ATTENDANCE

To earn credit, a student must be in class a minimum of 87% of the days of the quarter (20 of approximately 23 possible class periods per quarter). A student is marked tardy if he or she arrives any time up to 10 minutes after the tardy bell rings. If a student arrives more than 10 minutes, but less than 20 minutes after the bell rings, the student is marked with a W for “Way Late.”  If a student arrives more than 20 minutes late, the student is marked absent or as an unexcused check-in.  At this point the student must report to the Attendance Office to check in and may not attend class until having done so. 

If a student must leave campus for any reason during class time, the student must check out in the Attendance Office with permission from a parent or guardian.  Failure to properly check out will result in an unexcused absence that may not be excused later.

If a student has one verified truancy (sluff) or any combination of four (4) or more unexcused absences and/or “Way Lates” per class, per quarter, the student will receive a No Grade (NG) for the quarter grade in that class.  Truancies (sluffs) or any combination of excessive unexcused absences (4 or more) and/or “Way Lates” and can be made-up through Attendance School to clear the NG and receive credit in the class.

Absences deemed necessary at the parent’s/guardian’s discretion may be excused.  Excusals must be done by a parent or guardian through the Attendance Office and are due no later than five (5) days after the absence occurred in order to be accepted. Absences verified and documented in this manner are recorded as an “E” (Excused) in Skyward.

Students who have not met the attendance requirement but have received a passing grade will receive “no grade” (NG) if the excessive absences are not made up or waived through the appeal process.  “NG” is not available to students who failed academically; those students will receive an “F” grade regardless of their attendance.

• Students released from their regular classes to participate in school approved, extra-curricular activities are not considered absent.
• Absences due to suspensions or confinement in county detention do not need to be made up. However assignments from each class must be made up according to individual teachers’ disclosures.
• The “make-up” of excessive absences in attendance school does not excuse students from completing the class work and assignments missed during the absences. Make-up of the missed work is subject to requirements outlined in individual teachers’ disclosures.
• Excessive absences may also result in suspension, and/or referral to Jordan School District Truancy School, and/or Juvenile Court for non-compliance with Utah Compulsory Education Law (Utah Code 53A-11-101).
• For athletic eligibility purposes, student government, and other programs that have a minimum GPA requirement, “NG” is counted as a failing grade. 

PARENT/GUARDIAN AND STUDENT ACCESS

Bingham High School provides computerized attendance information, updated daily, to assist parents/guardians and students. Students and parents/guardians may check class grades and attendance records through the Skyward gradebook system. In addition, parents/guardians may set their own preferences in Skyward for receiving Skylerts by phone, e-mail, or text message to notify them of absences on a daily basis.  A link to Skyward gradebook is provided at www.binghamminers.org.  In addition, parent/guardians may check attendance by calling the attendance office at (801) 256-5110 between 7:00 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.

ATTENDANCE SCHOOL AND AVOIDING LOSS OF CREDIT

On the first verified truancy (sluff) or fourth absence, and every subsequent absence per class each quarter, students will be required to complete a session of attendance school to make up the missed class time. Class work missed because of a sluff may not be made up.  A student must attend a session for absences that are represented by the following codes:

Attendance school sessions will be offered before school on designated days with some Saturday sessions available.  To avoid any problems it is strongly suggested that the student make up the time within two (2) weeks of the absence. Absences occurring during the last week of the quarter must be made up the following quarter when attendance school begins and the yellow receipt taken to your assistant principal. Students may not make up “NG’s” from previous quarters.  An attendance school schedule will be available from the website: binghamminers.org. Students must complete attendance school by purchasing tickets in the main office. The ticket is then taken to the assigned attendance school session.  The ticket must be signed by the attendance school teacher. Students must keep the yellow receipt until the “NG” has been changed to a letter grade. 

For admittance into attendance school, students must have picture I.D. and schoolwork in their possession. No food, drink, electronic device or any other disruptive items will be permitted in the attendance session area. Bingham High School rules, including the dress code, will be enforced in each session. Sessions will start promptly at 6:00 a.m. for weekday sessions and 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. for Saturday sessions (Please refer to Resources/Attendance School for actual days scheduled). Students arriving late will lose the opportunity to attend the session and forfeit the money and time for that session. A student that is disruptive, as determined by the teacher, during attendance school will be removed from that session of attendance school and will forfeit the money and time for that session. Failure to make up absences will result in no grade for the class.

Refunds will not be provided if you miss an attendance school session. Tickets not used for the assigned session cannot be used for a future session, you must purchase a new ticket.

ABSENCE REVIEW PROCESS

Students and their parents/guardians may appeal to the Absence Review Committee to waive or reduce the make-up requirement for excessive absences each quarter. Appeals must be submitted using the Attendance Appeal form within one week of the end of the quarter in which the excessive absences occurred.  Reviews are reserved for extenuating attendance issues, such as verified emergencies. The waiving of a student’s attendance obligations through the absence review process is infrequent and at the discretion of the Absence Review Committee. Chronic, pre-existing, or extended health conditions should be communicated to an assistant principal.

Reviewed absences must meet the following criteria:

• Absences must have been parent/guardian-excused (indicating parent/guardian knowledge of the absences and appropriate school notification) within five (5) school days of the student’s return to school.
• The reason absences are being appealed must be verified by a parent.

Absence Review forms will be available in the attendance office. The review forms must be signed by a parent. The Absence Review Committee will not rule favorably on the following: verified truancies, leaving school without checking in or out properly, unverified illness, or absences not reported by a parent/guardian at the time of the absence or within five (5) school days of the student’s return to school.

Check In/Check Out

If a student has come to school and needs to leave for any reason, the student must check-out through the attendance office. All check-outs must be confirmed directly with a parent/guardian. Contact the attendance office by telephone, a note signed by a parent, or in person at the time of checkout or prior to check-out. Prior notification is appreciated. Check-out slips will be available for students to pick up in the attendance office before school, during class breaks, and during lunch.  Students leaving school without following proper check-out procedure will be considered truant. Students arriving within the first 20 minutes of first hour classes must go directly to their class. The first hour teacher will record the attendance.  If students enter campus after first hour classes or more than 20 minutes late, they must check in through the attendance office. They will be given a check-in slip with the date, time, and reason for the check-in to be given to the current teacher.  The “W” code will be used to signify that a student was 10 minutes or more late to class and will count as an absence. A student will only be released from school after 2:00 p.m. if a parent/guardian has contacted the attendance office before 2:00 p.m.