Dear Parent/Guardian:
ECP’s goal this 2020-2021 school year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly. Attendance at school is the most basic requirement for learning. For students to reach for their personal best, they must show up and make their strongest effort at school each and every day. ECP is aware some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances during this time, but, we also know that when students miss too much school— regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically. The school counselor is presenting in every classroom this month to ensure students understand the importance of being present and on-time.
Overview of ECP’s Attendance Policy*
If your child is absent, a note from you or your child’s physician explaining the reason/need for the absence will be required upon return. During Distance Learning, please provide an absence note to your student’s teacher via Class Dojo or text and the teacher will forward to our Attendance Clerk.
A student’s absence shall be excused for the following reasons:*
- Personal illness
2. Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer or due to COVID-19 exposure
3. Medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic appointments
4. Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family
- Participation in religious instruction or exercises in accordance with Charter School policy
- Court appearance (of child, not parents)
7. Attendance at the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen
Student absences will be marked unexcused for any other reason, including family vacations, transportation issues, or illness of parents. Keep in mind, all absences, excused as well unexcused are still considered absences.
ECP’s Unexcused Absences Information (starting September 8th)*
| After THREE unexcused absences–Parents will be notified in writing that their child has been classified as truant via a Truancy Letter. Letter must be signed by the parent/guardian and filed in the student’s cumulative file. |
After THREE MORE unexcused absences after the delivery date of your first truancy letter–Parent/guardian will receive a second Truancy Letter and a Conference Request. Parent/guardian will meet with staff to discuss attendance. Letter must be signed at the meeting and will be filed in the student’s cumulative file. |
| After THREE MORE unexcused absences after the delivery date of your second truancy letter — Parent/guardian will receive a “Habitual Truancy Re-Classification Letter.” Student will be referred to a Student Success Team (SST) or the School Attendance Review Team (SART).
-SART panel will discuss the absence problem with the parent/guardian to work on solutions, develop strategies, and discuss appropriate support services for the student.
-After such meeting, or after reasonable attempts by the SART panel to schedule the meeting if the parent/guardian is non-responsive, the SART panel may recommend that the student be deemed to have voluntarily unenrolled from the Charter School. |
Tardy Protocol (only applicable for in-person instruction)
Students arriving after 7:50am must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Late arrivals and parents/guardians will have to sign their student(s) in at the main office. Students who are repeatedly tardy will receive consequences.
- Students will be given an excused tardy ONLY if they have a signed doctor’s note verifying an appointment.
- Oversleeping, traffic issues, and/or carpool problems are not valid excuses for being tardy.
Specific Details
Medical Appointments–Schedule medical appointments outside of school time. The best times are Monday afternoons when students do not have live online sessions or early dismissal. If a student has a medical appointment during school hours, he/she should not be absent for the entire school day, unless medically necessary.
Suspensions are Considered Absences–If a student is absent from school due to suspension, these days will be treated the same as an absence.
Early Dismissal (only applicable for in-person instruction) –-Students are expected to remain on-campus until the end of the school day. Early pickups are disruptive to the learning environment. Students who participate in Endeavor’s after school program are expected to stay for the whole time and should not be picked up prior to dismissal unless there is a written request on file.
Loss of Privileges–Students who are absent from school (with or without excuse) may not attend or participate in school trips, dances, or other school-related activities occurring on the day or evening of the absence, unless the school has given advance permission.
Absences Considered Inactivity–If a student is absent on the first five (5) days of school or for any ten (10) or more consecutive school days without valid excuse and parent/guardian cannot be reached at the number or address provided in the registration packet and does not otherwise respond to the Charter School’s communication attempts, as set forth above, the Charter School will not actively maintain that student’s spot on the Charter School roster.
Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on time. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
- Make sure children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Ensure children go to school every day unless they are truly sick
- Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
- Talk to teachers and the counselor for advice if your child feels anxious about going to school.
- Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the main office at 323-800-4125.
Sincerely,
Endeavor College Prep
