Compulsory school attendance is required of all children between the ages of six and sixteen residing within the State of Georgia. The responsibility for ensuring the regular attendance of a school-age child lies with the parent, guardian, or other person with whom the child resides (O.C.G.A.20-2-690.1).

In an effort to improve student attendance, Lowndes County Schools has established procedures to address student absences from school. Through the combined efforts of the building level principal, classroom teachers, parents/guardians, school system social workers, local law enforcement officials and the Southern Judicial Circuit, the goal to improve student attendance will be achieved. It is not the desire of Lowndes County Schools that students attend school when ill; however, there is a direct relationship between school attendance and academic performance. Therefore, every reasonable attempt should be made for students to attend school to help ensure their academic success.

Students learn best when they attend school everyday.  When students miss school, they miss important lessons and essential skills needed for academic success.

Regular attendance establishes patterns of responsibility and commitment that will serve students throughout their lives, including in the workplace, the military, and college, or trade school. To support students and families, the school’s attendance initiative is dedicated to removing barriers to regular attendance.

We are striving to:
Improve daily student attendance
Increase communication between the school and parents/guardians or families
Connect students and families to resources that meet their individual needs and help them overcome obstacles to regular attendance.

There are numerous issues - Social, medical, or family -- that can impact a student’s attendance.  As serious as these issues may be, all can be overcome with support from school, staff, family members, and service providers who partner with our schools.

Attendance Tips for Parents:

Support your child’s education.  School offers exceptional learning opportunities everyday.  Help your child be at school all day, everyday!

Let children know that good attendance is important.  Show them that you are interested in their school activities and want them to do well in school.
Communicate with school staff.  Let them know in advance if your child is going to be absent or if you have concerns about your child’s attendance or school performance.
Observe the school schedule.  Plan family vacations during school holidays and schedule children’s doctor appointments after school hours whenever possible.  Come back to school after doctor/dentist appointments 
Establish a routine.  Make sure children have homework done, classroom materials together, and clothes laid out the night before school.  Make sure they get enough sleep so that they are well rested in the morning.

A child who misses a day of school, Misses a day of learning.

In the event that a student's personal illness or attendance at school endangers a student's health or the health of others, the school may require the student to present appropriate medical documentation upon return to school for the purpose of validating that the absence is an excused absence.

In the event that a student has 10 or more absences for health reasons, the school requires a physician's excuse in order to consider the absence as an excused absence.

Parents are encouraged to be proactive in communicating with their child’s school when there is an unusual attendance pattern expected.

The following procedures will be utilized in addressing an accumulation of unexcused and/or excused student absences and/or tardies/early checkouts: 

System approved letters are mailed that includes the Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.1). Instructions are included in each letter. Upon the generation of each letter, the principal and attendance officer will be notified.

Absences do not accumulate beyond the current school year.

School days missed as a result of out of school suspensions will not count as unexcused absences for the purpose of determining truancy.

NOTE: LCS complies with the Lowndes County Juvenile Court Protocol Agreement for Truancy in Schools. A referral to the Truancy Intervention Program (TIP), juvenile court, state court, magistrate court, and/or the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) may be made in lieu of the outlined procedures. Protocol changes that occur during the school year will be posted on the website.

Students are required to provide written excuses for absences in accordance with Board Policy JBD. The principal of each school will designate a person or persons who are to maintain a record of students’ excused and unexcused absences. Written notes explaining the reason for the student's absence are to be retained until the end of the school term.

Teachers must maintain timely and accurate attendance records that reflect absences as excused or unexcused. For an absence to be excused, a dated and signed note from the physician or parent/guardian or an e-mail from a verified parent/guardian account must be sent to the student’s homeroom teacher explaining the reason for the absence within three (3) school days of returning to school.

The school system will notify the parent, guardian, or other person who has control or charge of the student when such student has five unexcused absences. The notice will outline the penalty and consequences of such absences and that each subsequent absence will constitute a separate offense.

Prior to commencing judicial proceedings to impose a penalty for violating compulsory school attendance law, the school system shall send a notice by certified mail return receipt requested.

By September 1st or within 30 school days of a student’s enrollment, the parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of the student must sign a statement indicating receipt of the written statement of possible consequences and penalties. After two reasonable attempts by the school to secure such signatures, the school shall be considered in compliance with this requirement.

In addition, students age ten or older by September 1st must sign a statement indicating receipt of a written statement of possible consequences for non-compliance to the local system’s policy.

After a student has five or more unexcused absences, the school designee or SRO may refer a parent to the Magistrate Court for a warrant and to the Solicitor General for prosecution under the Georgia Compulsory School Attendance statute if it is suspected that the parent or guardian is the cause of the student’s absence. At the State Court’s discretion, parents may receive a fine of not more than $100, up to 30 days confinement in jail, community service, or any combination for each offense.

Additional actions may include but are not limited to: Referral to the Truancy Intervention Program, Juvenile court CHINS complaint, or DFCS referral. If the parent or guardian has previously attended TIP, a second referral to the program may be forfeited and criminal prosecution may be initiated.

Upon a student’s 10th absence, whether excused or unexcused, a parent or guardian will be notified. The school district attendance officer or their designee may also make contact with the student and the parent or guardian at home. Medical documentation is required for any additional absences.

Upon a student’s 15th absence, whether excused or unexcused, a referral may be made to TIP or DFCS unless extenuating medical conditions exist.

Upon a student’s 10th tardy/early checkout, the parent/guardian is notified. Upon a student’s 15th tardy/early checkout and notification by letter, the parent/guardian is to contact the school designee to discuss the student’s attendance. A TIP referral may be made. Subsequent tardies/early checkouts may result in a referral to TIP, and/or DFCS. Grades 9-12: Students checking out during the school day will need to provide a doctor's note in order to return to school