Absence Line: 708-430-1121
1. ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY
Reavis students are expected to make a serious and continued academic effort by:
a. arriving to class on time
b. attending class daily
c. completing all assigned work on time
d. bringing necessary materials to class daily (supplies, books, papers, pens, gym clothes, etc.)
e. performing consistently according to their individual abilities
f. giving complete and undivided attention to the teacher, and
g. displaying a spirit of cooperation.
2. ATTENDANCE MATTERS
DEFINING ATTENDANCE
All absences – including those due to suspension, medical issues or vacations – will be accumulated and used in reporting total student absences. Sanctioned school absences will not be accumulated. Examples of sanctioned school absences include field trips, participation in athletic and club events, and student conferences with faculty. Once the information regarding the nature of an absence has been gathered, the school’s administration will determine whether the absence is excused or unexcused.
Illinois law requires that whoever has custody or control of any child between six (by September 1) and 17 years of age shall assure the child attends school in the district in which he or she resides, during the entire time school is in session (unless the child already has graduated from high school). Illinois law also requires that whoever has custody or control of a child who is enrolled in the school, regardless of the child’s age, shall assure that the child attends school during the entire time school is in session.
Regular attendance is necessary for a student to achieve academic success. The school reserves the right to request verification of reason for absence.
A. GENERAL ATTENDANCE
If you are absent from school, the following procedures must be observed:
Whenever a student is absent or tardy, the parent/guardian must phone the Attendance Office at (708) 430-1121* before 3:05 p.m. on the day of the absence. A call must be received, even after 3:05, to avoid truancy status. The following information is needed:
1. Student’s name and ID number
2. Reason for absence and estimated length of absence
3. Name of person calling and relationship to student
4. Students arriving after 8:00am (or 9:05 on late start Wednesday) will not be allowed to enter the building with outside beverages. All beverages will be confiscated and discarded.
Students are responsible for reminding their parent/guardian to call the school by 3:05 p.m. to report an absence or tardy. If there is no call on the day of the student absence, an unexcused absence will be recorded and disciplinary action may be taken.
Should the absence continue over several days, the parent/guardian is required to call on each day of student absence. Any student absent five (5) or more days is required to bring a doctor’s note designating the dates and reason for absence to the Deans’ Office upon returning to school. Absences 1-5 will be excused when a parent/guardian contacts the Attendance Office with a valid reason for the absence. Students will be given 5 (five) additional mental health days per school year. These days will be excused provided a parent/guardian contacts the Attendance Office stating the student will be using a mental health day. Students will follow the make-up work policy as outlined in the syllabi by the teacher of record for each individual class. Please note in section B under CLASSIFICATION OF ABSENCES, all external suspensions will count toward a student’s five (5) days of absence. All absences beyond five (5) days during a semester will be considered unexcused unless a written doctor’s note designating the dates and reasons for the absence is brought to the Deans’ Office upon returning to school. A letter will notify parents/guardians when the five (5)-day limit has been reached. Absences beyond five (5) will require a valid doctor note for excused status. An average unexcused absence of one (1) day per month is considered as excessive absence and may have a negative effect on academic success, including loss of credit for the class. A student who is absent 5% (9 days) or more in a 180-day period shall be considered a chronic truant and interventions will be made by the District.
B. CLASSIFICATION OF ABSENCES
Absences will be classified as being either excused or unexcused. In the case of an excused absence, the student will receive full credit for all work made up. Teachers are expected to supply reasonable assistance and supervision. It is the student’s responsibility upon returning to school to obtain the make-up assignments from the teachers. Parents/guardians are encouraged to schedule medical/dental appointments during non-school hours whenever possible. However, if such a visit is necessary, medical verification must be presented upon returning to school.
Excused absences include:
a. Illness
b. Death in the immediate family
c. Participation in school activities. Students who miss class due to field trips, performances, athletic events, etc., are responsible for making up all work done in class on the day(s) they were absent.
d. Religious holidays
e. College visits must be pre-arranged with the student’s counselor. Forms will be available in the Guidance and Deans Departments. Completed forms must be returned to the student’s Dean/Attendance Office upon completion of visit. A parent/guardian must call the Attendance Office to report the absence.
f. Court appearances must have verification. Court appearances must be pre-arranged with a Dean. Students will be excused one (1) hour before and one (1) hour after the court call.
g. Doctor’s appointment (Student must have proper documentation).
h. Family emergency under or at five (5) days.
i. Doctor/Dentist appointments must have verification. Students will be excused one (1) hour before and one (1) hour after the appointment. Doctor/Dentist appointments that require more time out of school will be handled on a case-by-case basis in the Dean’s Office.
j. Oversleeping and/or missing bus, if under their five (5) days for the semester.
k. External suspension if under their five (5) days for the semester.
l. Mental health day (5 days per school year)
m. Civic event (one (1) per school year) defined as an event sponsored by a non-profit organization or governmental entity that is open to the public.
n. Attending a military honors funeral to sound TAPS.
Unexcused absences include:
In the case of an unexcused absence, students will be able to earn academic credit and be allowed make-up privileges for class work, laboratory experiments, tests (excluding final exams) or homework collected or completed in class on that day. It is the responsibility of the student to request make-up work, complete and turn-in the work in a reasonable time frame from the date of the absence(s) in order to receive credit. Disciplinary consequences will be given for unexcused absences. Refer to the Actions and Consequences section of this handbook.
Unexcused absences include:
a. Unauthorized absence from class/classes, or school
b. Truancy; or participation in a “cut day”
c. Leaving class/school without proper permission
d. Abusing passes to and from classes
e. Tardy, over five (5) minutes to class
f. External suspension that exceeds five (5) days absence per semester. Students will be allowed to earn 100% credit for any work done during the suspension period if under the five (5) day limit. (See section G. External Suspension)
g. Unauthorized absence from detention
h. Vacation
The following diagnostic procedures will be used for identifying the cause of unexcused student absences prior to issuing disciplinary
consequences:
- Interview with the student
- Phone interview or meeting with parent/guardian
- Meet with school officials who may have information about the reasons for the student’s attendance problems
Truancy
The district will determine if a student is truant. Student attendance is critical to the learning process. Truancy, therefore, is a serious issue and will be dealt with in a serious manner.
Students who miss more than one percent but less than five percent of the prior 180 school days without an excused absence are truant. Students who miss five percent or more of the prior 180 regular school days without an excused absence are considered chronic truants.
In an effort to correct the issues, the following support services may be offered to truant or chronically truant student.
- Parent conferences
- Attendance agreements
- Student counseling
- Mentor
- Check-in check-out
- RAM Academy or C.A.R.E.
- Referral GPS
If chronic truancy persists after support services are made available, the district will take further action, including:
- Appropriate school discipline
- Referral to the truancy officer
- Reporting to the appropriate officials under the Juvenile Court Act
- Referral to the State’s Attorney
Any 17 year-old resident may, upon providing documentation of drop-out status for the previous six months, participate in the district’s various programs and resources for truants.
A student who misses 15 consecutive days of school without valid cause and who cannot be located or, after exhausting all available support services, cannot be compelled to return to school, is subject to expulsion. A parent/guardian who knowingly and willfully permits a child to be truant is in violation of state law.
C. RETURN TO SCHOOL PROCEDURE
- If an authorized call has been made to the school, no admit is required and the student may return to his/her class.
- A re-entrance admit is required for a student who has an unexcused or unexplained absence. The student is to report
to the Deans’ Office before going to his/her class.
- If a student is returning from a hospitalization, a re-entry meeting must be conducted prior to the student's return to class. The parent must provide the District with a “clear to return to school” form from the hospital/doctor. The team must develop a return to school plan that will support the students emotional, physical and academic needs. Parent/Guardian and student must attend this meeting.
- If a student is returning from civil detainment, a re-entry meeting must be conducted prior to the student's return to class. Parent, student, and RAM Team must meet to create a re-entry plan from civil detainment. Parent/student must provide any academic records from the period of detainment if applicable. The District will evaluate circumstances of detainment and develop a safety plan that supports all students and the emotional, physical and academic needs of the detained student.