Eleanor Finch
In Florida, public schools are required to track and respond to both excused and unexcused absences. The state legislature recognizes the link between poor academic performance and non-attendance, and therefore, school districts are tasked with enforcing regular school attendance. Local school boards are responsible for determining the meaning and conditions associated with excused and unexcused absences, with students and parents being held accountable for justifying each absence. Absenteeism can have consequences for students, including academic penalties and, in the case of minors, the suspension of driving privileges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Responsibility for enforcing attendance | District school superintendent, with support from local law enforcement agencies |
| Responsibility for justifying each absence | Parent of the student |
| School response to unexcused absence or absence with unknown reasons | Contact the student's parent to determine the reason for the absence |
| School response if absence is excused | Provide opportunities for the student to make up assigned work without academic penalty |
| School response if absence is unexcused | Student has one day to complete and turn in the work for each day they were absent, may only earn 50% credit |
| School response to 5 unexcused absences or absences with unknown reasons within a calendar month | Student's primary teacher reports to the school principal |
| School response to 10 unexcused absences or absences with unknown reasons within a 90-day period | School principal refers the case to the school's child study team to determine if patterns of truancy are developing |
| School response to patterns of nonattendance | Schedule a meeting with the parent to identify potential remedies, notify district school superintendent and home education programs |
| School response to continual sickness and repeated absence | Student must be under the supervision of a doctor, whose statement confirms that the student's condition requires absence |
| School response to 15 unexcused absences within a 90-day period | Student may not be issued a driver's license or learner's license |
| School response to failure to provide a note within 48 hours of returning to school | Automatic unexcused absence |
| School response to 15 days of absence, whether excused or unexcused | Student must present verification from a licensed doctor for all subsequent absences due to illness |
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What You'll Learn
Excused and unexcused absences
In Florida, the law requires local school districts to determine the meaning and conditions associated with excused absences, unexcused absences, and tardiness. Each district school board must establish an attendance policy that includes the minimum number of days a student must be in attendance per year. The school board must also determine whether an absence or tardy is excused or unexcused according to the criteria established by the district school board.
Excused absences are typically granted for reasons such as illness, medical appointments, family emergencies, religious holidays, or other approved activities. The specific criteria for what constitutes an excused absence vary from district to district, so it is important to refer to the local school board's policies. In some cases, a doctor's note or other documentation may be required to verify the reason for the absence.
Unexcused absences, on the other hand, are those that do not meet the criteria for an excused absence. This could include absences due to truancy, vacation, or absences where the reason is unknown. Schools are required to track both excused and unexcused absences and to contact the student's home in the case of an unexcused absence or an absence for which the reason is unknown. This early intervention is intended to prevent the development of patterns of non-attendance, which can lead to poor academic performance.
When a student returns to school after an excused absence, they are typically allowed to make up any missed work without academic penalty. The school may set a reasonable timeframe for completing the makeup work, and the student can usually earn full credit for the assignments. On the other hand, students with unexcused absences are still responsible for completing any missed work, but they may only earn partial credit.
In Florida, students' driving privileges are also linked to their attendance. Minors between the ages of 14 and 18 who accumulate a certain number of unexcused absences (typically 15) within a 90-calendar-day period may have their learner's permit withheld or their driving privileges suspended. To regain their driving privileges, students must attend school regularly for a specified period (such as 30 days) with no unexcused absences and pay a reinstatement fee.
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Truancy and intervention
In Florida, truancy is a precursor to juvenile delinquency, with most delinquents having a history of truancy. To address this, Florida has implemented several strategies to promote and enforce regular school attendance.
Firstly, Florida law requires local school districts to establish an attendance policy that defines excused and unexcused absences and tardiness. Schools must track both excused and unexcused absences and contact the student's home in the case of an unexcused absence or an absence with an unknown reason. This early intervention is crucial for developing good attendance habits and improving student learning and achievement. Upon each unexcused absence or absence with an unknown reason, the school principal or their designee must contact the student's parent to determine the reason. If the absence is excused, the school should provide opportunities for the student to make up assigned work without academic penalty.
Secondly, if a student has had at least five unexcused absences or absences with unknown reasons within a calendar month, or ten such absences within a 90-day period, the student's teacher must report this to the school principal. The principal will then refer the case to the school's child study team to determine if a pattern of truancy is developing. If a pattern of non-attendance is identified, a meeting with the parent must be scheduled to discuss potential remedies. The principal must also notify the district school superintendent and the school district contact for home education programs about the student's pattern of non-attendance.
Thirdly, schools should implement prevention and intervention strategies to address truancy and attendance issues, as required for drivers' license-related requirements for habitual truants. This includes notifying the superintendent of schools and the district home education contact about specific students' patterns of non-attendance. Habitual truancy cases should be referred to the case staffing committee and/or a child-in-need-of-services provider for assistance.
Additionally, Florida has implemented the Truancy Intervention Program (TIP), an early intervention program aimed at reducing truancy in elementary schools in Pinellas and Pasco counties. This program addresses the underlying causes of school attendance problems, including family and personal dysfunctions. TIP is a collaborative effort involving the Office of the State Attorney, the School Board of Pinellas County, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and Family Resources, Inc.
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Parental responsibility
In Florida, parental responsibility is a key aspect of ensuring good school attendance and academic performance. Firstly, parents are required to notify the school whenever their child is absent. This notification process is essential for the school to determine the reason for the absence and whether it falls under the category of excused or unexcused, as defined by the district school board policy.
Parents play a crucial role in justifying each absence. Florida law requires that the justification provided by parents be evaluated based on the criteria established by the district school board. This evaluation process helps determine whether an absence is considered excused or unexcused. Schools may request additional documentation, such as a doctor's note, to support the justification for an absence.
When a student returns to school after an excused absence, the school provides opportunities for them to make up any missed work without academic penalty. However, it is the student's responsibility to arrange and complete the make-up work within a reasonable timeframe determined by the school. On the other hand, unexcused absences may result in academic penalties, with students earning only partial credit for late assignments.
Florida law also recognises the importance of parental involvement in addressing chronic absenteeism and truancy. If a student exhibits a pattern of non-attendance, with at least five unexcused absences in a month or ten unexcused absences in a 90-day period, the school is required to take proactive steps. These steps include scheduling a meeting with the parent to identify potential remedies and involving the school's child study team to determine if early intervention strategies are needed.
Additionally, parents are responsible for ensuring their children's regular school attendance to maintain driving privileges for minors between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may suspend or withhold learner's permits and driving licenses if minors in this age group do not meet the required attendance standards.
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Academic penalties
In Florida, public schools are required to track excused and unexcused absences and contact the student's home in the case of an unexcused absence or an absence for which the reason is unknown. This is to prevent the development of patterns of non-attendance, which is associated with poor academic performance.
Upon each unexcused absence, the school principal or their designee must contact the student's parent or guardian to determine the reason for the absence. If the absence is excused, as defined by the district school board policy, the student will be provided with opportunities to make up assigned work without receiving an academic penalty, as long as the work is completed within a reasonable time frame. Coursework, tests, and quizzes can be made up for 100% credit. However, if the absence is unexcused, it is the student's responsibility to complete and turn in any missed work within one day for each day they were absent, and they may only earn 50% credit.
Students aged 14-18 who accumulate 15 unexcused absences in any 90-day period will not be issued a learner's permit, and any previously issued driver's licenses will be suspended. Additionally, if a student has had at least five unexcused absences within a calendar month or 10 unexcused absences within a 90-day period, the student's primary teacher must report to the school principal, who will refer the case to the school's child study team to determine if early patterns of truancy are developing. If a pattern of non-attendance is identified, a meeting with the parent or guardian must be scheduled to identify potential remedies, and the principal must notify the district school superintendent and the school district contact for home education programs.
Florida law requires local school districts to determine the meaning and conditions associated with excused and unexcused absences and tardiness. Each district school board must establish an attendance policy that includes the number of days a student must be in attendance per year and whether an absence or tardy is excused or unexcused according to the criteria established by the board. When a student is continually sick and repeatedly absent, they must be under the supervision of a doctor to receive an excuse, and the doctor's statement should confirm that the student's condition requires absence for more than the number of days permitted by the district school board policy.
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Tardiness
Florida law requires local school districts to determine the meaning and conditions associated with excused absences, unexcused absences, and tardiness. Tardiness is disruptive to the learning environment and can negatively impact student achievement. Excessive tardiness (more than once per week) is addressed on a case-by-case basis. Tardiness is considered a violation of district school board transportation policies, and disciplinary action for unexcused tardiness is progressive and may include Level 1 consequences.
According to Florida Statutes, school districts must take an active role in promoting and enforcing attendance to improve student performance. Poor academic performance is associated with non-attendance. Each district school superintendent is responsible for enforcing the school attendance of all students subject to compulsory school age in their district. They must also support enforcement by local law enforcement agencies.
The district school board policies require the parent of a student to justify each absence, and this justification is evaluated based on the district school board's policies, which define excused and unexcused absences. Upon each unexcused absence, or an absence for which the reason is unknown, the school principal or their designee must contact the student's parent to determine the reason for the absence. If the absence is excused, the school provides opportunities for the student to make up assigned work without academic penalty. If a student has had at least five unexcused absences or absences for unknown reasons within a calendar month, or ten such absences within a 90-day period, the student's primary teacher must report to the school principal or their designee.
Students aged 14-18 who accumulate 15 unexcused absences in a 90-day period will not be issued a learner's permit or will have their driving privileges suspended by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
An absence is considered any time a student misses school for any reason.
Each district school board determines the criteria for an excused absence. Reasons for excused absences vary by school board policy.
An absence is unexcused if it does not meet the criteria for an excused absence as defined by the district school board policy.
If a student has an unexcused absence, the school will contact the student's parent to determine the reason for the absence. The student will be responsible for completing any missed work and may receive a reduced credit.
If a student has multiple unexcused absences, the school will work with the student and their parents to improve attendance. If the student continues to have unexcused absences, they may face disciplinary action, including a referral to the school's child study team and potential suspension of their driver's license or learner's permit.
