Definition of Tardy:

A student is tardy if he/she is not inside the assigned classroom when the tardy bell has finished ringing.  For purposes of the tardy policy, homeroom is considered a class.

FOUR (4) TARDIES IN A CLASS CONSTITUTE ONE ABSENCE. 

Procedures for handling tardy to school and tardy to class are as follows:

  •   TARDY TO SCHOOL

 •    When students are tardy to school, they will report to their first block class.  They will be marked tardy on their attendance card.

 •    Parents must accompany the student to school (to the office) and sign the student in for a tardy to be excused.

 •    Tardies will not be excused with a telephone call. Parents are asked not to telephone the office to request an excused tardy.  This procedure will be reviewed with the principal if necessary.

 •    Every student will be allowed three tardies to his/her first block class.  This will allow for oversleeping, car trouble, flat tire, etc.

Students must recognize that being a responsible young adult means getting to your appointed place of assignment on time. Punctuality is the bedrock of success. It is the responsibility of each parent and student to get to school and class on time. Parents and students must share an equal load in ensuring that students arrive to school on time and students must shoulder the responsibility of getting to class on time. We must ensure that our school has an atmosphere for learning and achieving at the highest level.

Any time that a student is absent, or tardy to school, the parent or guardian must send a written note to school satisfactorily explaining the absence or tardiness. A satisfactory note from a parent or guardian meets the following State guidelines: illness, death in the immediate family; inclement weather (as determined by the principal) which would be dangerous to the life and health of the child; legal quarantine; emergency conditions as determined by the principal; and prior permission of the principal and consent of the parent or guardian. The note or doctor's excuse must be sent to school within three (3) school days of the student return to school to be counted as an excused absence or excused tardy.

On the fifth (5^th) unexcused absence or fifteenth (15^th) tardy to school, a referral will be made to the Early Warning Truancy/Discipline Program.

• Referral to the Early Warning Truancy/Discipline Program includes the parent/guardian receiving official notification to report to the Municipal Court to meet with the Attendance Officer and the District Attorney.

• A student absent from class more than four (4) unexcused days for any full credit course per term or two (2) unexcused days for any half credit course per term shall not receive credit for the course, otherwise approved by the principal. Four (4) tardies to the same class shall constitute one (1) absence for said class.

Students who are not in the classroom when the tardy bell sounds will be considered tardy. Teachers will not allow student(s) into the classroom without a pass. Student(s) who do not possess a pass will be referred to the administrative office. If the student(s) fail to go to the administrative office they will be considered skipping as well as failure to follow instructions.

The principal or his designee will make every reasonable effort to contact the parent/guardian of students who are in danger of excessive absences or tardies.

Tardy Procedure and Consequences

Students must recognize their responsibilities to be on time. Parents/guardians must ensure that students arrive to school on time and that students go to class in a timely manner. The procedures for tardies are as follows:

Tardy to School (1^st Block)

Warning for 1^st Tardy

If a student is tardy twice (2) times a letter will be sent to the parent/guardian by the attendance officer.

• If a student is tardy three (3) times, retract will be assigned. The attendance officer should give this information to the principal. A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian by the attendance officer.

• If a student is tardy four (4) times, a 3 day notice of suspension will be issued and a parent/guardian conference will be required. The student will not be allowed back to school until the parent/guardian conference is held. This will also result in an unexcused absence.

• If a student is tardy five (5) times, a notice of 5 day suspension will be issued and a parent/guardian conference will be required. The student will not be allowed back to school until the parent/guardian conference is held.

• If a student is tardy six (6) times, a notice of long-term suspension will be recommended/issued, along with a parent/guardian conference requirement. The student will not be allowed back to school until the parent/guardian conference is held.

Tardy to Class (2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Block)

Students are allotted enough time for movement between classes; therefore they are expected to meet the expectation to be in each class on time. The progressions for students who fail to meet this expectation are as follows:

If a student is tardy once (1), the teacher will send the student to the designated administrator. The administrator will contact the parent and request a parent conference.

• If a student is tardy twice (2) times, the teacher will send the student to the designated administrator. A notice of proposed suspension with the requirement for a parent/guardian conference.

• If a student is tardy three (3) times, the student will be sent to the appropriate administrator and the child will receive a 3 day suspension.

• If a student is tardy four (4) times, the student will be sent to the appropriate administrator and the child will be suspended for 5 days.

• If a student is tardy five (5) times, a discipline referral will be sent by the teacher to the appropriate administrator who will issue a five (5) day to long term notice of proposed suspension with the requirement for a parent/guardian conference.