Attendance
If your child is going to be absent, please call the attendance line at 623-445-4190 prior to 9:00 a.m. to verify your child's absence.
School attendance is not only a good habit, state law requires it. Arizona State Law (15-802.A, 15-803.E) requires every person who has custody of a child, between the ages of 6 and 16, shall make sure the child attends school unless unable to attend due to illness or another legitimate reason.
DEFINITIONS:
- Absence: missing 1 or more class periods per day (90 minutes or more).
- Tardy: 1 - 89 minutes late for school.
- Excused absence: having notified the school that your child will be absent.
- Unexcused absence: not notifying the school that your child will be absent. (An unexcused absence will count as a truant day as defined by law.)
- Habitually truant: 5 or more unexcused absences per school year.
- Excessive absences: more than 18 absences per school year (regardless of if the absences are excused or unexcused).
Consequences of Tardies;
- On the 4th Tardy: Parent letter sent home
- On the 8th Tardy: The school office will contact parents
- On the 10th Tardy: A detention will be assigned
- On the 15th Tardy: Referral to Administration
When a child is absent due to an illness, please provide a doctors note to the school. NOTE: Please be reminded that even with a doctors note, a child may only miss 18 days per school year to be in alignment with Arizona State law. If your child has a chronic illness such as diabetes, please contact the school nurse to see if you qualify for an Exclusions and Exemptions form that covers those absences pertaining to the chronic illness.
When a student has 5 or more unexcused absences or 18 absences (excused OR unexcused), the parents will be asked to attend a CUTS Program meeting with a Juvenile Court Probation Officer. The hearing will be held on the school campus or via zoom with representatives from Park Meadows and the Juvenile Court. A parent or legal guardian must be present at the time of the hearing. Our goal is to be supportive, not punitive. However, we also have a responsibility to inform you of the negative outcomes of poor attendance, including potential legal consequences.
If your child is on Open Enrollment, Principals may revoke open enrollment status due to attendance violations.
Questions or Concerns: call (623) 445 - 4100
Thank you for your support regarding school attendance,
- Park Meadows Administration & Staff
Click to learn about the effects of chronic absenteeism.
