ATTENTION PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
In order to better meet the needs of today’s educational requirements, we need the student in class from 8:00-3:00 each day. Therefore, we have taken a close look at our Attendance Policy and made some changes that will increase not only your child’s attendance but will give you a chance to work with your school dealing with attendance issues. Please pay close attention to these changes because all students K-12 will be affected.

We are working closely with the Medical Doctors and the Juvenile County System in the county to make sure that the students receive educational opportunities. School attendance, both excused and unexcused, affects the overall educational opportunity for your child and the Fentress County Board of Education takes that responsibility very serious. State law mandates that all students in grades K-12 attend school.

Grades K-8

 

Fentress County Schools Elementary Progressive Truancy Intervention Plan 2018-19

 Tier I (3 unexcused absences) of the progressive truancy intervention plan must include, at a minimum:

• The data clerk at the school level will notify the school administrator of any student that has three unexcused absences.
• The school administrator will inform the teacher to schedule a meeting with the parent and student.
• The teacher will meet with the student, parent/guardian or any other person having control over the student
• A resulting attendance contract to be signed by the student, parent/guardian or any other person having control over the student, and the teacher. The contract will include specific description of the school's attendance expectation for the student. The contract will be in effect for 1 year. Penalties for additional absences.
• Regularly scheduled follow up meetings as needed.

 

• The data clerk at the school level will notify the school administrator of any student that has missed additional unexcused days since the initial Tier I meeting.
• The school administrator will inform the guidance counselor to complete an individualized assessment of the reasons the student has been absent from school. The guidance counselor will contact the parent to discuss steps on how to improve student's attendance. A Tier Il contract will be signed by guidance counselor, parent/guardian or any other person having control over the student, and student.
• Regularly scheduled follow up meetings as needed.

 

Tier Ill (one additional unexcused absence) must be implemented if the truancy interventions under tier two are unsuccessful. Tier three will consist of:

 

• Truancy Review Committee that will include the Attendance Supervisor or designee, District Coordinated School Health Nurse, School level Administrator, representative from D.C.S. and/or representative from Children's Center.
• Truancy Review Committee will meet once a month in Fentress County Courtroom. Steps will be discussed on how to effectively prevent further truancy issues.
• Tier Ill contract will be signed by Attendance Supervisor, School Administrator, parent/guardian or any other person having control over the student, and student.
• Any additional unexcused absences will result in the Attendance Supervisor sending written notice to the parent, guardian, or other person having control of the student, reporting the student who is unlawfully absent from school to the appropriate judge. Each case must be dealt with in such manner as the judge may determine to be in the best interest of the student, consistent with 37-1-132, 37-1-168, and 37-1-169. In the event a student in kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) is adjudicated to be unruly because the student has accumulated five (5) days or more of unexcused absences during any school year, the judge may assess a fine of up to fifty dollars ($50.00) or five (5) hours of community service, in the discretion of the judge, against the parent or legal guardian of the student.