Classifications:
Classification of absences, "Unexcused", "Absent", and "Excused Absent", will be the responsibility of the Attendance or Deans' Office, deans of Students, and other building administrators according to Illinois School Code guidelines. Information provided by parents will be used to determine classification. Information may include but is not limited to, information from parents, medical, religious, or court documents.

Prearranged Absences:
Permission for prearranged absences must be arranged through the Counselor's Office or Health Care Aide Office. Prearranged absences should be completed for absences that are LONGER than (3) days in length. Prearranged absences are NOT "excused absences". Prearranged absences will count toward the Leyden Excessive Absence Policy.

Final Examination Absence and Tardy Policy:
A. Students should be on time for each exam. If a student arrives to class before the first five minutes of the exam, the student is allowed to take the exam with no grade penalty. The teacher will mark the student tardy if the period has started.
B. If a student arrives to class after the first five minutes, the student is unexcused, and the teacher cannot allow the student to take the exam at that time. The student will have to take the test during a make-up period and his/her grade will be lowered one letter grade.
C. If student is suspended during the scheduled final examination time, he/she must make up the exam at the next available make up opportunity. The suspended student's final exam will be lowered one letter grade.
D. If a student is classified as "Absent" or "Excused Absent" during the scheduled final examination time, he/she may make up the exam with no grade penalty and no consequence from the Deans' Office/Attendance Office.

Major Elements of Excessive Absences Policy:
Students will be withdrawn from class when they accumulate 14 days of absences for reasons included within the "Absent" category.
Absences are classified into two categories as follows:
1. "Absent": This category includes absences due to illness, court, college/military visits/tests, family emergencies, needed at home, family vacation and truancy (absent without authorization).
2. "Excused Absent": This category includes absences due to medical reasons (verified by doctor's note given to the attendance office immediately upon return to school), funeral for immediate family or member of household, religious holidays and school generated absences (e.g. field trips, suspensions, BIC, in-school suspensions, appointments in Dean, nurse, counselor or administrative office).
Refer to the section, Uniform Code of Conduct, for specific procedures and dispositions concerning the Excessive Absence Policy.

Make-Up Work:
The Counseling Department will assist parents in obtaining homework for absent students under the following condition: the student is absent for three consecutive days or longer. Please allow 24 hours for the collection of homework assignments.
When a student returns to school after an absence, the student has the responsibility to consult with the teacher about make-up work. Work missed during an absence must be made up by the student within the reasonable time limits set by the teacher.
Make-up privileges for work missed during absences may be discontinued if the student has been absent from class 13 times during the semester.
After the first few absences, the teacher will make inquiries about the health of the student and send a progress report to the parent/guardian(s) indicating the absences from the class are jeopardizing the student's grade.

Unexcused Class Absences:
Truancy from the classes will not be condoned by the Leyden High Schools. Any student absent unexcused 10 or more minutes from a class or absent unexcused from a multiple number of classes during the same day will be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. Refer to the section, Uniform Code of Conduct, for specific procedures and dispositions concerning class truancy.

Tardiness to Class:
Students are considered tardy when they are not in their assigned seat in the classroom when the tardy bell rings. Tardiness to a class at any time during the school day will result in the teacher recording the tardy. Refer to Tardies (Unexcused) section under Offense and Disciplinary Actions.

Absence on Day of a School Activity:
Students who are absent from school are not permitted to participate in extracurricular activities or other school sponsored events on the day of absence from school, unless they have permission from the Dean of Students.

Absence on Religious Holidays:
Any student who because of observance of a religious activity, pre-arranged through the Counselor's Office and approved by the Dean of Students will be marked "Excused Absent." Students will be allowed to make up examinations and/or work upon their return to school. Any absences for the observance of a religious activity not prearranged and/or approved by the Dean of Students will be recorded as "Absent" which will count towards the Excessive Absence Policy.

Leaving Building During the School Day:
Students are not permitted to leave the building for any reason without permission. Permission is granted by obtaining a work program pass, a pass from the Health Care Aide, Attendance Office or Dean of Students. Failure to obtain permission to leave the building will result in an unexcused absence regardless of the excuse presented after the absence by either the student and/or parent/guardian.