Every parent, guardian, or other person having control of a child between the ages of 5 and 16 is required to send such child to school. School attendance is mandated by statute and by laws and regulations of the State Board of Education. The Student Attendance Policy of the Colonial School District Board of Education establishes specific regulations related to attendance. 

The chief school officer of the local school district is responsible for enforcing the attendance laws of the state and is the person who may excuse a child for necessary and legal absence, subject to the provisions of the Delaware Code (Title 14). 

The following are considered necessary and legal excused absences and may not be used to file truancy charges: 

1.  Illness of the student 
2. Medical diagnosis and/or treatment
3. Death in the immediate family; funerals of other relatives or close friends, not to exceed one day if in the locality or three days if outside the state
4. Contagious disease in the home of the child subject to regulations of the Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services
5. Legal business requiring the student’s presence
6. Suspension or expulsion from school
7. Observance of religious holidays
8. Approved college visits
9.  Authorized school-sponsored activities
10. Mental Health
11. In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall have the authority to approve other absences. 

DASH PROJECT

At Colonial School District (CSD), we value the health and wellbeing of our students. We know that students who are healthy are better able to come to school and learn. We are pleased to share that CSD is partnering with local doctors, nurses, the Nemours Children’s Health System (Nemours) and the Delaware Health Information network (DHIN) on a project to support our students’ health and attendance in school.

Through the project — which is called the Data Access for Student Health or DASH – parents or guardians can give permission to CSD to securely share attendance information and if the student has an IEP or 504 plan with their child’s doctor(s), nurse(s), and medical office staff. This information will help these healthcare professionals work with families to provide special outreach and medical attention to children that might be missing school or may not be aware of potential services available for their children.

Why are CSD and local doctors and nurses partnering on this project?
CSD and local medical providers share the goal of having physically and mentally healthy children who are at school, every day, ready to learn. For many students with medical conditions such as asthma, allergies, sickle cell anemia, and diabetes, this can be harder. CSD and local doctors and nurses are partnering to see if we can better support students’ health and wellbeing when doctors and nurses know more about school attendance and education plans. Ultimately, we hope this will help students improve their academics.

How will this project help my child?
Doctors, nurses, and their staff are able to provide special outreach and medical attention if your child might be missing school. For example, your child’s doctor may be able to recommend a new or different medication to help make your child feel better and to better control your child’s asthma, allergies, or other condition. The medical care team may also be able to support other common issues for getting to school, such as transportation or child care needs. They will also now know if a child has an IEP or 504 plan and can encourage a family  to discuss educational concerns and potential supports/services . 

What schools are participating?
All CSD schools will be participating in this project. These schools were chosen because many students at these schools get their medical care at the same doctors’ offices. This allows CSD to closely partner with those doctors and nurses.

How can I learn more?
If you have questions, please speak with your child’s school, school nurse, or medical provider. You can also contact Jon Cooper at jon.cooper@colonial.k12.de.us or 302-323-2700. 

Absences for other reasons are classified as “unexcused.”

A student enrolled in grades PK through 12 inclusive is considered truant if such a student has been absent from school without valid excuse, as defined in Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Education, for more than three (3) days or the equivalent thereof during a given school year. Schools will take action regarding unexcused absences including, but not limited to, written communications, home visits, required parent/guardian conferences, and referral of the parent for prosecution. 26

Parents/guardians who allow their children to be truant are subject to the following penalties as described by State Law:

Parents

• First offense fine of $25 to $300 or imprisonment for up to 10 days or both
• Second offense fine of $50 to $500 or imprisonment for up to 20 days or both 
• Third offense fine of $230 to $1,150 or imprisonment for up to 30 days or both 

A parent may be ordered to perform unpaid community service in lieu of a fine. If imprisoned, the court may impose conditions of release.

Students 
Penalties may include community service, counseling, curfew, suspension or revocation of driver’s permit or hunting license, prohibition of participation in extracurricular activities or school social events or recommendation that the student enroll in an alternative school.

ANY PUPIL 16 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WHO IS TRUANT ON MORE THAN THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS DURING ONE SCHOOL YEAR MAY BE EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THE SCHOOL, IN ADMINISTERING THE STATE POLICY, DEFINES THE MOST COMMONLY USED ATTENDANCE TERMS AS FOLLOWS:

PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCE

A pre-arranged absence is a student’s absence from school for one or more days to visit a college or university or for other educational activities approved by the principal. The absence should be pre-arranged by writing the principal, giving the full particulars of the absence. Approval for such absences should be sought, where practicable, at least one (1) week prior to the date on which the absence is to occur. Upon the development of a plan by student and teacher for making up the assignments to be missed, the principal may then define the absence as excused.

Students who must leave the building due to an emergency or some other reason which did not permit a pre-arranged absence must receive approval from the principal or his/her designee. The student is then responsible for completing the sign-out procedure before leaving the building and must present the required parental note of explanation upon his/her return to school.

ADULT STUDENT

State law provides that a student reaches legal majority at age eighteen. The attainment of adult status provides that the student may assume responsibility for signing attendance notes and other matters pertaining to school activities.

NOTE: EACH SCHOOL SHALL DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE TO EACH STUDENT THE PROCEDURES WHICH SHALL BE USED IN IMPLEMENTING THIS ATTENDANCE POLICY.

LATENESS TO CLASS

At the beginning of each term, the teacher shall define guidelines regarding lateness to class. When, in the judgment of the teacher, lateness becomes excessive, the student will be reported to an appropriate staff member for administrative action. Lateness to class may have a detrimental effect on student learning.