Student Attendance Policy
The primary goal of Fishers Christian Academy’s attendance policy is to encourage maximum student attendance so that students have every available opportunity to succeed; thus, we have implemented the following attendance policy:
Classroom attendance, even when grades are not assigned for the day’s activities, provides a valuable learning experience. When students are absent, they deprive their classmates of their contributions to the learning process. Also, they do not derive any benefits themselves from the classroom discussions and interactions among teachers and fellow students. Besides losing time from the classroom learning environment, research has shown that students who missed school frequently or were habitually late often develop the same practices at work and elsewhere in life.
As a school accredited by the Indiana Department of Education, Fishers Christian Academy is measured by the state mandated standards. Indiana Public Law 221 measures each school’s attendance average against all other schools and places schools in performance categories using attendance as one of the criteria for placement. Accordingly, Fishers Christian Academy can perform well in academic terms but be placed in a lower achievement category due to insufficient attendance rates. Indiana has an attendance standard with the requirement that students who do not pass the ISTEP+ end of course assessments, must establish a 95% attendance rate and meet certain academic standards in order to receive a diploma. Schools are vested by the State of Indiana with broad authority to prescribe and enforce standards relating to student attendance. Indiana attendance law mandates every student enrolled must be in attendance unless they are ill or there is a death in the immediate family. Excessive absences, as determined by the school administration, is to be acted upon, utilizing due process and procedures, which could result in consequences as described below.
Indiana Standards and Requirements Provided by Statute:
Excused Absences:
According to Fishers Christian Academy policy, certain absences are considered excused. These absences include:
**According to School policy regarding extraordinary circumstances parents may, in rare instances, receive approval of the principal for students to be absent and excused from school for reasons other than those specified by law and policy.
Students with Excessive Absences:
Tardy to School (Unexcused):
When students arrive in class between 8:15-8:30 a.m., teachers will record the tardy and apply consequences as listed in the section below. Students arriving after 8:30 may be considered truant. The teacher will write a discipline slip for these late arrivals, and an administrator will assign the following consequences:
How to Report an Absence:
Leaving School for Medical/Dental Appointments:
Requests for Excused Absence:
The parent should review the FCA attendance guidelines outlined at the beginning of the attendance section. If a parent believes that a student should be excused from school because of extraordinary circumstances, they should submit a request to the Principal.The Principal will determine whether the requested absence will be excused or unexcused. If the requested absences are unexcused, the student may be assigned a detention for each unexcused absence.
Vacations:
Vacations must be scheduled around the school calendar. Absences for vacations, including absences to extend vacations and including partial days, are not excused. Extenuating circumstances must be approved by the Principal.
Classroom attendance, even when grades are not assigned for the day’s activities, provides a valuable learning experience. When students are absent, they deprive their classmates of their contributions to the learning process. Also, they do not derive any benefits themselves from the classroom discussions and interactions among teachers and fellow students. Besides losing time from the classroom learning environment, research has shown that students who missed school frequently or were habitually late often develop the same practices at work and elsewhere in life.
As a school accredited by the Indiana Department of Education, Fishers Christian Academy is measured by the state mandated standards. Indiana Public Law 221 measures each school’s attendance average against all other schools and places schools in performance categories using attendance as one of the criteria for placement. Accordingly, Fishers Christian Academy can perform well in academic terms but be placed in a lower achievement category due to insufficient attendance rates. Indiana has an attendance standard with the requirement that students who do not pass the ISTEP+ end of course assessments, must establish a 95% attendance rate and meet certain academic standards in order to receive a diploma. Schools are vested by the State of Indiana with broad authority to prescribe and enforce standards relating to student attendance. Indiana attendance law mandates every student enrolled must be in attendance unless they are ill or there is a death in the immediate family. Excessive absences, as determined by the school administration, is to be acted upon, utilizing due process and procedures, which could result in consequences as described below.
Indiana Standards and Requirements Provided by Statute:
- I.C. 20-33-2-25 Habitual Truants: The superintendent or attendance officer may report a student who habitually is absent from school in violation of this chapter to an intake officer of the juvenile.
- I.C. 20-33-2-44 Penalties: Anyone knowingly violating this chapter commits a Class B misdemeanor which is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine.
- I.C. 20-33-2-28 Compulsory Attendance/Duty of Parents: It is unlawful for a parent to fail, neglect, or refuse to send his child to school for the full term as required under this chapter unless the child is being provided with instruction equivalent to that given in public schools.
Excused Absences:
According to Fishers Christian Academy policy, certain absences are considered excused. These absences include:
- Illness. (A doctor’s note is required if a student is absent 3 consecutive days or 5 non-consecutive days during a semester)
- Death in the family.
- Service as a page for the Indiana State Legislature
- College/school visitation
- Mandated absences (suspension, expulsion, exclusions)
**According to School policy regarding extraordinary circumstances parents may, in rare instances, receive approval of the principal for students to be absent and excused from school for reasons other than those specified by law and policy.
Students with Excessive Absences:
- When a student misses 3 days of school within a semester, the principal will review the student's attendance. The review will determine the causes of the student absences, and the student will be encouraged to improve his/her attendance. Documentation of the communication and plan will be kept on file.
- When a student misses 3 consecutive excused days of school, the parent will receive a request for a physician's certification of a child's incapacity to attend school, or a letter requiring a doctor's note to document the causes of further absences.
- Any further absences will result in a meeting between the Principal, parent and child. A warning of further actions will be communicated if attendance does not improve; the student may be un-enrolled or jeopardize their ability to reenroll the following school year. The administration will also file a truancy report.
- When a student misses more than 5 excused absences within a semester, they may lose credit for that class.
- When a student is absent more than 5 days in a semester, it is considered excessive.
Tardy to School (Unexcused):
When students arrive in class between 8:15-8:30 a.m., teachers will record the tardy and apply consequences as listed in the section below. Students arriving after 8:30 may be considered truant. The teacher will write a discipline slip for these late arrivals, and an administrator will assign the following consequences:
- Third Tardy: The teacher will contact home to inform parents.
- Fourth Tardy: The principal will meet with the student and parent to strategize ways to arrive on time and discuss consequences.
- Fifth Tardy: The students will be assigned a detention for each tardy.
How to Report an Absence:
- According to state law, parents may be required by the school to provide documentation from a medical provider for any student absence.
- Absences which are not verified by parents within one day shall be classified as unexcused/truant.
Leaving School for Medical/Dental Appointments:
- The student should attend school before and after appointments.
- The doctor’s verification of the appointment should be submitted to the front office when the student returns to school, whether that occurs on the same day or on the following day.
- Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments outside of school hours, and they should inform or remind students of their appointments beforehand.
Requests for Excused Absence:
The parent should review the FCA attendance guidelines outlined at the beginning of the attendance section. If a parent believes that a student should be excused from school because of extraordinary circumstances, they should submit a request to the Principal.The Principal will determine whether the requested absence will be excused or unexcused. If the requested absences are unexcused, the student may be assigned a detention for each unexcused absence.
Vacations:
Vacations must be scheduled around the school calendar. Absences for vacations, including absences to extend vacations and including partial days, are not excused. Extenuating circumstances must be approved by the Principal.
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Fishers Christian Academy is a ministry of Fishers Baptist Church. 9587 East 131st Street, Fishers, IN 46038