Adopted: September 13, 2007
Amended: November 11, 2025

Purpose
Daily attendance is essential to academic success. Direct teaching and active engagement are core to The Academy’s instruction; missed days mean missed learning. Even excused absences require additional effort. Consistent attendance builds responsibility, respect for learning time, and habits that prepare students for college, career, and citizenship.

Scope and Authority
This policy implements Idaho Code §§ 33-202, 33-203, 33-206–207 and IDAPA 08.02.01.250. Enrollment in kindergarten is voluntary under state law; however, once registered, kindergarten students are expected to attend regularly and their attendance is recorded in the same manner as other grades.  Habitual absences for any student may result in parent conferences and attendance interventions.

Definitions

Tardy: A student arriving after class has begun, departing early without authorization, missing any portion of the instructional day—including leaving campus for lunch—or being picked up after 3:15 p.m.

Half-Day Absence: Missing ≥ 50% but < 80% of instructional time in a day.

Full-Day Absence: Missing ≥ 80% of instructional time in a day.

Excused Absence:

• Medical/dental appointment with documentation

• Bereavement

• Religious observance

• Legal appointments with documentation

• School-sponsored activity

• Principal-approved hardship

Unexcused Absence: Any absence not meeting excused criteria.

Habitual Truant (Board-defined per § 33-206):Ten (10) unexcused full-day absences in a semester, five (5) in a calendar month, or a pattern of class-period truancy as determined by the attendance officer.

Attendance Officer: The administrator or designee charged with enforcing attendance statutes and coordinating referrals.

Attendance Expectation
Students are expected to maintain 96% attendance.
Accurate daily records are kept and become part of each student’s permanent record.
Families should schedule vacations, medical appointments, and other activities outside of school hours when possible.

Verification of Compliance (Driver’s Education Eligibility)
The Academy will issue Verification of Compliance (VOC) forms for driver’s education eligibility only to students maintaining satisfactory attendance and academic progress. Generally, students with more than seven (7) unexcused absences in two or more classes during a semester will be considered ineligible until attendance improves.

• Start Times: Connor 8:05 a.m.; Alpine 8:15 a.m.

• Arrival Window: Students should arrive approximately 15 minutes early.

• Dismissal: Connor 2:55 p.m.; Alpine 3:00 p.m.

• Pick-up: By 3:15 p.m.; after 3:15 p.m. is counted as a tardy.

• Parents anticipating a delay should notify the office.

Tardy counts reset each trimester.

Absences accrue continuously for the school year. For chronic absence (≥ 10% of days), the school will initiate an attendance intervention plan even if counts above are not yet met.

• Parents should notify the school on the day of absence.

• Medical or legal documentation may be requested for extended or repeated absences.

• Doctor notes must be submitted to the school within 7 calendar days following the visit. Failure to provide timely documentation may result in absences being counted as unexcused.

• Principals may excuse additional circumstances at their discretion.

• Dual enrollment or school-sponsored programs off-site will not be counted as unexcused absences (§ 33-203).

• Teachers will provide reasonable opportunities for assignments and tests to be completed within established timelines.

• Adjustments will be made as required for students with IEPs/504 plans, McKinney-Vento eligibility, or documented medical conditions.

Parents/guardians may appeal attendance determinations to the principal; final review is by the superintendent.

The school follows Idaho Department of Health & Welfare guidance:

• Fever ≥ 100.4 °F — remain home until fever-free ≥ 24 hours without medication.

• Vomiting/diarrhea — remain home until symptom-free ≥ 12 hours.

• Communicable conditions (e.g., conjunctivitis, lice) — return per IDHW or healthcare provider direction. “No-nit” exclusion is not required.

Idaho Code §§ 33-202, 33-203, 33-206, 33-207
IDAPA 08.02.01.250 – Attendance AccountingIdaho Code § 49-303A – Verification of Compliance (Driver Eligibility)Idaho Department of Health & Welfare – Communicable Disease Control GuidanceAttendance Works (2024) – Chronic AbsenceU.S. Department of Education (2009) – Attendance & AchievementCrane Center for Early Childhood Research & Policy (2021) – Single-Day AbsencesFranciscan College (2022) – Tardiness EffectsERIC (2020) – Tardiness PredictorsThe Academy Charter Schools