FILE: JBE
TRUANCY
The Orleans Parish School District recognizes truancy as absence from class or school for any portion of a period or day without permission from home or school. Students shall not be allowed to leave the campus without proper permission at any time during the school day, including before school begins, or after school while waiting for their bus. Students shall remain on the campus at all times unless granted permission to be off-campus or be subject to disciplinary action. Violations of attendance laws and regulations may lead to suspension and/or expulsion from school.
School personnel shall be expected to make every reasonable effort to assist a child who is habitually absent from or tardy to school or class. A student shall be considered habitually absent or habitually tardy when either condition continues to exist after all reasonable efforts by the principal and teacher have failed to correct the condition after the fifth (5th) unexcused absence or fifth (5th) unexcused occurrence of being tardy within any month or if a pattern of five (5) absences a month is established. The principal or designee, with the aid of the teachers, shall file a report of the school's efforts to effect regular attendance by the student with the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance. Any student who is a juvenile and who is habitually absent from school or habitually tardy shall be reported by visiting teachers and Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance to the family or juvenile court of the parish or city as a truant child.
Tardy, for the purpose of policy, shall include, but not be limited to arriving at school after the regularly scheduled start time, or leaving or checking out of school unexcused prior to the regularly scheduled dismissal time at the end of the school day. However, it shall not include reporting late to class when transferring from one class to another during the school day.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIANS
The parent or legal guardian of a student shall enforce the attendance of the student at the school to which the student is assigned. The parent or legal guardian of a truant student shall ensure that the student makes up missed schoolwork by attending after-school tutoring sessions, weekend make-up classes, or other remediation opportunities, as determined by the School Board, until the student has caught up with their schoolwork. The parent or legal guardian shall also attend meetings at the school on at least a monthly basis relative to the student's progress until the student has caught up on his or her missed schoolwork and any assistance fair conducted by the School District that provides information on supports available to families. Failure to comply with the provisions of this paragraph may subject a parent to certain criminal penalties.
The principal of each school or designee shall note any concerns that school personnel have relative to a child's school attendance on the back of any Supplemental Security Income form that the school receives relative to that child.
In any case where the student is the subject of a court ordered custody or visitation plan, the parent or legal guardian who is lawfully exercising actual physical custody or visitation of the student shall be responsible for the student’s attendance at school on the days they have physical custody and shall be solely responsible for any absence or tardiness of the child on such days.
The parent or legal guardian of any student in kindergarten through grade eight who is considered habitually absent or habitually tardy shall be subject to punishment such as monetary fines, community service, or imprisonment.
Revised: September 19, 2024
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:92.2, 17:221, 17:223, 17:228, 17:233
La. Children’s Code, Art. 728, Art. 730
Board Minutes, 9-19-24
Orleans Parish School Board