PTHS Student Handbook 2020-2021

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Truancy (Per Year) Student attendance is critical to the learning process. Truancy is therefore a serious issue and will be dealt with in a serious manner by the administration. A parent or guardian who knowingly and willfully permits a child to be truant is in violation of State law. Students who miss more than 1 % but less than 5% of the prior 180 regular school days without valid cause (a recognized excuse) are truant. Students who miss 5% or more of the prior 180 regular school days are considered chronic truants. Students who are chronic truants will be offered support services and resources aimed at correcting the truancy issue. If chronic truancy persists after support services and other resources are made available, the school and district will take further action, including:

Referral to the truancy officer

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Reporting to officials under the Juvenile Court Act

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Referral to the State’s Attorney

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• Appropriate school discipline A student who misses 15 consecutive days of school without valid cause and who cannot be located or, after exhausting all available support services, cannot be compelled to return to school is subject to expulsion from school.

Intervention Services for Truants 1. Parent-teacher conference 2. Counseling service by PTHS 3. Counseling service by psychologists

5. Alternative education programs 6. Small group intervention

7. Local police

4. Psychological testing

8. Livingston Co. Attendance Asst. Program

Unexcused Absences (Per Year) Absences that may have the knowledge or approval of the parents but not the school are considered unexcused. This would include all day, partial day, single hour, or partial hour absences. Determination of a valid excuse is the responsibility of the administration and

will follow the guidelines of the Illinois School Code. Unexcused absences include but are not limited to: 1. Oversleeping 2. Missing the bus 3. Lack of a ride to school 4. Working 5. Personal business (includes haircut, etc.) 6. Vacation (unless pre-arranged with the administration)

1st Violation - 1 detention 2nd Violation - 2 detentions 3rd Violation - 3 detentions, Administrative conference, parent notification Students who exceed the stated number of violations will be handled on an individual basis by the administration. Tardiness To School (Per Year) 1. If students are not in their first hour class at 7:55 a.m., they must check in at the main office before reporting to any class. Students will be given a Tardy Slip to be presented to their first hour teacher. 2. Unexcused tardiness or failure to check in the main office when students are tardy will result in consequences similar to those given for unexcused absences.

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