Handbook

STUDENT ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program. Students are expected to attend all daily classes, field trips, assemblies (during school hours), and school programs (if student is participating in program for class credit).

Definition of Absence: A child is considered absent when not present for at least ½ of the school day.

Excused Absence: In the event there is a student illness or a death in the immediate family, the student will be issued an excused absence.

A student must make up all work missed due to any excused absence. It is the student’s sole responsibility to obtain work missed during an absence the day the student returns to school. Absentee work must be completed within the time frame given: 1 day for each day absent. Students must bring a signed note from parents or a licensed physician in order to receive an excused absence. Once a student has been absent nine times, all absences due to illness must be verified by a note from a licensed physician. Students may be held back due to excessive absences (over 18 in one school year).

Approved Unexcused Absence:  This absence is for pre-arranged vacations.  All tests and quizzes must be taken before a pre-arranged absence. Any long term projects, reports, etc. must be handed in the day before a pre-arranged absence begins. Any work, tests, quizzes, or projects not handed in before a pre-arranged absence may receive a 0%. It is the student’s responsibility to inform teachers of their approved absence at least one week prior to vacation.

  • Keep in mind that the teacher needs time to accumulate the assignments for your student. And assignments are due before the absence.

Unapproved Unexcused Absence: Vacations or any non-illness related absences fall under this category.  A note from a parent does not excuse the student unless the note clarifies the student’s illness. Doctor’s notes are preferred if student went to a clinic. Students may receive a 0% for any tests/quizzes/projects/performances that occurred during an unexcused absence.  MCA follows the CT state guidelines concerning truancy:  Sec. 10-198a. Policies and procedures concerning truants. (Note: only some pertinent sections of 10-198a have been included.). For purposes of this section, “truant” means a child age five to eighteen, inclusive, who is enrolled in a public or private school and has four unexcused absences from school in any one month or ten unexcused absences from school in any school year.

MidState Christian Academy reserves the right to retain any student at the same grade level if a student is considered truant according to the state’s guidelines. If a student (9th – 12th) receives 6 unexcused absences in a one semester course or more than 13 in a full year course, credit may be lost for that course.

Tardiness to Individual Class for 6th – 12th grade will be dealt with in the following manner:

  1. Tardiness will be entered into Jupiter Ed by the end of the day.
  2. First Offense: Warning
  3. Second Offense: Warning
  4. Third Offense: Student will be sent to the office.
  5. Continued Offense: Student will receive one detention each day they are late. Detentions will be fulfilled Friday morning beginning at 7am. Tardiness records are cleared each quarter.

Each teacher will keep record of tardiness for their individual class.