Attendance
2024-2025 Attendance Guidelines:
Students and parents are responsible for the students’ consistent attendance. Attendance is compulsory until the
age of eighteen. Students who have attained the age of five years by September thirtieth of the calendar year in
which the school year begins shall attend a public or nonpublic day school or participate in an approved home
study program until they reach the age of 18 years. Any child below the age of seven who legally enrolls in school
shall also be subject to compulsory attendance. (BESE Bulletin 741 May,2024, pg.34). The literature and statistical
evidence indicates that consistent attendance is a precursor to high achievement. A student shall be considered
habitually absent or habitually tardy when either condition continues to exist after all reasonable efforts by any
school personnel, truancy officer, or other law enforcement personnel have failed to correct the condition after
the fifth unexcused absence or fifth unexcused occurrence of being tardy within any school semester. The parent
or legal guardian of a student shall enforce the attendance of the student at the school to which the student is
assigned (Louisiana Administrative Code). Students with unexcused absences who are not in attendance for the
mandated days will not be promoted. All absences are defined in the following categories:
age of eighteen. Students who have attained the age of five years by September thirtieth of the calendar year in
which the school year begins shall attend a public or nonpublic day school or participate in an approved home
study program until they reach the age of 18 years. Any child below the age of seven who legally enrolls in school
shall also be subject to compulsory attendance. (BESE Bulletin 741 May,2024, pg.34). The literature and statistical
evidence indicates that consistent attendance is a precursor to high achievement. A student shall be considered
habitually absent or habitually tardy when either condition continues to exist after all reasonable efforts by any
school personnel, truancy officer, or other law enforcement personnel have failed to correct the condition after
the fifth unexcused absence or fifth unexcused occurrence of being tardy within any school semester. The parent
or legal guardian of a student shall enforce the attendance of the student at the school to which the student is
assigned (Louisiana Administrative Code). Students with unexcused absences who are not in attendance for the
mandated days will not be promoted. All absences are defined in the following categories:
1-Non-Exempted, Excused Absence (counts in 10 days K-8 when considered for credit removal) (counts in 5 days 9-12 when considered for credit removal). An absence that is incurred due to personal illness or
serious illness in the family and is documented by an acceptable excuse, including a parent note and is not
determined to be a habitual attendance problem. This type of absence is not considered when reporting for
truancy: however, this type of absence is an absence & is counted in the set days a student can miss when
determining a student’s ability to receive credit for a course or successful completion of a school year.
Returning a parent’s excuse only ensures the student will have the opportunity to make up their work; it does not
guarantee the student will avoid credit removal due to excessive absences. It is the student’s responsibility to
obtain all missed work and return that work in a reasonable time. {For example: if a student misses 2 days, he has 2 days to return the missed work he has 2 days to return the missed work.} Make-up Work: Permitted ***As set by the PPSB Pupil Progression Plan, students have 5 days beginning on the date of their return to present valid
documentation for an excused absence. After five days from the date of return, documentation will not be accepted, and the absence is categorized as unexcused. It is solely the responsibility of the legal guardian and the student to present documentation to the designated school authority.
serious illness in the family and is documented by an acceptable excuse, including a parent note and is not
determined to be a habitual attendance problem. This type of absence is not considered when reporting for
truancy: however, this type of absence is an absence & is counted in the set days a student can miss when
determining a student’s ability to receive credit for a course or successful completion of a school year.
Returning a parent’s excuse only ensures the student will have the opportunity to make up their work; it does not
guarantee the student will avoid credit removal due to excessive absences. It is the student’s responsibility to
obtain all missed work and return that work in a reasonable time. {For example: if a student misses 2 days, he has 2 days to return the missed work he has 2 days to return the missed work.} Make-up Work: Permitted ***As set by the PPSB Pupil Progression Plan, students have 5 days beginning on the date of their return to present valid
documentation for an excused absence. After five days from the date of return, documentation will not be accepted, and the absence is categorized as unexcused. It is solely the responsibility of the legal guardian and the student to present documentation to the designated school authority.
2-Exempted, Excused Absence The following criteria apply: Verified doctor’s excuse; Death in the family (not to exceed 5 school days); Recognized religious holidays of student’s faith; Visitation with a PARENT who is a member of the US Armed Forces and who has been called to duty or is on leave from an
overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting (not to exceed 5 school days per year).
This type of absence is not considered for purposes of truancy and is not considered when determining whether
or not a student is eligible to make up work and tests, receive credit for work completed, and receive credit for a
course and/or school year. Make-up Work: Permitted / ***As set by the PPSB Pupil Progression Plan, students have 5 days beginning on the date of their return to present valid documentation for an excused absence. After five days from the date of return, documentation will not be accepted, and the absence is categorized as unexcused. It is solely the responsibility of the legal guardian and the student to present documentation to the designated school authority.
overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting (not to exceed 5 school days per year).
This type of absence is not considered for purposes of truancy and is not considered when determining whether
or not a student is eligible to make up work and tests, receive credit for work completed, and receive credit for a
course and/or school year. Make-up Work: Permitted / ***As set by the PPSB Pupil Progression Plan, students have 5 days beginning on the date of their return to present valid documentation for an excused absence. After five days from the date of return, documentation will not be accepted, and the absence is categorized as unexcused. It is solely the responsibility of the legal guardian and the student to present documentation to the designated school authority.
3-Unexcused Absence (counts in 10 days K-8) (counts in 5 days 9-12) Prompts credit removal and DA/FINS referral. Any absence that is not defined in the excused definition. Unexcused absences are reported for truancy. Students shall be given failing grades in those days missed and shall not be given the opportunity to make-up work. Make-up Work: Not Permitted / ***As set by the PPSB Pupil Progression Plan, students and Parents have 5 days
from the date of return to present documentation, to become classified as a non-exempted, excused absence or
exempted excused absence.
from the date of return to present documentation, to become classified as a non-exempted, excused absence or
exempted excused absence.
4-Suspension (counts in 10 days K-8 when considered for credit removal) (counts in 5 days 9-12 when considered for credit removal). Suspension is considered a non-exempted absence and is not reported for the purposes of truancy; however, the absences are counted as unexcused when considering for the purposes of student promotion. Excessive suspensions and suspensions that are deemed as serious school violations will be reported to the FINS court system for behavior intervention. Make-up Work: Permitted / ***As set by the PPSB Pupil Progression Plan, suspended students shall have the opportunity to make up all work as well as exams and receive full credit; it is solely the student’s responsibility to obtain the missed assignments and complete assignments in a reasonable time. {For example: if a student misses 2 days, he has 2 days to return the missed work} However, course credit may be revoked upon an attendance hearing with the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance for excessive missed days.
Absences may fall into the following categories:
Extenuating Circumstances are as follows:
1. Extended personal or physical or emotional illness as verified by a physician.
2. Extended hospital stay as verified by a physician or dentist.
3. Extended recuperation from an accident as verified by a physician or dentist.
4. Extended contagious disease within a family as verified by a physician or dentist.
5. Observance of special and recognized holidays of the student’s own faith.
6. Visitation with a parent who is a member of the US Armed Forces who has been called to duty or is on leave from
an overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting (not to exceed 5 school days per year).
7. Prior school system approved travel for education.
8. Death in the immediate family (not to exceed 5 school days per year).
9. Natural catastrophe and/or disaster.
The following are not excusable:
a. Truancy
b. Oversleeping and/or missing a bus that has passed on its route
c. Trip not approved by the principal
d. Other personal appointments
e. Shopping
f. Hunting, Fishing, Trawling
g. Birthdays or other celebrations
Extenuating Circumstances are as follows:
1. Extended personal or physical or emotional illness as verified by a physician.
2. Extended hospital stay as verified by a physician or dentist.
3. Extended recuperation from an accident as verified by a physician or dentist.
4. Extended contagious disease within a family as verified by a physician or dentist.
5. Observance of special and recognized holidays of the student’s own faith.
6. Visitation with a parent who is a member of the US Armed Forces who has been called to duty or is on leave from
an overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting (not to exceed 5 school days per year).
7. Prior school system approved travel for education.
8. Death in the immediate family (not to exceed 5 school days per year).
9. Natural catastrophe and/or disaster.
The following are not excusable:
a. Truancy
b. Oversleeping and/or missing a bus that has passed on its route
c. Trip not approved by the principal
d. Other personal appointments
e. Shopping
f. Hunting, Fishing, Trawling
g. Birthdays or other celebrations
Students who miss more than {10 days classified as Category 1, 3, or 4 in K-8} and {5 days classified as Category 1, 3, or 4 for full credit courses & 2 days classified as Category 1, 3, or 4 for half credit courses in 9-12} will not receive credit for the grade/course. It is the responsibility of the parent and student to obtain and present documentation to the school and to keep a copy for their records. As set by the PPSB Pupil Progression Plan, all documentation must be presented within 5 school days from the date of return to be accepted; otherwise, the documentation will not be accepted, and the absences will be counted as unexcused. Parents and students are responsible for obtaining schoolwork to be made-up.** Attendance is mandated during nine weeks/final exams days. Exams can only be made up with a verified doctor’s excuse.
Laure Rousselle, Ed.D., M. Ed, MSW, LCSW-BACS
Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance
Plaquemines Parish School Board, WCO
Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance
Plaquemines Parish School Board, WCO