The Royalton-Hartland Central School District believes that student attendance and classroom participation are critical ingredients to facilitate the growth of successful students. Because the District recognizes a high positive correlation between consistent school attendance, academic success, and school completion, the District has developed, and, when necessary will revise, a Comprehensive Student Attendance Policy.

In order to meet these objectives, the District will create and maintain a positive school building culture by fostering a positive physical and psychological environment with the presence of strong adult role models who engage in respectful and nurturing interactions with students. Based upon the District's educational and community needs, values and priorities, the Royalton-Hartland School District has determined that absences, tardiness and early departures will be considered excused or unexcused according to certain standards.

A signed, written excuse may be required for both legal and illegal absences. All excuses must be turned in to the school within three (3) school days or the absence will be considered unexcused. While parents are encouraged to e-mail or call in their child's absence, tardy or early departure, a signed, written excuse is preferred and may be required under certain circumstances.

Each building will establish a procedure to assist those students that are out of school for an extended period of time, whether excused or unexcused in nature. This procedure will be implemented on an individual student basis and will be discussed with the parent/person in parental relation.

A coding system will be used to record in the register of attendance the reason why a student is absent, tardy or has an early departure from school/class.

In order to encourage student attendance, each building principal will develop and implement grade-appropriate/building-level strategies and programs acknowledging excellence in attendance throughout the year.

Unexcused absences, tardiness or early departures will result in disciplinary sanctions. Parents/persons in parental relation will be notified by designated District personnel at periodic intervals to discuss their child's absences, tardiness or early departures and the importance of class attendance. Individual buildings/grade levels will address procedures to implement appropriate interventions and the notification process to the parent/person in parental relation.

In order to effectively intervene when an identified pattern of unexcused absences, tardiness or early departures occur, the Building Principal will verify that procedures are in place to identify specific elements of the pattern and discuss strategies to directly intervene with a specific element.

A parent/person in parental relation may request a building level review of their child's attendance record. Parents should be aware of their responsibilities to make certain that their child(ren) attend school regularly.