Attendance
Research shows that school attendance and student achievement are directly correlated. Imagine how hard it is to miss a day or two of algebra and then have to get back on track as the whole class is moving forward with information that you missed! It is understandable that students will have genuine reasons to miss school; please review the Flagler Schools attendance guidelines below to ensure that absences don't impact student achievement.
District Attendance Policies
Excused Absences
State law and district attendance policy allow the parent/guardian to write notes to document and excuse up to ten days of student absence for illness or excusable reasons per year; five days in the first term (August–January) and five days in the second term (January–June).
Beyond those ten days, if a student has a serious reason to miss additional days, the school principal can review parent requests to excuse up to five more days per year for a total of 15 days. That is a significant amount of time out of school especially when students have to make up the missed work and keep up with the new work. Students do not receive credit for work made up for unexcused absences, which will impact their grades.
Beyond 15 days per year, only doctor/therapist or court notes are accepted to excuse absences. It is very important to document all days of absence with a note, which must be turned in at school even if the reason for absences does not allow the day to be excused. It is important to note that family vacations are not excusable days. Questions about attendance should be directed to the attendance clerk at your child's school.
Unexcused Absences
Attendance Makes a Difference
Good Attendance: 9 or Fewer Absences
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Students with good attendance generally achieve higher grades and enjoy school more.
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Students benefit most from their educational opportunities if they attend school regularly and on time.
Warning: 10–17 Absences
- Students absent an average of 15 days per year will miss a year's worth of school before their senior year.
- When students miss a day of school, it actually puts them two days behind their classmates.
Chronic Absenteeism: 18 or More Absences
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Excused and unexcused absences represent lost time in the classroom and lost opportunities to learn.
- Missing just one day every two weeks adds up to 18 days in a year.