Page 17 - Atlanta Public Schools Student Handbook

Students will be counted present in the following circumstances:
• A student who serves as a Page of the Georgia General Assembly.
• A student who attends court proceedings related to their foster care.
• A student who successfully participates in the Student Teen Election
Participant (STEP) program.
• A student who participates in an activity or program sponsored by
4-H shall be credited as present by the school in which enrolled in the same manner as an educational field trip, and such participation in an activity or program sponsored by 4-H shall not be counted as an absence.
Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic Absenteeism - Rate of Chronic Absenteeism is a school measure of the percentage of enrolled students who miss 10% or more school days for any reason. For students enrolled for the entire year in a typical school, chronically absent students miss 18 or more days per year. Chronic absenteeism includes the total number of days absent, excused, unexcused, or out of school suspensions.
Educational Neglect
When a child is absent, parents/guardians or other persons who have control of a child enrolled in APS should report reasons for absences in compliance with Policy and Regulation JB. Georgia law requires that after any student accrues five days of unexcused absences in a given school year, the parent/guardian or other person who has control or charge of that child shall be in violation of O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1(b). Any child that is subject to compulsory attendance who, during the school calendar year, has more than five days of unexcused absences is considered truant. The law states the following:
“Any parent, guardian, or other person residing in this state who has control or charge of a child or children and who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100.00, or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, community service, or any combination of such penalties, at the discretion of the court.”
Tardies
Administrative Regulation JBC-R(2) states in part: A school may request a parent/guardian provide proof of residency if a student’s attendance record indicates a pattern of tardies that place the school on notice that the address of record is invalid/inaccurate.
Early Check-Outs
Whenever a student is checked out prior to the end of the regular school day, the student should bring a written note from their parent/ legal guardian stating the reason. The student will only be released to their parent/legal guardian or to a person designated by the parent/legal guardian, as documented by school records, and upon presentation of proper identification. Students may also be released to child welfare authorities as allowed by law.
Participation in Extracurricular Activities
If a student is marked with an unexcused absence for the school day, the student will not be allowed to participate or attend extracurricular activities scheduled for the same day that the student is absent.
Making Up Missed Assignments or Tests
It is the student’s and parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to make arrangements for makeup work. Students should ask their teacher for any missed assignments on the first day they return to school. Failing to comply with this procedure will result in a grade of zero being given for graded assignments missed during an excused absence. Local boards of education are not required to provide makeup work for unexcused absences. Students who are suspended shall receive 2 days for each day of suspension to makeup missed assignments.
Suspension and Testing
At the discretion of the school principal, any student who receives
an out-of-school suspension (OSS) that interferes with their ability to participate in standardized testing, may be granted an opportunity to participate in partial suspension and attend school during the testing time only. Any student who receives OSS, but presents as a safety concern to the school community may be denied an opportunity to return to their zone school and participate in standardized testing during the suspension period.
Enrollment, Registration and Transfers
Students in all grade levels who are new to Atlanta Public Schools should enroll as soon as possible. Students enrolling for pre kindergarten must be four years old on or before September 1. Except as allowed by law and APS Regulation JBC-(R)(1), kindergarten students must be five years old on or before September 1 and first-grade students must be six on or before September 1.
APS requires registration when a student is new to the district, transitions from 5th to 6th grade, transitions from 8th to 9th grade, or whenever a change of residence occurs.
Eligible unemancipated minor students shall be enrolled in school by their parent(s)/legal guardian(s). Persons in control or charge of students who do not have legal guardianship may conditionally enroll students. Adult students and emancipated minors may enroll themselves. Emancipated minors must present a certified copy of the legal documents granting emancipation. See Policy JBC.
APS shall serve all eligible K-12 students residing with their parent(s) / legal guardian(s) in the city of Atlanta. In all cases where the question
of interpretation of the law relative to residence is involved, the final decision shall rest with the Superintendent. Students must meet enrollment and age requirements as defined in state law. See Policy JBC. The Atlanta Public School System has established attendance zones for schools. Students must attend the school in their assigned attendance zone where their custodial parents/legal guardians reside unless they request and receive a transfer to enroll elsewhere. A person who owns property in the city of Atlanta, but does not reside in the city of Atlanta, is not considered a resident. For more information about enrollment or if you are contemplating moving or a transfer, please call Student Assignment at 404-802-2233, visit your school, or visit the APS website at www.atlantapublicschools.us. The notification must be received by designated school personnel within three school days of the student’s return.
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