Policies/Attendance/Registration/Goals
STUDENT ATTENDANCE, REPORTING OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE, TARDINESS AND EXCUSES
The school board believes that good attendance, with a minimum of tardiness and absenteeism, is essential if students are to gain maximum benefit from the school district’s instructional program. The school board thusly directs the superintendent to develop administrative regulations governing tardiness and absences (excused and non-excused).
The administrative regulations shall be based on all applicable state laws governing absenteeism and tardiness and shall include (but not limited to) the counting and reporting of students to the Mississippi Department of Education for attendance purposes, expectations for good student attendance, parent responsibility, excused and unexcused absences, and tardiness. Initial administrations regulations and any future changes to such administrative regulations shall be approved by the school board before implementation.
Make-up Assignments: The administrative regulations shall specify that no absence will be excused when it is due to suspension, expulsion or other disciplinary action. However, to avoid adopting a policy or administrative rule that would ensure a student’s failure, the district may adopt a provision that permits or requires suspended students who are not immediately placed in an alternative school program to make up work within specified deadlines.
Attendance Reporting: In order for a student to be considered as having attended school for a full day, the school board specifies that each student must be present for 63% of his or her individual Instructional day as fixed by the local school board for each individual school. For purposes of reporting absenteeism, a student who has an absence that is more than thirty-seven percent (37%) of the student’s instructional day, as fixed by the school board for the school at which the student is enrolled, shall be considered absent the entire school day.
The superintendent shall develop and submit for board adoption a policy which includes:
a definition of the instructional day for each individual school so that the 63% of the instructional day can be computed for each student within the school district’s individual schools, and
a process for computing 63% of the instructional day for each student within the school district’s individual schools.
Definitions
Full Day Attendance: When a student is present for 63% of his or her individual Instructional day as fixed by the local school board for each individual school.
Unlawful Absence: An absence for an entire school day or during part of a school day when such absence is not due to a valid excuse.
REGISTRATION
Verification of Residency
Policy
Definition of residency for school attendance purposes: The student physically resides full time—week days, week nights, and weekends—at a place of abode located within the limits of the school district.
Any new student seeking to enroll or enter Quitman County Elementary School or any continuing student whose residence has changed will be required to verify his/her residence address as part of the registration process. The parents or guardians of continuing students whose residence has not changed shall sign a Declaration of Residency Form.
When a child is determined to be homeless, as defined by the Stewart B. McKinney Act, the school district shall consider and take enrollment action that is in the best interests of the child.
The provisions of this policy do not apply to students who reside outside the school district, but who have legally transferred into Quitman County School District.
Procedure
Each student must establish his or her residency in the following manner:
(a) Students Living With Parents or Guardian
The parent or legal guardian of a student seeking to enroll must provide the school district with at least two (2) of the items numbered (1) through (10) below as verification of their address. Any document with a post office box as an address will not be accepted.
Filed Homestead Exemption Application Form;
Mortgage documents or property deed;
Apartment or home lease;
Utility bills;
Driver’s license;
Voter precinct identification;
Automobile registration;
Affidavit and/or personal visit by a designated school district official;
Any other documentation that will objectively and unequivocally establish that the parent or guardian resides within the school district;
Certified copy of filed petition of guardianship if pending and final decree when granted.
(b) Students Living With Adults Other Than Parent or Legal Guardian
The non-parent claiming district residency must meet the same criteria of subparagraph (a) (1) through (10) above, as required by a parent or legal guardian.
The district resident must provide the school with an affidavit stating his or her relationship to the student, and that the student will be living at his/her abode full time, and provide documentation fully explaining the reason(s) (other than school attendance zone or district preference) for this arrangement.
Certification of Compliance
Parents must secure a Certificate of Compliance for each child. This certificate verifies that the child has received all required vaccinations can be obtained from a private physician or the Quitman County Health Department. All students must present the Certificate of Compliance when registering. Enforcement of this law will require the removal from classes of students who do not have this certificate. If the child’s certificate is on file and all required immunizations are current and complete, it will not be necessary to present a new certificate.
Immunizations
Mississippi law requires that for any child to attend school, he/she must first be vaccinated against the following diseases:
Pertussis Measles
Tetanus Rubella
Diphtheria Polio
Birth Certificate
Each student is required to present a certified Birth Certificate upon registering to attend Quitman County Elementary School. Students entering Kindergarten must be five (5) years of age before the end of September of the year the student is entering school. Students entering First Grade must be six (6) years of age before the end of September of the year the student is entering school. Students who attended Kindergarten at Quitman County Elementary School will have the certified Birth Certificate on file and will not be required to present the document again.
Social Security Card
Presentation of a student’s Social Security Card for documentation of the Social Security Number is at the discretion of the parent or guardian and is not required for school registration.
Registration/Transfer/Withdrawal
Parents must accompany the student when registering or withdrawing.
To this school:
To register, a student should bring from the previous school: the latest report card, withdrawal slip, and book card to the office. School records will be requested from the student’s previous school by the school the student is entering.
From this school:
If it becomes necessary for a student to leave this school during the school year, the parent should notify the teacher and the principal at least one week in advance, if possible, so the school may help make the transfer efficient. Library books and textbooks must be returned before leaving.
The parent will complete a Request for Records Transfer Form, giving Quitman County School District permission to send the student’s records upon request from the new school. The parent will receive a Withdrawal Slip with current grades recorded, the student’s report card, and book card for use when registering at the new school.
Change of Student Information
State law requires the school to have the correct address and telephone number of students at all times. Students are requested to submit to the office any change of address or telephone number. The student’s Cumulative Folder, Permanent Record, and Student Registration Card will be updated with this information.
In order for Quitman County School District to provide for your child’s health and safety, each school that your children attend must have accurate contact information for you and your Emergency Contacts. Work numbers are critical for maintaining contact between you and the school should your child need you during the school day. Please keep these numbers up-to-date on your child’s Student Registration Form.
Registration for School Year 2004 – 2005
Pre-registration will be held during April and May of 2005 for school year 2005 – 2006. Dates and times for the pre-registration of each class at each school will be publicized through the local media, and information will be sent home with your child. It is important that all parents bring their child to the pre-registration for the child’s grade level. The times will be expanded beyond the regular school day so that parents may attend after their workday.
Conduct Goals
In the Quitman County School District, we have four goals that our students strive to achieve. These goals apply to all areas of school life and their attainment will ensure a safe and positive experience for all students at Quitman County Schools.
The goals are:
Be prompt.
Be prepared.
Be polite.
Be productive.
When all Quitman County School District students reach their four goals, there will be no need for a Student Code of Conduct.