813-794-9400

Excused Absence Reporting

Report Student Absence 2023-2024

Attendance Procedures
All elementary, middle and high school students who are absent will be marked “unexcused” (U) until the
parent/guardian notifies the school in writing and justifies the absence with one of the acceptable reasons as defined
below.
• Failure to do so within three (3) school days will cause the absence to be recorded as “unexcused”.
• In the case of excessive or extended absences, which are claimed to be due to illness, upon request of the
principal or designee, a parent must provide documentation (doctor’s statement) of a student’s illness.
• Excessive or extended absences are considered five (5) in one calendar month or ten (10) in one semester, or
a history of excessive absences per period as defined below under Student Consequences for Unexcused
Absences. Absences that meet this threshold as defined above will require a doctor’s note. If doctor’s notes
are not provided, absences will be marked as unexcused.
Reasons for acceptable (excused) absences include but are not limited to:
• Illness of student
• Major illness in the immediate family of the student (immediate family is determined as parents, brothers,
sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, legal guardians or persons “in loco parentis,” or a member of one’s own
household)
• Death in the immediate family of the student
• Religious holiday of the student’s faith (including Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Epiphany, etc.)
• Religious instruction (including Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, etc.) Religious institutes, conferences, or workshops, provided that the principal or designee approves the absence in advance
• Absences for trips or other parental requests
o Requests must be approved at least one (1) week in advance
• In-school or out-of-school suspension
• Subpoena or forced absence by any law enforcement agency, a copy of the subpoena or court summons must
be submitted to the school
• For purposes of attendance, school related activities would not be counted as absences from school
• Issues and occasions specific to military families

Make Up Work

Students may make up any and all assignments, tests or related work assigned on the day(s) of any excused or
unexcused absence at full credit provided that the student makes arrangements with teachers within three days of the
student’s return to school.
The student is responsible for asking the teacher(s) for tests, assignments and related work that were missed due to an
absence. Students will be given a minimum of two (2) calendar days per day or class period of absence to make up all
tests, assignments and related work. The teacher(s) has the discretion as to when to schedule tests and other
assignments that need to be made up that were missed due to an absence.
Students may be given additional time based on teacher discretion or as stipulated on their IEP/504. Work due to be
turned in on the day of the absence will be turned in upon return and be given full credit.
Students who have been assigned out-of-school suspension (OSS) may make up all tests, assignments and related work
for full credit based on the timelines outlined above.