FILE:  JBE

Cf:  IHAD

TRUANCY

The St. Martin Parish School Board recognizes truancy as absence from class or school for any portion of a period or day without permission from home or school.  Students shall not be allowed to leave the campus without proper permission at any time during the school day, including before school begins, after school while waiting for their bus, or any disciplinary session which the student has been directed to attend.  Students shall remain on the campus at all times unless granted permission to be off-campus, or be subject to disciplinary action.  Violations of attendance laws and regulations may lead to suspension and/or expulsion from school.

School personnel shall be expected to make every reasonable effort to assist a child who is habitually absent or tardy.  A student shall be considered habitually absent or habitually tardy when either condition continues to exist after all reasonable efforts by any school personnel, truant officer, or other law enforcement personnel have failed to correct the condition after the fifth (5th) unexcused absence or fifth (5th) unexcused occurrence of being tardy within any school semester.  Any student who is a juvenile and who is considered habitually absent from school or habitually tardy shall be reported by visiting teachers and Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance to the family or juvenile court of the parish or city as a truant child.

Tardy, for the purpose of notification, shall include, but not be limited to being late to school, or leaving or checking out of school unexcused prior to the regularly scheduled dismissal time at the end of the school day.  However, it shall not include reporting late to class when transferring from one class to another during the school day.

GUARDIAN RESPONSIBLE

With regard to any student in grades kindergarten (K) through eighth (8th) grade who is considered habitually absent or tardy, in any case where the student is the subject of a court ordered custody or visitation plan, the parent or legal guardian who is lawfully exercising actual physical custody or visitation of the student shall be responsible for the student’s attendance at school on those days and shall be solely responsible for any absence or tardiness of the child on such days.

Revised:  September, 2008

Approved:  November 5, 2008

Revised:  October 7, 2009

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:221, 17:223, 17:228, 17:233

Louisiana Children’s Code, Art. 728, Art. 730

Board minutes, 11-5-08, 10-7-09

St. Martin Parish School Board