Attendance Policy

The Hamilton County Board of Education emphasizes the importance of regular school attendance for every student. Regular attendance benefits both the child and their classmates, laying the foundation for a successful academic career and future job market readiness. To support this, the Board has established guidelines for excused absences.

Compulsory and Excused Absences

The Tennessee Code and State Rules and Regulations define compulsory and excused absences. The Hamilton County Board of Education and Orchard Knob Elementary strongly believe in regular daily attendance and achievement.

Allowed Unexcused Absences: By law, students are allowed five (5) unexcused absences per school year.
Documentation of Absences: Parents can provide excuses for three (3) additional personal illness days. A written statement signed by a parent, guardian, or doctor must be sent to the school when a student returns.

After the five (5) unexcused days and three (3) additional personal illness days, parents must provide medical documentation for personal illness, family illness, or personal reasons.

Attendance Interventions

After Four (4) Unexcused Absences: Parents will be notified by the school Social Worker, Attendance Officer, or Truancy Specialist to attend a Community Attendance Review Board meeting.
After More Than Five (5) Unexcused Absences:
- Parents will receive a legal notice to attend an Informal Truancy Hearing before juvenile court representatives.
- Continued unexcused absences will result in a Formal Hearing before a juvenile court judge.

For questions about attendance expectations or policies, please speak to an office staff or school administrator.

Chronic Absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, putting a student at academic risk. This differs from truancy, which only accounts for unexcused absences.

Truancy

State Law (TCA 49-6-3007 (e) (1)) requires schools to notify the Social Worker/Attendance Officer when a child has ten or more unexcused absences.

Automated Attendance Messages

The school system will send an automated phone message to parents of a student marked absent by 10:00 a.m. regarding that absence.

Absence Definitions

Absence: Recorded when a child misses more than one-half day (3.5 hours) of school.
Excused Absence: Includes personal illness, death in the family, recognized religious holidays, and family illness.
Unexcused Absence: Includes absences that do not meet state criteria for being excused or lack a written statement from the parent. Out-of-town trips are unexcused.

+ What are the allowed unexcused absences?

By law, students are allowed five (5) unexcused absences per school year.

+ What documentation is required for excused absences?

Parents can provide excuses for three (3) additional personal illness days. A written statement signed by a parent, guardian, or doctor must be sent to the school when a student returns. After the five (5) unexcused days and three (3) additional personal illness days, parents must provide medical documentation for personal illness, family illness, or personal reasons.

+ What happens after four (4) unexcused absences?

Parents will be notified by the school Social Worker, Attendance Officer, or Truancy Specialist to attend a Community Attendance Review Board meeting.

+ What are the consequences of more than five (5) unexcused absences?

Parents will receive a legal notice to attend an Informal Truancy Hearing before juvenile court representatives. Continued unexcused absences will result in a Formal Hearing before a juvenile court judge.

+ What is chronic absenteeism?

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, putting a student at academic risk. This differs from truancy, which only accounts for unexcused absences.

+ How does the school notify parents of absences?

The school system will send an automated phone message to parents of a student marked absent by 10:00 a.m. regarding that absence.

+ What are the definitions of absences?

Absence: Recorded when a child misses more than one-half day (3.5 hours) of school.
Excused Absence: Includes personal illness, death in the family, recognized religious holidays, and family illness.
Unexcused Absence: Includes absences that do not meet state criteria for being excused or lack a written statement from the parent. Out-of-town trips are unexcused.