Daily and Timely School Attendance is Critical!
Recent Research Data from the Georgia State Department of Education indicates that missing more than five days of school each year, regardless of the cause, begins to impact student academic performance and starts shaping attitudes about school. Chronically truant students are not the only students negatively impacted by absences. For students in the 6th grade through the 9th grade, student attendance is a better predictor of dropping out of school than test scores.
It's the Law
If your child is between the ages of 6 and 16, the Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law requires that your child be enrolled and attending a public, private or home school program. The law further states that if your student has five or more unexcused absences you could be in violation of the law and is subject to various penalties allowed under the law. For additional information please see summary of the law listed below or visit the state website at www.gadoe.org
Cobb County School District Attendance Policy
Cobb County School District (CCSD) is required by law to have a policy/protocol to address excessive absences to include procedures for identifying, reporting, investigating and prosecuting cases of alleged violations of the Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law.
The CCSD Attendance Protocol includes the following:
The CCSD Attendance Protocol includes the following:
- Three (3) unexcused absences - Teachers communicate with parents via email, phone, conference or postcard regarding the attendance concern.
- Five (5) unexcused absences - Communication to parents via computer generated letter, call or email regarding the additional absences.
- Seven (7) unexcused absences - Student will be referred to the school social worker to address concerns regarding the unexcused absences. Student and parent/guardian can be referred for a Truancy Intervention Panel (T.I.P) meeting at the school. Where they will meet with the school administrator, school social worker, and CCSD Truancy Coordinator to develop a plan to improve the student's attendance.
- Ten (10) or more absences - Students and/or parents will be subject to a referral to The Juvenile Court of Cobb County, Magistrate Court of Cobb County and/or Department of Family and Children Services for truancy and/or Educational Neglect.