Hickman County Board of Education
Descriptor Code:
Issued Date:
Descriptor Term:
6.200
04/07/25
Attendance
Rescinds:
Issued:
6.200
04/08/24
1
Attendance is a key factor in student achievement and therefore, students are expected to be present each
2
day school is in session. The official school day for students begins at 8:00 a.m. and concludes at 3:00
3
p.m. unless so noted on the Board approved calendar.
1
4
The attendance supervisor shall oversee the entire attendance program which shall include:
5
1. All accounting and reporting procedures and their dissemination;
6
7
2. Alternative program options for students who severely fail to meet minimum attendance
8
requirements;
9
10
3. Ensuring that all school age children attend school;
11
12
4. Providing documentation of enrollment status upon request for students applying for new or
13
reinstatement of driver's permit or license; and
14
15
5. Notifying the Department of Safety whenever a student with a driver's permit or license
16
withdraws from school.²
17
Student attendance records shall be given the same level of confidentiality as other student records. Only
18
authorized school officials with legitimate educational purposes may have access to student information
19
without the consent of the student or parent/guardian.³
20
Absences shall be classified as either excused or unexcused as determined by the principal/designee.
21
Excused absences shall include:⁴
22
1. Personal illness;
23
24
2. Illness of immediate family member;
25
26
3. Death in the family;
27
28
4. Extreme weather conditions;
29
30
5. Religious observances;³
31
32
6. Pregnancy;
33
Version Date: June 10, 2025
Attendance
6.200
1
7. School-endorsed activities;
2
3
8. Summons, subpoena, or court order; or
4
5
9. Circumstances which in the judgment of the principal create emergencies over which the
6
student has no control.
7
The principal shall be responsible for ensuring that:6
8
1. Attendance is checked and reported daily for each class;
9
10
2. Daily absentee sheets contain sign in/sign out sheets and indicate students present or absent
11
for the majority of the day;
12
13
3. All student absences are verified;
14
15
4. Written excuses are submitted for absences and tardiness;
16
17
5. System-wide procedures for accounting and reporting are followed.
18
TRUANCY
19
General
20
Annually, the Director of Schools/designee will provide written notice to parent(s)/guardian(s) that
21
attendance at school is required. Students shall be present at least fifty percent (50%) of the scheduled
22
school day in order to be counted present. Students may attend part-time days, alternating days, or for a
23
specific amount of time as indicated in their Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan and shall be
24
considered present for school attendance purposes. If a student is required to participate in a remedial
25
instruction program outside of the regular school day where there is no cost to the parent(s) and the
26
school system provides transportation, unexcused absences from these programs shall be reported in the
27
same manner.⁷
28
Students who are absent five (5) days without adequate excuse shall be reported to the director of
29
schools/designee who will, in turn, provide written notice to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student's
30
absence. If a parent does not provide documentation within adequate time excusing those absences, or
31
request an attendance hearing, then the Director of Schools shall implement the progressive truancy
32
intervention plan described below prior to referral to juvenile court.
33
The director of schools/designee shall develop appropriate administrative procedures to implement this
34
policy.
35
Progressive Truancy Intervention Plan⁸
36
Prior to referral to juvenile court, the following progressive truancy intervention plan will be
37
implemented.
Page 2 of 6
6.200
Attendance
1
Students with three (3) unexcused absences shall be subject to the progressive truancy intervention
2
framework outlined below.
3
Tier I
4
Tier I of the progressive truancy plan shall apply to all students within the district and include schoolwide
5
prevention-oriented supports to assist with satisfactory attendance. These supports shall include, but are
6
not limited to,
7
1. A conference with the student and the student's parent/guardian;
8
9
2. An attendance contract, based on the conference, signed by the student, the parent/guardian, and
10
an attendance officer. The contract shall include:
11
12
a. A specific description of the school's attendance expectations for the student;
13
b. The period for which the contract is effective.
14
c. Penalties for additional absences and alleged school offenses, including additional
15
disciplinary action and potential referral to juvenile court; and
16
17
3. Regularly scheduled follow-up meetings to discuss the student's progress.
18
If the student accumulates additional unexcused absences in violation of the attendance contract, in Tier
19
I, he/she shall be subject to Tier II.
20
Tier II
21
An individualized assessment by a school employee of the reasons a student has been absent from school.
22
This may result in referral to counseling, community-based services, or other services to address the
23
student's attendance problems.
24
Tier III
25
This tier shall be implemented if the truancy interventions under Tier II are unsuccessful.
26
Tier III interventions must include a review of the previous individualized assessment and an amended
27
attendance contract but may also result in further action including but not limited to a review of grades
28
and the discipline record, a referral to restorative justice programs, a referral to community-based
29
services, or a referral to the Department of Children's Services.
30
These interventions shall be determined by a team formed at each school. The interventions shall
31
address student needs in an age-appropriate manner. Finalized plans shall be approved by the Director
32
of Schools/designee.
33
NON-SCHOOL SPONSORED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY⁹
34
A principal/designee may excuse a student to participate in non-school sponsored extracurricular
35
activities. The principal shall document the approval in writing and shall excuse no more than ten (10)
36
absences each school year. No later than seven (7) business days prior to the student's absence, the
Page 3 of 6
Attendance
6.200
1
student shall provide documentation to the school as proof of the student's participation along with a
2
written request for the excused absence from the student's parent/guardian. The request shall include
3
the following:
4
1. Student's name and personal identification number;
5
6
2. Student's grade;
7
8
3. The dates of the student's absence;
9
10
4. The reason for the student's absence; and
11
12
5. The signatures of the student and parent/guardian.
13
RELEASED TIME COURSE¹⁰
14
A principal/designee may excuse a student to attend a course in religious moral instruction for up to
15
one (1) class period per school day. Students shall not be excused during any class which requires an
16
examination for state or federal accountability purposes.
17
Students shall only be permitted to attend courses provided by entities that certify in writing that they
18
have complied with the background check requirements outlined in state law. 11 The student shall
19
submit a written consent form signed by the student's parent/guardian prior to participation in the
20
released time course. The principal/designee shall document the approval in writing. The student shall
21
provide documentation to the principal/designee as proof of the student's participation in the released
22
time course.
23
The district shall not be responsible for transporting students to and from the place of instruction.
24
Upon submission of the student's transcript from the entity that provided the released time course, the
25
student may be awarded one-half (1) unit of elective credit.
26
The Director of Schools shall develop procedures with secular criteria for determining whether credit
27
shall be awarded.
28
MAKE-UP WORK
29
All missed class work or tests (whether from excused or unexcused absence) may be made up provided
30
the student makes the request immediately upon returning to school and provided instruction time is not
31
taken from other students.
32
A grade of incomplete will be received for any work missed until the work is completed. A student may
33
have up to three (3) days to make up work from a single absence and up to five (5) days to make up work
34
from an absence longer than a single day. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for
35
make-up work, and if not completed in the allotted time, a grade of zero (0) will be recorded for the
36
assignments.
Page 4 of 6
6.200
Attendance
1
For school-sponsored activities, the student will be required to make up all work missed and will receive
2
full credit for the assignment or upon completion of a test. The student will not be counted absent for a
3
school sponsored event (school planned, school-directed, and teacher supervised).
4
STATE-MANDATED TESTS/END OF COURSE EXAMS
5
Students who are absent the day of the scheduled End of Course Exams must present a signed doctor's
6
excuse or must have been given an excused release by the principal prior to testing to receive an excused
7
absence. Students who have excused absences will be allowed to take a make-up exam that will count
8
as 15% of their grade. Excused students will receive an incomplete in the course until they have taken
9
the End of Course Exam.
10
Students who have an unexcused absence shall receive a failing grade on the course exam which shall
11
be averaged into their final grade at 15%.
12
CREDIT/PROMOTION DENIAL
13
Credit/promotion denial determinations may include student attendance, however, student attendance
14
may not be the sole criterion. 11 However, if attendance is a factor, prior to credit/promotion denial, the
15
following shall occur:
16
17
1. Parents and students shall be advised if a student is in danger of credit/promotion denial due
18
to excessive absenteeism.
19
2. Procedures in due process are available to the student when credit or promotion is denied.
20
DRIVER'S LICENSE REVOCATION²
21
More than ten (10) consecutive or fifteen (15) reported unexcused absences by a student during any
22
semester renders a student ineligible to retain a driver's permit or license, or to obtain such if of age.
23
ATTENDANCE HEARING¹²
24
Students with excessive (more than 5) unexcused absences or those in danger of credit/promotion denial
25
shall have the opportunity to appeal to an attendance hearing committee appointed by the principal. If
26
the student chooses to appeal, the student or their parent/guardian shall be provided written or actual
27
notice of the appeal hearing and shall be given the opportunity to address the committee. The committee
28
will conduct a hearing to determine if any extenuating circumstances exist or to determine if the student
29
has met attendance requirements that will allow him/her to pass the course or be promoted. Upon
30
notification of the attendance committee decision, the principal shall send written notification to the
31
director of schools/designee and the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student of any action taken regarding
32
the excessive unexcused absences. The notification shall advise parents/guardian(s) of their right to
33
appeal such action within two (2) school days to the director of schools/designee.
34
The appeal shall be heard no later than ten (10) school days after the request for appeal is received.
35
Within five (5) school days of the director of schools/designee rendering a decision, the student's
36
parent(s)/guardian(s) may request a hearing by the Board, and the Board shall review the record.
Page 5 of 6
Attendance
6.200
1
Following the review, the Board may affirm or overturn the decision of the director of schools/designee.
2
The action of the Board shall be final.
3
The director of schools/designee shall ensure that this policy is posted in each school building and
4
disseminated to all students, parents, teachers and administrative staff.
Legal References
Cross References
1.
TCA 49-6-3006
School Calendar 1.800
2.
TCA 49-6-3017(c)
Extracurricular Activities 4.300
3.
20 USCA § 1232g
Interscholastic Athletics 4.301
4.
TRR/MS 0520-01-02-.17(5); State Board of
Field Trips/Excursions/Competitions 4.302
Education Policy 4.100
Reporting Student Progress 4.601
5.
TCA 49-6-2904(b)(5)
Promotion and Retention 4.603
6.
TCA 49-6-3007
Recognition of Religious Beliefs, Customs, & Holidays 4.803
7.
TCA 49-6-3021
Voluntary Pre-K Attendance 6.2011
8.
TCA 49-6-3007; TCA 49-6-3009
Homeless Students 6.503
9.
TCA 49-6-3022
Students in Foster Care 6.505
10. TCA 49-2-130
Students from Military Families 6.506
11. TCA 49-2-203(b)(7); TCA 49-6-3002(b);
Student Records 6.600
Public Acts of 2025, Chapter No. 401
12. TRR/MS 0520-01-02-.17(7)
Page 6 of 6
Hickman County School System
Attendance
6.200AP
Each day, student attendance is taken by staff and reported to the front office of each school and
recorded in the student information system (Skyward). Students who are absent will have
automated phone calls made to their parent/guardian notifying them that the student is absent.
State law describes truant as a student having 5 unexcused absences. Attendance personnel in
each school have access to attendance reports that indicate when students have reached 3 days
and/or 5 days unexcused absences. Letters may be sent out at the principal's discretion at 3
unexcused absences to inform parents that their student is approaching a truant status. At 5 days
unexcused, schools should send out a letter requesting parents to provide notes to excuse those
absences in a timely manner. If a parent fails to provide documentation that would excuse those
days of unexcused attendance, the student is reported to the At-Risk Coordinator as truant. The At-
Risk Coordinator will then summon the parent/guardian and the student(s) to Truancy Council
(ONLY students in middle or high school should attend).
Abbreviated Days
Parents should be aware that abbreviated school days count as full days towards attendance.
Students who miss abbreviated days will receive an unexcused absence that counts the same as
a whole day.
Parent Notes
Hickman County allows parents to write notes for missed days when taking a child to the doctor is
not deemed necessary or when emergencies arise. Parents are allowed to write an excused note
for a total of 8 days for the school year.
Notes for any excused absence should be turned in to the school upon the return of the student to
school.
Seniors
School administration may deny participation in graduation exercises, prom, or any other senior
activities, to those seniors who accumulate more than 15 cumulative unexcused absences
regardless of the age of the senior.
104
Perfect Attendance
Students in attendance for 3 hours, 16 minutes (½ school day), will be counted as having attended
that day. (The computer will continue to count minutes not in attendance which may result in the
student showing more than 1 day absent when added up. This will not affect their perfect
attendance.)
Unexcused tardies and early dismissals when accumulated to add up to one or more days will result
in that student losing their Perfect Attendance status.
Students who have been home schooled and transfer into our system after October 1 of any school
year will not be eligible for having Perfect Attendance that school year.
Students who transfer from another system which would have started after our school year starts
will not be eligible for Perfect Attendance if they had not started school in their old system and enroll
with us after October 1 of that school year.
Students who transfer into our system from another system will be counted as having perfect
attendance if documentation is provided from the previous school system that they have had
perfect attendance at their previous school.
Progressive Truancy Plan
Database administrators will send parent notification forms home with students when students
meet the qualifications under the attendance policy.
Parent Attendance Notification Form
Released Course Time
When evaluating a course under the released time course policy, the secular criteria of the
course may include, but is not limited to:
1) The amount of classroom instruction time
2) The course syllabus
3) Methods of assessment used in the course
4) Whether the course was taught by an instructor licensed
105
Hickman County School System
Compulsory Attendance Ages
6.201AP
Hickman County Schools Kindergarten Early Admission Form
Child's Name:
Date of Birth (must be between August 16-September 30):
Parents or Guardian:
Street Address:
City:
Phone:
Email address:
Formal pre-school experience:
If no preschool experience, what has been done to assist child with readiness skills to start
kindergarten?
Does the child have older siblings?
Yes
No
Is there any special information you would like us to know about your child?
NOTE: Each applicant must be screened, and parents will be notified regarding the time of the testing. The testing will last approximately one
hour and will cover areas of social-emotional development, fine & gross motor, readiness for math and reading comprehension, alphabet
recognition and recognizing sounds. Results will be shared with the parent upon completion of the assessment.
You may email this form to Belinda Anderson belinda.anderson@hickmank12.org or the form may be brought to the school where admission
has been requested.
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT FORM:
June 30 of each year
OFFICE USE ONLY:
Testina Date and Time:
Parent Notified on:
Test Score:
Criteria met for early
Yes
No
School:
-
Notes from testing:
Review and Approved:
Date:
106

## Table 1

|  | Hickman County Board of | Education |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | Descriptor Term: | Descriptor Code: 6.200 | Issued Date: 04/07/25 |
|  | Attendance | Rescinds: 6.200 | Issued: 04/08/24 |

## Table 2

| 1 | 7. School-endorsed activities; |
| --- | --- |
| 2 3 | 8. Summons, subpoena, or court order; or |
| 4 5 6 | 9. Circumstances which in the judgment of the principal create emergencies over which the student has no control. |
| 7 | The principal shall be responsible for ensuring that:6 |
| 8 9 | 1. Attendance is checked and reported daily for each class; |
| 10 11 | 2. Daily absentee sheets contain sign in/sign out sheets and indicate students present or absent for the majority of the day; |
| 12 13 | 3. All student absences are verified; |
| 14 15 | 4. Written excuses are submitted for absences and tardiness; |
| 16 17 | 5. System-wide procedures for accounting and reporting are followed. |
| 18 | TRUANCY |
| 19 | General |
| 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 | Annually, the Director of Schools/designee will provide written notice to parent(s)/guardian(s) that attendance at school is required. Students shall be present at least fifty percent (50%) of the scheduled school day in order to be counted present. Students may attend part-time days, alternating days, or for a specific amount of time as indicated in their Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan and shall be considered present for school attendance purposes. If a student is required to participate in a remedial instruction program outside of the regular school day where there is no cost to the parent(s) and the school system provides transportation, unexcused absences from these programs shall be reported in the same manner.⁷ |
| 28 29 30 31 32 | Students who are absent five (5) days without adequate excuse shall be reported to the director of schools/designee who will, in turn, provide written notice to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student's absence. If a parent does not provide documentation within adequate time excusing those absences, or request an attendance hearing, then the Director of Schools shall implement the progressive truancy intervention plan described below prior to referral to juvenile court. |
| 33 34 | The director of schools/designee shall develop appropriate administrative procedures to implement this policy. |
| 35 | Progressive Truancy Intervention Plan⁸ |
| 36 37 | Prior to referral to juvenile court, the following progressive truancy intervention plan will be implemented. |

## Table 3

| 2 | framework outlined below. |
| --- | --- |
| 3 | Tier I |
| 4 5 6 | Tier I of the progressive truancy plan shall apply to all students within the district and include schoolwide prevention-oriented supports to assist with satisfactory attendance. These supports shall include, but are not limited to, |
| 7 | 1. A conference with the student and the student's parent/guardian; |
| 8 |  |
| 9 | 2. An attendance contract, based on the conference, signed by the student, the parent/guardian, and |
| 10 | an attendance officer. The contract shall include: |
| 11 12 13 14 15 | a. A specific description of the school's attendance expectations for the student; b. The period for which the contract is effective. c. Penalties for additional absences and alleged school offenses, including additional disciplinary action and potential referral to juvenile court; and |
| 16 |  |
| 17 | 3. Regularly scheduled follow-up meetings to discuss the student's progress. |
| 18 | If the student accumulates additional unexcused absences in violation of the attendance contract, in Tier |
| 19 | I, he/she shall be subject to Tier II. |
| 20 | Tier II |
| 21 22 23 | An individualized assessment by a school employee of the reasons a student has been absent from school. This may result in referral to counseling, community-based services, or other services to address the student's attendance problems. |
| 24 | Tier III |
| 25 | This tier shall be implemented if the truancy interventions under Tier II are unsuccessful. |
| 26 27 28 29 | Tier III interventions must include a review of the previous individualized assessment and an amended attendance contract but may also result in further action including but not limited to a review of grades and the discipline record, a referral to restorative justice programs, a referral to community-based services, or a referral to the Department of Children's Services. |
| 30 31 32 | These interventions shall be determined by a team formed at each school. The interventions shall address student needs in an age-appropriate manner. Finalized plans shall be approved by the Director of Schools/designee. |
| 33 | NON-SCHOOL SPONSORED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY⁹ |
| 34 | A principal/designee may excuse a student to participate in non-school sponsored extracurricular |
| 35 | activities. The principal shall document the approval in writing and shall excuse no more than ten (10) |
| 36 | absences each school year. No later than seven (7) business days prior to the student's absence, the |

## Table 4

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| 4 | STATE-MANDATED TESTS/END OF COURSE EXAMS |
| 5 6 7 8 9 | Students who are absent the day of the scheduled End of Course Exams must present a signed doctor's excuse or must have been given an excused release by the principal prior to testing to receive an excused absence. Students who have excused absences will be allowed to take a make-up exam that will count as 15% of their grade. Excused students will receive an incomplete in the course until they have taken the End of Course Exam. |
| 10 11 | Students who have an unexcused absence shall receive a failing grade on the course exam which shall be averaged into their final grade at 15%. |
| 12 | CREDIT/PROMOTION DENIAL |
| 13 14 15 | Credit/promotion denial determinations may include student attendance, however, student attendance may not be the sole criterion. 11 However, if attendance is a factor, prior to credit/promotion denial, the following shall occur: |
| 16 17 18 | 1. Parents and students shall be advised if a student is in danger of credit/promotion denial due to excessive absenteeism. |
| 19 | 2. Procedures in due process are available to the student when credit or promotion is denied. |
| 20 | DRIVER'S LICENSE REVOCATION² |
| 21 22 | More than ten (10) consecutive or fifteen (15) reported unexcused absences by a student during any semester renders a student ineligible to retain a driver's permit or license, or to obtain such if of age. |
| 23 | ATTENDANCE HEARING¹² |
| 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 | Students with excessive (more than 5) unexcused absences or those in danger of credit/promotion denial shall have the opportunity to appeal to an attendance hearing committee appointed by the principal. If the student chooses to appeal, the student or their parent/guardian shall be provided written or actual notice of the appeal hearing and shall be given the opportunity to address the committee. The committee will conduct a hearing to determine if any extenuating circumstances exist or to determine if the student has met attendance requirements that will allow him/her to pass the course or be promoted. Upon notification of the attendance committee decision, the principal shall send written notification to the director of schools/designee and the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student of any action taken regarding the excessive unexcused absences. The notification shall advise parents/guardian(s) of their right to appeal such action within two (2) school days to the director of schools/designee. |
| 34 | The appeal shall be heard no later than ten (10) school days after the request for appeal is received. |
| 35 36 | Within five (5) school days of the director of schools/designee rendering a decision, the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) may request a hearing by the Board, and the Board shall review the record. |

## Table 5

| Legal | References | Cross References |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. | TCA 49-6-3006 | School Calendar 1.800 |
| 2. | TCA 49-6-3017(c) | Extracurricular Activities 4.300 |
| 3. | 20 USCA § 1232g | Interscholastic Athletics 4.301 |
| 4. | TRR/MS 0520-01-02-.17(5); State Board of | Field Trips/Excursions/Competitions 4.302 |
|  | Education Policy 4.100 | Reporting Student Progress 4.601 |
| 5. | TCA 49-6-2904(b)(5) | Promotion and Retention 4.603 |
| 6. | TCA 49-6-3007 | Recognition of Religious Beliefs, Customs, & Holidays 4.803 |
| 7. | TCA 49-6-3021 | Voluntary Pre-K Attendance 6.2011 |
| 8. | TCA 49-6-3007; TCA 49-6-3009 | Homeless Students 6.503 |
| 9. | TCA 49-6-3022 | Students in Foster Care 6.505 |
| 10. | TCA 49-2-130 | Students from Military Families 6.506 |
| 11. | TCA 49-2-203(b)(7); TCA 49-6-3002(b); | Student Records 6.600 |
|  | Public Acts of 2025, Chapter No. 401 |  |
| 12. | TRR/MS 0520-01-02-.17(7) |  |

## Table 6

| Hickman County | School System |
| --- | --- |
| Attendance | 6.200AP |

## Table 7

| Hickman County | School System |
| --- | --- |
| Compulsory Attendance Ages | 6.201AP |