School Handbook

Black Fox Elementary School Handbook - coming soon

 

Black Fox Elementary Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE

A student who is absent must bring a written excuse from a doctor, parent, or guardian within three school days of return. Students shall receive an excused absence for the following:

• 3 Parent's Notes per semester; ex. Child does not feel well but doesn’t need to see a doctor
• Recommendation for dismissal from school by school personnel. 
• Death in the immediate family, recognized religious holidays, and school-related activities. 

Progressive Truancy Intervention Program

Tier 1: Prevention-Oriented Supports 

1. The progressive truancy plan will be published annually to parents and students at the beginning of the school year.
2. Each school will be responsible for contacting the parent/guardian of a student who accumulates 4 days of unexcused absences. If the student accumulates another unexcused absence after contact is made with the parent/guardian, a referral to Tier 2 will be made, and the Campus Court Mediation process will begin. 

Tier 2: Campus Court Mediation 

1. School personnel will schedule a meeting with the student, parent/guardian, relevant school personnel, and Juvenile Court Staff mediator; 
2. During the meeting, the student, parent/guardian, school personnel, and Juvenile Court Staff Mediator will draft and sign an agreement. A review date will be set for each agreement. The agreement will include, but will not be limited to: 
3. Attendance expectations; 
4. Penalties for additional absences; 

iii. Any additional expectations determined necessary by meeting members; and/or 

1. If necessary, referral of the child to counseling, community-based services, or other in-school or out-of-school services aimed at addressing the student's attendance problems. 
2. A report of the meeting will be drafted and maintained in the Campus Court system. The report will include the basis for the student’s absences provided by the parent, as well as a report from the school concerning the student’s absences. 
3. A review date will be set for each Tier 2 case.

Tier 3: Campus Court Review and Services 

1. If, following the Tier 2 process, a student accumulates one or more unexcused absences, a review meeting will be scheduled with the student, 

parent/guardian, relevant school personnel, and the Juvenile Court Staff mediator. 

1. The mediator may recommend any services deemed necessary by the mediator. 
2. The student may be referred to the “Behavior Unit” for a service assessment. 
3. Further absences or non-compliance will result in a Juvenile Court petition for truancy pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-6-3009 through Bradley County Juvenile Court. 

If Tier 2 or Tier 3 is unsuccessful with a student and the school can document that the student's parent/guardian is unwilling to cooperate with the truancy intervention plan, then a referral may be made to Bradley County Juvenile Court without first having to implement subsequent intervention tiers, if any, pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-6- 3009(f)(1-2). Evidence that a parent/guardian is unwilling to cooperate can include, but is not limited to, a parent/guardian's failure or refusal, on multiple occasions, to attend meetings scheduled for Tier 2 or 3 interventions, return telephone calls, attend follow-up meetings, enter into an attendance agreement, or actively participate in any of the tiers of the truancy intervention plan.