Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Attendance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Anderson 5 proposes reducing excused parent notes from 10 to 5 days to address chronic absenteeism
Summary
District staff recommended a change to the student‑absence policy to limit parent‑excused absences to five days per year (with principal discretion for extenuating circumstances) after presenting chronic absenteeism data and new interventions.
Anderson County School District 5 staff asked trustees to approve changes to the district’s student‑absence procedure that would tighten how many parent notes can excuse absences and add an electronic‑note option.
The proposed change would allow a maximum of five parent‑excused days per school year; additional absences beyond five would be recorded as unexcused unless the school administrator determines an extenuating circumstance applies. Staff also recommended that schools accept electronic excuse notes and that the district route referral cases to the attendance office (student services) when patterns emerge.
Why it matters: district presenters said Anderson 5’s chronic absenteeism rate is about 26 percent, above recent state averages, and that the change aims to identify students with attendance problems earlier and route families to supports. Staff noted some neighboring districts use a similar five‑note limit and that earlier intervention improves outcomes.
What staff proposed and discussed
- Parent‑note limit: a parent may excuse up to five nonconsecutive days by written or electronic note; one parent note may cover consecutive days but cannot be used to excuse separate, nonconsecutive absences.
- Extenuating circumstances: principals retain discretion to excuse additional days when justified by medical or other compelling reasons; the policy directs schools to move chronic cases to the district attendance office for follow up.
- Enforcement and supports: staff described a monthly review of unexcused‑absence data and outreach: names with 15+ unexcused absences are escalated to student services; the district also discussed tailored interventions, referrals for mental‑health or social‑service supports, and targeted Saturday‑school make‑up options at the high‑school level.
Trustee discussion: board members asked how the change aligns with neighboring districts and whether it would generate parental pushback. Staff said the district will accept electronic documentation and that principals may excuse additional days for special circumstances. Trustees asked staff to circulate a plain‑language summary to families so parents understand how the new limit would work and what supports are available.
Ending: Staff said they will bring the policy and the administrative rule for formal action on the district’s consent agenda unless trustees request further edits.
