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Attendance Policy

1. Board Directive
   The Board of Education recognizes that regular student attendance at school facilitates academic achievement by maximizing the interaction between students and teachers. The Board also recognizes that regular student attendance at school is mandated by Utah Compulsory Attendance Law 53G-6-202, which requires students between the ages of six and 18 to attend school and is critical if schools are to meet the accountability standards set by federal and state legislation.  The Board, therefore, delegates to the District and local school administration the responsibility to develop school policies and procedures that promote regular student attendance. The school’s responsibility is to encourage and help students develop positive attendance habits that will enhance opportunities for future success.
2. Administrative Policy
   Frequent absences of students from the day-to-day classroom experiences disrupt the instructional process.  The benefits of instruction, once lost, cannot be entirely regained.  The process of education requires a continuity of instruction, class participation, learning experience, and study.  Therefore, the local school will make every effort within the following administrative policy provisions, to encourage regular attendance for all students and to assist parents in their responsibility to have their children attend school regularly. 
   1. Parents/guardians have primary responsibility for regular student attendance at school. School staff and students also share in that responsibility.
      1. Students are expected to be in attendance every school day in order to receive maximum benefit from their education experiences. If a student is legitimately absent from class, it is his/her responsibility to contact the teacher regarding make-up work.  If a student is tardy for class, it is his/her responsibility to contact the school office, teacher, or utilize any other established school procedure so that an unexcused absence is not assessed.  It is also a student’s responsibility to obtain a checkout slip from the office when he/she must leave during the school day.
      2. Parents/guardians are expected to ensure that their children attend school regularly and arrive on time.  It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify school officials of legitimate absences. The parent/guardian must telephone the office to confirm a checkout prior to the student’s leaving during the school day.
      3. Classroom teachers are required to record and verify daily student attendance as outlined in the Student Services Planning and Enrollment Manual. The individual school/teacher will, where appropriate, develop grading and credit policy that promotes attendance, class participation, and academic achievement.
         1. Learner validated attendance, in accordance with Utah Board Rule R277-419 Pupil Accounting, should be entered into the district’s student information system (SIS) daily and reviewed weekly as follows:
            1. In-person or live (streaming) online instruction
               1. Attendance will be recorded in the SIS at least once per day (elementary) or each class period (secondary).
            2. Virtual at home (online only) instruction (including competency-based instruction)
               1. Students will be considered “virtually present” if they have met the minimum criteria for participation. A variety of measures may be used to determine if a student participated in the learner validated program in an online, virtual at-home, blended or competency-based learning environment (digital or analog) including but not limited to:
                  1. Evidence that validates student learning (e.g., online or offline assignment submission; rubric-scored written work; presentations; artistic performances and products; research projects; formative assessment results; progress toward academic goals; student portfolios; demonstrated competency assessments; explicit self-reflections on what students have learned related to institutional programs such as service learning; student ratings of their knowledge, skills, and reflections on what they have learned over a course of a specified period of time)
                  2. Evidence that validates student participation (e.g., login data; discussion boards; completion of math and literacy supplemental software; virtual conferencing participation; classroom response systems (surveys/polls/quick checks); observations of field work; internship performance; service learning; clinical experiences; feedback from computer-simulated tasks; Social/Emotional Learning tools; number of student hours spent on activities related to a course)
                  3. Evidence that validates student communication (e.g., emails from students or other electronic messages; student surveys; conversations by phone; feedback exchanges via learning management system; assignment pick-up/drop-off)
                  4. Duration/Frequency minimums for student participation (e.g., minimum student login or teacher contact requirement; minimum hourly requirement, per day or week, when students are engaged in course work; required periodic contact with a licensed educator)
               2. Virtual students who have not met the minimum criteria to be considered present by the last day of the school week will be marked “unexcused absent” for the entire week.
      4. Any student that has had no contact, participation, or has not met the minimum criteria to be marked present, whether in-person or live (streaming) online or virtual at-home, for 10 consecutive school days shall be removed from district membership in the SIS, unless the student has a valid excuse under UCA 53G-6-201(9).
   2. Each school, in cooperation with the community, shall develop a schoolwide attendance plan that complies with state and District policies. Development of a schoolwide attendance plan shall include use of research findings, faculty and staff consensus, community input, and involve the respective Administrator of Schools.
      1. The schoolwide attendance plan must
         1. Identify common attendance issues, including but not limited to:
            1. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing ten percent or more of the academic year for any reason, including excused and unexcused absences, suspension, and time missed due to changing schools.
            2. Truancy, defined by UCA 53G-6-201(7)(a) as a condition in which a school-age child, without valid excuse is absent for at least half the school day.
         2. Include possible interventions for attendance issues, including but not limited to:
            1. Attendance contracts and positive behavior interventions.
            2. Counseling of the student by school personnel.
            3. Adjusting the curriculum and schedule (if necessary) to meet the needs of the student.
            4. Voluntary participation in truancy mediation (if available).
            5. Consideration of alternatives proposed by the parent or legal guardian.
            6. Providing the parent or legal guardian, when appropriate, a list of resources available to assist in resolving attendance problems.
            7. Enlisting the assistance and resources of community-based agencies and programs.
            8. Court referrals, issued as a "last resort” and only in accordance to UCA 63G-8-211-4(a).
         3. Include the following, as appropriate for the grade and developmental level of the student body:
            1. A rationale for the importance of attendance.
            2. Responsibilities for students, parents, classroom teachers, and school administrators.
            3. Procedures for managing attendance issues, i.e., illness, check in/out, school activity absences, etc.
            4. An acceptable range of school and teacher consequences for unexcused absences and tardies.
            5. Guidelines for making up work.
            6. Other pertinent information that addresses local school attendance needs.
      2. School principals shall submit the schoolwide attendance plan annually to their respective Administrators of Schools for review and approval.
   3. The schoolwide attendance plan shall guide the development of disclosure statements for each course in secondary schools:
      1. 1. Disclosure statements must:
            1. Comply with District and school administrative policy provisions
            2. Outline grading expectations for three basic components:
               1. Assessments
               2. Assignments
               3. Classroom attendance and participation
            3. Outline procedures and timelines for making up work and earning points/credit missed due to a legitimate absence. Legitimate absences are defined as:  verified illness, medical appointments, bereavement, court appearances, emergencies, pre-approved educational leave, and special family or religious events.
            4. The process to make up work and earn points/credit missed due to administratively approved school activity absences. Students shall also be allowed to make up work and earn points/credit missed for legitimate absences as listed in section C.3.
         2. All students shall receive disclosure statements for all classes on or before the fifth day of enrollment in the course. Parents and students shall be encouraged to return signed disclosure statements in a timely manner, typically two to four days.
         3. Teachers are encouraged to award points/credit for the return of signed disclosure statements within the established time frame.
         4. All disclosure statements must receive approval from the local school administrator or designee prior to distribution to students and parents.

Attendance Awards

As a faculty and staff we strive to provide the best education possible for our students.  In order for this to occur, students need to be in attendance and in their classroom on time.  Attendance Awards will be given to students who demonstrate outstanding attendance and punctuality.  These awards will be presented during the student awards assembly at the end of the school year.

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Bicycles, Scooters etc.

The school cannot assume responsibility for stolen, lost or damaged bikes or scooters.  Riverside provides bike racks and cages for bikes and scooters.  These cages are not locked!  You should provide a lock for your bike or scooter.  Students on school property must walk their bikes or scooters.  These are not to be ridden on school grounds or while crossing marked crosswalks.  These rules are enforced before and after school.

Skateboards, or rollerblades/ shoes are never allowed at school due to the danger they pose.  Please do not allow your child to bring these items to school.

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Cell Phone Policy

We understand the need for students to be able to contact parents using cell phones. However, we do not want cell phones to interrupt the school day. Cell phone use is ONLY allowed before or after school. Parents who need to communicate with their students during the school day should contact the main office.

Student Consequences for cell phone use during the school day:

1st Offense: Teacher will explain the rule to the student. Student is allowed to keep the cell phone in backpack only.

2nd Offense: Teacher will take cell phone and return it to the student at the end of the day. Teacher will also notify parents.

3rd Offense:  Teacher will take cell phone and give it to the office. Parent or guardian must pick up phone from office.

*All further offenses will result in this consequence.

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Checking In & Checking Out

Once students arrive at school, they will not be allowed to leave except with a parent or parent designee.  If you need to check your student out for an appointment, you will need to come in to the office for your signature.  You will be asked to show your ID whenever you check a child out- even if we know you.  We will not release a student to an individual who is not listed on Skyward.  You can make changes to emergency contact information at any time.  Your student’s safety is our primary concern!

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Dress Code

Appropriate dress and appearance avoids extremes, exemplifies personal cleanliness, promotes an effective learning environment free of unnecessary disruption(s) and increases school safety, security and sanitation factors. There are a variety of clothing styles which may be popular but are inappropriate for the school or school sponsored activity setting.

Dress and appearance standards include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. 1. General Standards
      1. Any clothing, jewelry, accessory, footwear, personal item or appearance practice may be prohibited when it:
         1. Draws undue attention, distracts, disrupts, and/or interferes with the learning environment at school or school sponsored activity.
         2. Endangers or affects the health, safety and/or welfare of the individual or others.
         3. May cause damage or harm to individuals, school devices, resources, equipment or facilities.
         4. Limits the ability to identify the student.
         5. Appears as an attempt to challenge the intent and scope of policy or the authority of the school.
      2. Dress and appearance, including clothing, jewelry, accessory, footwear, personal item or appearance practice, shall be in a manner suitable to the day’s activities consistent with the standards of health, safety, and appropriate behavior. School personnel may require students to wear certain types of clothing for health, safety, security, or sanitation factors or in connection with classes, activities or circumstances.
      3. Clothing, appearance, jewelry, accessory, footwear, and/or personal items shall be free of writing, images, symbols or any other insignias that:
         1. Are lewd, obscene, vulgar, or profane.
         2. Advocate, represent or promote racism, discrimination, violence or hate in any form.
         3. Signify gang affiliation.
         4. Advocate, represent or promote tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or any illegal substance(s).
         5. Advocate, represent or promote criminal or illegal activities.
         6. Infringe on the rights of others.
         7. Are pornographic or sexually suggestive.
   2. Specific dress and appearance standards are found at Student Support Services online at https://studentsupport.jordandistrict.org/dresscode.
   3. School administration may authorize exceptions for health/medical issues, religious beliefs, or safety reasons.
   4. School dress and appearance enforcement should be reasonable and seek to minimize the loss of instructional time.

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Phone Calls

We have an overwhelming amount of phone calls each day with messages for students.  Please make arrangements for rides before school so that we do not have to interrupt classrooms and the office staff during the school day.  There are also a limited number of phone lines and so students will not be allowed to use the school phone unless it is an emergency.   Bad weather, playtime, and arranging for rides are not considered an emergency.

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Winter Weather and Environmental Policies

Cold:

• Students will stay inside when the temperature is below 21 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Ensure that students are prepared to go outside every day with appropriate cold-weather clothing such as a hat, gloves, and boots.
• It is better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

Safety:

• In order to maintain student safety and prevent injury, the following two activities are prohibited.
  • *Throwing snowballs *Sliding on ice
• Students who engage in these activities will be subject to school disciplinary consequences.

Rain:

• Students may also stay inside on days of heavy rain.

School Closure:

• On extremely rare occasions, school will be closed according to the Jordan School District school closure policy
• Parents and employees should listen to the following radio or television stations for school closure information between the hours of 6-8 a.m.
• Radio stations: KSL 1160
• Television stations: KSL Channel 5, KUTV Channel 2, KTVX Channel 4, Fox Channel 13
• Schools also may close early for emergencies.
• Media outlets will air updates as soon as possible.

Automated (SKYLERT) messages will be sent via phone or email.

Air Quality

• We use Riverton area WeatherBug stations to get daily air quality alerts.
• On High alert days, students with asthma or other respiratory conditions will stay inside.

Changes

• School administration will determine whether students will remain inside or go outside according to current weather conditions.  It is likely that this decision may change several times within a day.

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Educator Licensing and LEA Specific Licensing