Maintaining proper school attendance is one of the most important things your child can do to reach their goals for academic success. If your child is absent, it is proper protocol for the parent/guardian to send a note to the student’s homeroom teacher before or after an absence from school. Your child may bring the note to school either before a scheduled absence or upon returning to school after an unexpected absence. Irregular school attendance hinders student progress and decreases full participation in school experiences.
A doctor’s excuse must be obtained if a child is absent for three (3) days or more. According to district policy, the DeKalb County School District will automatically send an attendance letter to parents after the 6th unexcused absence. A social worker referral will be submitted after 8 or more unexcused absences with possible referral to the Solicitor General’s Office or other agencies.
Georgia Law defines lawful absences as:
A. Illness
B. Family death
C. Religious holiday
D. Instances in which attendance could be hazardous as determined by DeKalb County School System
E. Other absences provided by Georgia law, such as serving as a page in the General Assembly