medical condition, the parent/guardian should contact the Attendance Office to report the absence and the student’s counselor to secure all coursework assignments. Upon the student’s return to school, they must bring a doctor’s note to the Nurse’s Office. Medical documentation must be received within 48 hours of the student returning to school. All medical documentation for a one-day absence must be time stamped with the time the student entered the doctor’s office and the time the student left the doctor’s office.

Closed Campus:

ACHS is a closed campus. Students may not leave the school building during the day without authorization from the Deans’ Office. The nurse is the only individual that can send a student home sick. Parents are required to sign out of the building before they leave the campus. Violation of the closed campus rules may result in consequences including, but not limited to, detention and in-school suspension.

Consequences Related to Poor Attendance:

Students are expected to attend school every day. Consequences for absences are:

• 5 absences will result in parent/guardian notification by mail from an administrator
• 7 absences will result in parent/guardian notification from the counselor
• 9 absences will result in the teacher contacting the parent/guardian or further disciplinary consequences.
• 12 absences may result in the student being dropped from class and teacher contact. If a student is dropped from class, the student’s parent or guardian may appeal to the principal for possible reinstatement.

Make-up work is defined as work assigned during a student’s excused absence. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the teacher(s) upon the student’s return to school to inquire about make-up work. The following procedures are minimum guidelines:

• A reasonable length of time for students to complete make-up work for full credit is 1 day for each day of excused absence unless there are extenuating circumstances.
• A reasonable length of time to complete course work for a lab, project, performance, essay or demonstration is based upon a mutually agreed upon time set by the teacher following a conversation (digital or in person) with the student.
• Coursework is required to be made up at full credit for any excused absence, including absences resulting from suspension.
• Coursework missed due to an unexcused absence cannot be made up unless express permission is granted by the teacher.
• Parents/guardians of any student who is absent due to hospitalization or extended illness should inform the attendance office and contact the student’s counselor. A 48-hour notice is required to obtain any make-up work.

In accordance with the School Code, the District will take no punitive action against a chronic or habitual truant for truancy (including out of school suspensions, expulsions or court action) unless available supportive services and other school resources have been provided to the student. Students who are identified as chronic or habitual truants will be reported to the office of the South Cook Intermediate Service Center. A “chronic or habitual truant” is a child subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.

Consequences for unexcused absences are:

• Students who are chronically truant may receive truancy citations issued through the Village of Summit by the school’s SRO.
• Absent from school all day without a parent/guardian phone call may result in, but not limited to, detentions/other consequence.
• Absent from one class may result in, but not limited to, one detention.

Argo Community High School believes that in order to fulfill our mission, regular and punctual attendance is essential. The ACHS Deans’ Office will work in conjunction with the Summit Police Department to notify, warn, and enforce ORDINANCE NO. 10-O-11, Section 6-1-84 which states that it is unlawful for any parent, guardian, or person having custody or control of a minor enrolled in any school located in the Village of Summit to cause, permit, or encourage that minor to be truant or engage in chronic truancy. For more information regarding truancy, please contact the Deans’ Office at 708-467-5800.

A parent or guardian who knowingly and willfully permits a child to be truant may be convicted of a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of thirty days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1500.00.