Section 2 - Student Attendance

Why Attendance Matters

Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in a student's success. When students miss school, they miss experiences and instruction that cannot always be recreated. Emanuel County Schools is committed to ensuring every student is in school, on time, every day.

Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law

Plain-English Summary: Georgia law requires all children between ages 6 and 16 to attend school. Parents and guardians are legally responsible for making sure their child is enrolled and attending. After 5 unexcused absences, the school will send formal notification. Each additional unexcused day after that notification is a separate legal offense and may result in fines, community service, or jail time for the parent or guardian.

O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1 — Official Policy Language

Mandatory attendance in a public school, private school, or home school program is required for children between their sixth and sixteenth birthdays, unless the child has successfully completed all requirements for a high school diploma.

Every parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of a child of mandatory attendance age shall enroll and send that child to school. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor offense. Upon conviction, penalties may include a fine of $25–$100, up to 30 days imprisonment, community service, or any combination of these penalties. Each unexcused absence after the school's formal notification of 5 unexcused absences constitutes a separate offense.

After two unsuccessful attempts to notify the parent or guardian, the school shall send notice by certified mail, return receipt requested. Schools shall retain signed acknowledgment forms through the end of the school year.

Excused Absences

The following absences are considered excused:

Personal illness — when a student's attendance could be detrimental to their own health or the health of others; medical documentation may be required upon return
Serious illness in the immediate family necessitating absence from school; medical documentation may be required upon return
- Immediate family includes: mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, or a blood/legal relative living in the student's household
Death in the family — immediate family as above, plus brother, sister, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunt, uncle, great-aunt, great-uncle, cousin, niece, or nephew
Religious holidays — recognized holidays observed by the student's faith
Government mandate — court order, jury duty, pre-induction military physical exam, or similar order from a governmental agency
Conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety
Voter registration or voting — up to 1 day to register to vote or vote in a public election
Military family deployment (visit) — up to 5 excused days per year to visit a parent in the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard prior to deployment or during leave from a combat zone
Military affairs sponsored events — up to 5 excused days per year (not to exceed 2 school years) for students whose parent has served or is serving on active duty, to attend military affairs sponsored events; prior documentation required
Georgia General Assembly Page — with appropriate documentation
Student Teen Election Participant (STEP) Program — students participating in STEP are counted present; limited to 2 school days per year
Foster care court proceedings — a student in foster care is counted present (not absent excused or unexcused) when attending court proceedings related to their foster care status per O.C.G.A. § 20-2-692.2
4-H activities — student is counted present in the same manner as an educational field trip per O.C.G.A. § 20-2-692.3
Other — any absence the Superintendent or designee determines to have merit based on circumstances

Unexcused Absences

Any absence that does not meet the criteria above is considered unexcused.

Absence Documentation

Situation	What Is Required	Deadline
Up to 5 absences per year	Written note from parent/guardian stating reason	Within 5 school days of return
More than 5 absences per year	Medical documentation from a healthcare provider	Within 5 school days of return
Funeral/bereavement beyond 5 days	Copy of obituary or verification of funeral attendance	Within 5 school days of return

Note: Parent-written excuses are limited to 5 per school year. Any absence beyond 5 that is not accompanied by medical documentation will be recorded as unexcused.

Absence Thresholds and Consequences

Grade Level	Unexcused Absence Threshold	Consequence
K–8	More than 20 unexcused absences	May not be promoted to the next grade
9–12 (semester course)	More than 10 unexcused absences	Reviewed by School Attendance Hardship Committee
9–12 (yearlong course)	More than 20 unexcused absences	Reviewed by School Attendance Hardship Committee
Pre-K	10 consecutive absences	May be dropped from the program (per Bright from the Start)

Students enrolled for only part of the year will have attendance thresholds prorated accordingly.
Students receiving special education services will have the IEP Committee serve as the Hardship Committee.
Students are responsible for all work missed due to any absence — excused, unexcused, or suspension.

Notification of Unexcused Absences

When a student accumulates 5 unexcused absences, the school will notify the parent or guardian by Infinite Campus notification, text, letter, or mail. The notice will explain the possible penalties and state that each additional unexcused absence is a separate offense.

If the school cannot reach the family after two reasonable attempts, notification will be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, before any legal action is taken.

Hospital Homebound Program

Students who expect to be absent 10 or more consecutive days due to a medical condition or chronic illness should speak with their teacher, counselor, or administrator as soon as possible to apply for the Hospital Homebound program.

School Attendance Hardship Committee

When a student exceeds the maximum number of allowable absences, the school will initiate a review through the School Attendance Hardship Committee. Parents and students will receive reasonable notice and will have the opportunity to attend and provide documentation.

Committee Members:

Assistant Principal (as designee of the Principal)
One school counselor or system social worker (if requested by the principal)
One of the student's academic teachers (appointed by the principal)
One teacher representative (appointed by the principal)

Possible Outcomes:

Decision	What Happens Next
Hardship Exists — Waiver Granted	Attendance policy is waived. For grades 9–12, student must score 70% or higher on EOC or a comprehensive exam to receive course credit. Unexcused absences during the waiver period reduce the likelihood of a waiver being granted. A letter is mailed to the parent/guardian.
Hardship Does Not Exist	Retention or credit denial is supported. Parent/guardian receives written notice of the decision.

Appeals Process:

Appeal the Hardship Committee's decision → School Principal
Appeal the Principal's decision → Superintendent / Board of Education (final ruling)

The Board's role on appeal is limited to ensuring the committee followed policy and did not act arbitrarily or discriminate.

High School Note: Credit recovery may be available as an "absence forgiveness" option. However, students who use this option are not eligible for perfect attendance recognition, and attendance records will not be changed.

Late Arrivals and Early Departures

Every student is expected to be in school for the full school day. Arriving late or leaving early without an excuse is a violation of Georgia's Compulsory Attendance Law.

How Time Is Counted:

Time Missed from a Class	How It Is Recorded
Less than 30 minutes	Tardy or early departure
30 minutes or more	Absent for that class period

Excused Tardies / Early Departures — Accepted Reasons:

Personal illness
Illness or death in the immediate family
Religious holiday
Government mandate (jury duty, military physical, etc.)
Georgia General Assembly Page duty
Military family deployment (parent on active duty or returning from combat zone)

A parent/guardian notation on the school sign-in/sign-out sheet is accepted in place of a written note.

Consequences for Unexcused Tardies/Early Departures:

5 cumulative unexcused late arrivals or early departures in a school year → formal notice sent home; considered a violation of compulsory attendance law
More than 5 unexcused tardies or early departures in a 9-week period → progressive discipline, which may include detention, in-school suspension, or out-of-school suspension

Previously Assigned Work

Work that was assigned while a student was present is due on the day the student returns to school, unless an administrator determines that expectation is unreasonable.

If a student was present when a test was scheduled but absent on the day of the test, the teacher may require the student to make it up on the first day back. Credit is awarded only if the absence is excused and documentation is submitted within 5 days.

Make-Up Work

Absence Type	What Can Be Made Up
Excused or pre-approved absence	All daily assignments, tests, and major projects
Unexcused absence	Tests and major projects only

Process:

Students must arrange make-up work with their teacher within 5 days of returning to school.
All make-up work must be completed within 5 days of the last absence, unless the principal approves an extension.
If the teacher is on leave, the student's deadline is extended by the number of days the teacher is out.
No make-up work will be graded until the absence has been determined to be excused.

Extracurricular Eligibility (Grades 6–12)

To participate in extracurricular activities (clubs, pageants, field trips, etc.), middle and high school students must meet all three requirements each nine-week grading period:

Requirement	Standard
Grades	70% or higher in at least 75% of classes
Attendance	Fewer than 6 unexcused absences in the 9-week period
Discipline	4 or fewer referrals in the 9-week period

A student is considered present for a full day if they attend at least 75% of their classes.
Students who do not meet these standards lose extracurricular privileges for the following nine-week period.
Students may regain privileges by meeting all standards in a subsequent grading period.
Middle school athletics follow high school eligibility — eligibility changes at the semester.
Students enrolled for only part of the year will have requirements prorated.

Perfect Attendance

To qualify for perfect attendance recognition, a student must:

Have no unexcused tardies to school
Have no early dismissals from school
Be present on campus for the full day, every school day

Accident or Illness at School

Any accident serious enough to require first aid must be reported to the principal's office immediately. Parents will be notified of any serious accident or illness that occurs at school.

Driver's License and School Enrollment

Georgia Teen-Age and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-22)

A student's attendance and discipline record directly affects their eligibility for a Georgia driver's permit or license. Holders of a Class D license may not drive between 12:00 AM and 5:00 AM, and may not drive with non-family passengers under age 21 during their first six months of holding the license.

Certificate of School Enrollment

Students applying for a driver's license or permit must present a Certificate of School Enrollment, available from the school counselor's office.

Situation	Processing Time	Certificate Valid For
During the school year	48 hours (2 business days)	30 days
Prior to summer break	48 hours (2 business days)	90 days
Expired certificate	48 hours + $5 fee	30 days

Students planning to get a license or permit over the summer should obtain their certificate before the last day of school.

Children in Need of Services (CHINS)

ECS believes early intervention is key to resolving attendance problems. When a student begins to accumulate absences, the school will intervene through:

Phone calls to the parent or guardian
Letters home
Home visits
Conferences about absences and available resources

If attendance problems continue after these interventions, the student will be referred for a Children in Need of Services (CHINS) Hearing. This hearing is designed to connect families with school and community support — it is preventative, not punitive.

Truancy is defined as 5 or more unexcused absences in a school year. A CHINS referral is made when a student reaches 10 unexcused absences. Any student reported or found truant under O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-698, 20-2-699, or 20-2-700 will be immediately referred for a CHINS hearing.

Note: Days missed due to out-of-school suspension (OSS) do not count as unexcused absences for the purpose of determining truancy.