Maintaining proper school attendance is one of the most important things your child can do to reach their goals for academic success. In the event that your child will be absent it is proper protocol for the parent/guardian to send a note to the student’s homeroom teacher prior to or after an absence from school. Your child may bring the note to school either before a scheduled absence or upon returning to school after an unexpected absence. Irregular school attendance hinders student progress and decreases full participation in school experiences.
A doctor’s excuse must be obtained if a child is absent three (3) days or more. According to district policy, an attendance letter will be automatically sent out to parents by the DeKalb County School District after the 6th unexcused absence. A social worker referral will be submitted after 8 or more unexcused absences with possible referral to the Solicitor General’s Office or other agencies.
Lawful absences are defined by Georgia Law as:
A. Illness
B. Family death
C. Religious holiday
D. Instances in which attendance could be hazardous as determined by DeKalb County School System
E. Other absences provided by Georgia law, such as serving as a page in the General Assembly