TARDINESS

Tardiness shall be defined as being late for school or an individual class without missing a half-day of school or without missing an entire class period. 

 EARLY DEPARTURE

 Early departure is defined as leaving school or an individual class without missing a half-day of school or without missing an entire class period. 

Tardiness and early departure can be excused by the school principal or designee, providing the reason corresponds with the guidelines for excused absences.  Unexcused tardiness and unexcused early departure are situations determined by the principal/designee to be invalid reasons for a student missing instructional time at school.  Continued acts of this nature may result in disciplinary measures under the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, including a process of progressive discipline for each infraction.  Students who are tardy or who leave early for unexcused reasons will be referred to the office of the principal, who will decide how to handle the consequences for tardiness or early departure.  The principal or designee may use before school, after school, lunch detention, or other consequences for unexcused tardiness or early departure.

 Each school shall communicate to students the definition of tardiness and early departure defined above, a notification procedure to parent and student regarding unexcused tardiness and early departure and a school-specific guideline for disciplining infractions.  Upon the third occurrence of unexcused tardiness and/or early departure, the principal/designee will send written notice to the parent of the student.  The notice will remind the parent (and student) that missed instructional time due to tardiness or early departure must be made up.  The notice will also state that continued occurrences may result in disciplinary measures by the school.  The notice will encourage the parent to have a conference with school officials regarding this matter.

 Upon the fifth occurrence of unexcused tardiness and/or early departure in grades K-8, the principal/designee will issue a notice that disciplinary measures will begin for the student.  For secondary students in a block schedule, such notice shall be sent after the third occurrence per semester. It shall be emphasized in this notice that these measures are primarily intended to insure that the student receives the instructional time he/she is entitled to. 

 Disciplinary measures for Elementary School Students:  Students in grades kindergarten through four may lose their recess time privileges minute for minute for the amount of time they have been tardy or left school early.  They will be monitored in a study hall environment while their classmates are at recess.  School principals, with input from teachers and guidance counselors, may require a more structured learning experience to insure that schoolwork is made up. 

 Disciplinary measures for Middle School Students:  Students in grades five through eight may serve either lunch or after school detention minute for minute for the amount of time they have been tardy or left school early.  They will be monitored in a study hall environment.  School principals, with input from teachers and guidance counselors, may require a more structured learning experience to insure that schoolwork is made up.

 Disciplinary measures for High School Students:  Students in grades nine through twelve may serve after school detention or lunch detention minute for minute for instructional time missed due to unexcused tardiness or early departure. They will be monitored in a study hall environment. School principals, with input from teachers and guidance counselors, may require a more structured learning experience to insure that schoolwork is made up. In addition, students with parking lot privileges may lose them for a month.