The Education Act refers to regular school attendance as both a duty of the pupil and an expectation on the part of parents to cause attendance to take place. The Act recognizes that regular attendance supports the learning success of the student and contributes to the learning environment of the school.
The purpose of a student attendance policy is to promote good attendance in order to develop positive lifelong learning patterns. An attendance policy is a tool to keep students in school rather than to exclude them from the educational process. To that end, greater emphasis must continue to be placed on the development of a positive learning environment to promote regular student attendance, rather than on the positive aspects associated with non-compliance.
1. Communication of pupil and parent responsibilities
Schools will inform pupils and parents of their responsibilities with respect to student attendance. The Education Act refers to regular attendance as a “duty” of the pupil and indicates that a child is required to attend school until he/she graduates from high school or attains the age of eighteen years. The Education Act states that a parent is expected to cause his or her child to attend school.
Suggested ways of communicating pupil and parental responsibilities regarding attendance include the following: student and parent handbook, assemblies, letters to parents, advisor/advisee program.
2. Nature of Absences
The Education Act states that a child is not required to attend school if the child:
(a) is unable to attend school by reason of the child’s sickness or other unavoidable cause,
(b) is officially excluded from attendance under the Act or the regulations (e.g., suspension),
(c) is absent on a day regarded as a holy day by the religious denomination of the child or the parent,
(d) in circumstances considered by the Minister, is exempted from attendance in writing by the Minister (e.g., home schooling).
No consequences will be associated with those absences considered acceptable by the Act.
Absences for school related activities will be considered acceptable.
Tracking of Attendance and Interventions
Individual student attendance will be tracked in a consistent and organized manner, with a view to providing timely and effective interventions. Homeroom/subject teachers will contact the home after the student has missed classes.
Schools will initiate the following interventions with respect to student absenteeism. Depending on the known reasons for the absences, a school may decide to forego any or all steps.
- The home will be contacted by phone by the designated educational staff member prior to or on the 5th day/class missed.
- After the 10th day/class missed, a letter will be sent home. The school student services team will discuss/develop further appropriate interventions.
- After the 15th day/class missed, a case conference, if necessary, will be organized under the direction of the school administration and in collaboration with the school student services team. The participation of the pupil and parents is essential. At the school’s discretion, this conference could include district office personnel and/or outside-agency involvement.
- The case conference will generate clear expectations with agreed-upon consequences.
Age of the Pupil
Schools will differentiate consequences for unacceptable absenteeism for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Consequences generated at the case conference must take into consideration the age of the pupil as well as other circumstances that might be extenuating.