Absences

Students who are absent more than 90% of the time (more than 6 absences per class period) will be required to submit a letter of appeal to the Attendance Appeal Committee prior to final exam week. The Attendance Appeal committee will determine which of the following three actions will be taken (total absences and tardies will be taken into consideration):

• Absences exceeding 10% but less than 15% (7-9 absences) – Community Service and/or Credit Recovery Hours.
• Absences exceeding 15% but less than 25% (10-14 absences) -Bishop Kelly will deduct 10% from the final grade. The reduced grade will be reflected on the student transcript. Students will have the option to retake the course at Bishop Kelly or at an approved alternative education provider.
• Absences exceeding 25% (greater than 14 absences) – Automatic credit denial with option to retake the course at Bishop Kelly or at an approved alternative education provider.

Truancies

Students that are off-campus without parent/guardian permission or missing class without teacher/counselor/administration approval are considered truant. Such unexcused absences include missing all or any part of the school day.

• First Truancy: Parents will be notified; the student will make up truant time through detentions.
• Second Truancy: Parents will be notified; the students will be placed on a probationary contract.
• Third Truancy: Parents will be notified; the student will be forced to withdraw from Bishop Kelly.

A student with unexcused absences/truancies may also lose credit. Unexcused absences/truancies may also affect a student’s appeal rights for loss of credit regarding extraordinary circumstances under the 90% attendance policy. Papers, assignments, tests, etc., missed during the unexcused absence/truancy will not be allowed to be made up for credit.

Tardies

Tardies are cumulative per semester.  Please see the BK Attendance Page for our fully tardy policy.

Parents are encouraged to frequently check the attendance of their student(s) through Infinite Campus. Parents/Students will be notified on the following tardies:

• 7th Tardy: Parent/Student will be notified and the student will serve a 1 hour detention.
• 8th Tardy: Parent/Student will be notified and the student will serve a 1 hour detention.
• 9th Tardy: Parent/Student will be notified and the student will serve a 1 hour detention.
• 10+ Tardy: Parent/Student will be notified and the student will serve a 3 hour Saturday School Detention.

Types of Absences

Absences that ARE counted toward the 90% rule: 

• Verified Absence (VA) is an absence from school with the knowledge and approval of the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s). Written, oral, or electronic communication from parents is expected by 9:30a.m. on the day of the absence.
• Unexcused Absence (AB) is an absence from school that has not been excused via written, oral, or electronic communication from a parent or guardian. Absences left unexcused over 48 hours may be considered truant.
• Prearranged Absences (PA) occur when a student knows in advance that they will be absent for 2 or more days and fills out the proper form through the attendance office.
• Truant (TR) is an absence without the consent of the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) or school officials. This includes an absence from school and class after arrival at school and departure from school during the school day without permission of school officials. Class work, homework, and exams missed while truant may not be made up for credit.
• Suspended Absence (SA) includes absences due to in-school or out of school suspension or absence from class due to a dress code violation.

Absences that ARE NOT counted toward the 90% rule:

• In-school Absence (IA) includes absences that occur within the school day that pull a student from class to another area within the school. Examples include extended visits to the office, nurse, or when a student is at a school approved meeting (i.e. student body, college meetings, etc.)
• Activity Absence (AA) is an absence for school sponsored programs in which classes will be missed.
• Doctor Excused (DR) is an absence due to medical reasons that is confirmed with documentation by professional personnel. (Examples include medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, etc.)
• COVID-19 Absence (CO) is for absences for students who have a verified positive COVID-19 test, or for a student who must quarantine for 14 days after being named a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
• Bereavement (BR) is an absence taken due to a death in the family.
• School Excused (SC) absences include absences for college visitations, or extenuating circumstances approved by the administration (college visits beyond two (2) need to be approved by the administration prior to the absence). College visits are for Juniors and Seniors only.
• Court Appearance (CA) absences used for students having legal obligations.

Permit to Leave School

In order to leave campus during the school day, a student must obtain a Permit to Leave (“PTL”). This is accomplished by the following:

• A parent email sent in advance to the Attendance Office (attendance@bk.org) specifying time and reason for leaving.
• The student must pick up the PTL either before school, lunch, or between classes in order to avoid a classroom interruption.
• Leaving early, at the end of a school day, will be counted as an absence.

The student shows the PTL to the teacher and is excused to leave at that time. Students must sign-out before they leave campus.

If returning to school, the student needs to check back in at the Attendance Office upon arrival for a pass to class.  Students should bring back notes from the Doctor’s Office for medical appointments.

Important Attendance Procedures for Parents

Parents are asked to email the school’s Attendance Office before 9:30 a.m. on the day a student will be absent from class for all or part of the school day due to an illness or an appointment.  attendance@bk.org

All students are required to sign in and out at the Attendance Office when coming late or leaving early.

If a student becomes ill at school and would like to go home, the student should ask their teacher for a pass to see our school nurse, Mrs. Cunningham.  The student should report to the Nurse’s Office and the nurse will contact parents.  The student should not text or call home prior to seeing the nurse.

All of these attendance policies and procedures can be found on the BK Website in the Attendance section.