Dear Parent:

Below you will nd excerpts from the 2014-2015 St. Clair County Student/Parent
Information Guide and Student Code of Conduct concerning attendance. These
excerpts can be found specically on pages 8-10 as it relates to school attendance.
ATTENDANCE:
Regular school attendance contributes to academic achievement and facilitates the
students ability to succeed. Alabama law requires that all children between the age of
6-17 to attend school. The law further provides that a parent, guardian, or other person
having control or charge of a school aged child is responsible for that childs regular
attendance and proper conduct.
CLASS ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES:
In order for an absence to be excused, parents/guardians must present to the school
principal or designee (teacher) a written explanation of a students absence within 3
days of the absence. Failure to present a written explanation will cause the absence to
be recorded as unexcused.
Excused Absences are dened as the following:
illness
death in the immediate family
inclement weather which would be dangerous to the life and health of the child as
determined by the school principal and/or Superintendent
emergency conditions as determined by the principal and/or Superintendent
prior permission of the principal with the consent of the parent or legal guardian
Examples include but not limited to:
1. serious family illness
2. family emergency
3. legal appointments with documentation
4. religious holidays
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES/TRUANCY
Unexcused absences are those for which no acceptable written explanation is provided
by the parent/guardian, or for reasons other than those noted above in Excused
Absences section or those after 10 days per year for which no physician or court
documentation is provided.
The St. Clair County School System participates in cooperation with the St. Clair County
District Attorney and the St. Clair County Juvenile Court in the Early Warning Program
for Attendance Intervention and the Early Warning Program for Behavior Intervention to
assist families in achieving good school attendance and students in maintaining good
conduct.
MOODY MIDDLE SCHOOL
696 HIGH SCHOOL DRIVE
MOODY, AL 35004
(205)640-2190
The rst referral to the Early Warning Program is initiated by the school when a student
has 3 unexcused absences. The legal custodial parent/guardian shall be notied in
writing of the referral and shall be required to attend an Early Warning Program
conference with a judge and juvenile probation ofcer. Students over the age of 12 are
required to attend with the parent/guardian.
When a student has 5 unexcused absences, a second referral to the Early Warning
Program is initiated by the school system. The legal custodial parent/guardian shall be
notied in writing to attend a conference to include the student, a juvenile probation
ofcer and designated school ofcial.
When a student has 7 unexcused absences, the school will le a CHINS (Child In
Need of Supervision) petition in Juvenile Court which may result in charges against
parents/guardians and/or court-ordered supervision (CHINS designee) of the student.
Once a student has been referred to Early Warning Program, the school will not dismiss
the truancy or accept excuses until the student and/or parent has attended Early
Warning.
If you have any questions, please refer to the St. Clair County Schools Student/Parent
Information Guide and Student Code of Conduct, or call the school ofce @640-2190.
MOODY MIDDLE SCHOOL
696 HIGH SCHOOL DRIVE
MOODY, AL 35004
(205)640-2190