Attendance Policy and Procedures
Absence Policy
State law requires attendance at school from age 7 to 16. It also authorizes strict penalties for non-attendance.
Please note that after 10 consecutive absences a student will be withdrawn if the school has not been contacted by the parent/guardian.
If 20 minutes, or more, of a class is missed the student is considered absent for that class.
A student must be present for at least half of the school day in order to be counted present for the entire day.
Chronic absenteeism can seriously jeopardize a student’s success in school.
Please review the Gwinnet County School official documentation regarding school absences on the district site: Attendance Protocol.
Excused Absences
Excused absences are defined by state law and include only the following areas:
- Personal illness: individuals whose attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others,
- Death or serious illness of an immediate family member,
- Recognized religious holidays,
- Student under orders from a government agency,
- Service as a page in the Georgia General Assembly,
- Conditions rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous to students’ safety or health,
- Registering to vote or are voting, for a period not to exceed one day.
- Military leave of a parent and/or guardian
Absences from School
When a student is absent from school (in -person or digital), parents or guardians only, should notify Ms. Pineda in Attendance, Candy.Pineda@gcpsk12.org, with the reason for the absence. For the absence to be excused, it would have to fall under the Excused Absence list (to the left).
On the first day back to school after an absence, the student must bring a signed note from a parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence or it can be emailed to Ms. Pineda. The note can only be written for the current semester.
The absence will be classified “Excused” only if it is covered by one of the areas as defined by Georgia Law (see Excused Absences to the left)
For an absence to be excused, a parent note and/or more formal documentation (doctor’s note, court papers, etc.) can be provided for the seven areas up to fifteen (15) total absences per school year; thereafter, for an absence to be excused, ONLY appropriate formal documentation beyond parental notification is required- doctor/dental note, court documentation, obituary, etc.
Please Note: If a student is 20 minutes, or more, late for a class, the student is considered absent from that class. If a note is not submitted within 10 days of the absence, the absence will be regarded as unexcused. Parents will receive a letter from the county when a student has reached 5, 7, and 10 unexcused absences.
Prearranged Absences
If parents find it necessary for their student to miss school due to an out-of-town trip, or other reason not considered to be excused, a Prearranged Absence form must be completed and returned for approval in advance.
If the absence is approved, it will be classified as unexcused, but students will be allowed to make up missed work (Pre-arranged Absence forms may be picked up in the Office of Attendance/Student Services at any time).