Definition of an Absence: All students are required by law to attend school every day and to be on time for school and all classes. Tardiness is not just being late for school as traditionally interpreted; it is defined by law as “any amount of instructional time missed.” This includes being late to school or leaving school before classes are dismissed. Students are required to sign in on an Entry Log if they are late to school or to sign out of school on an Exit Log if they leave the building during any part of the instructional day. Note that the minutes of time missed due to being late to school and/or leaving early accumulates into portions of days or days absent! EVERY MINUTE COUNTS!

Excused Absences: Dr. Notes or Parent/Guardian notes are to be submitted to the Attendance Clerk. Only 10 Parent Notes are permitted to be excused per school year. Determination of excused absence is made by the school principal and with accordance with state statue and district policy.

Wheeler Attendance Email Wheeler Attendance Be sure to submit doctor notes or parent note for each absence. All absences are marked unexcused until notes are received and vetted to ensure the absence meets the criteria for an excused absence.

Educational Enhancement Opportunity EHO: A JCPS Educational Enhancement Opportunity form may be presented to the school principal at least 5 days prior to the scheduled event.

EHOs may be granted by the principal provided the date(s) do not conflict with state or district testing periods.

Students may be granted an excused absence for up to ten school days to pursue an EHO determined by the principal to be of significant educational value. This opportunity may include but is not limited to, participation in an educational foreign exchange program or an intensive, instructional, experimental, or performance program in one of the core curriculum subjects of English, science, mathematics, social studies, foreign language, and the arts. Note that family vacations such as Disney World or a beach do not meet the standard of a significant educational experience.

The principal’s determination may be appealed to the superintendent/designee whose decision may then be appealed to the board of education. A student approved to pursue an EHO shall be marked EHO, which does not count against the student’s attendance.

Wheeler Elementary