*FOCUS PORTAL INFORMATION

*EXCUSED ABSENCE FOCUS DIRECTIONS

Absent notes must be submitted through the FOCUS portal within three days of the absence and include the student’s full name, date of absence, and reason for absence. All notes without a reason for an absence will not be processed.

Students will be afforded the opportunity to make up work for an excused absence. As outlined in the Student Progression Plan, students are guaranteed the right to make up work one full calendar day for each excused absence. (ex. three excused absences equates to three days to make up assignments for full credit)

Acceptable Reasons for an Excused Absence

• Student illness (if documented by parent/legal guardian or medical doctor)

• Observance of a religious holiday and/or service by members of student faith

• Medical or therapeutic appointment with documentation

• Death or documented major illness in the immediate family

• Subpoena by a law enforcement agency or mandatory court appearance with documentation

*Students are allowed NINE excused absences per semester. After that, a doctor’s note may be required for further absences.

Unexcused Absences

Students will be afforded an opportunity to make up work for an unexcused absence. There may be some academic penalties in accordance with classroom policies and procedures, as outlined in the course syllabus.

Under state law, a student with 15 unexcused absences within 90 calendar days is a habitual truant. The student may be treated as a child needing services, and the parent/legal guardian may be subject to criminal prosecution.

After 15 unexcused absences within a 90-day period, student names will be reported to the

Department of High Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).

Student Attendance Procedures

Students who hold a Florida driver’s license or learner’s permit may have their privilege suspended if they accumulate excessive unexcused absences. Students who have not yet received their driver’s license or learner’s permit may be unable to obtain one.

Early Dismissal Procedure

Notes for prearranged early dismissal must be submitted before 9:00 a.m. on the day of early

dismissal to the email address 0051-attendance@sarasotacountyschools.net

The Attendance Note

The prearranged passport must include the reason for leaving, dismissal time, date, and the student’s full name. If the prearranged passport is not completed, a legal parent or guardian must come into the attendance office with a valid ID to sign out their student.

**There will be no students dismissed after 1:45 pm**

Clinic

If a student is not feeling well and needs to go home, they must leave through the clinic. If a student is dismissed to go home from illness, they may not return to school until the following day.

Prearranged Multi-Day Absence Procedure

Students who know they will be absent in the future for more than one day will need a Parent/legal guardian to submit a note to the email address: 0051-attendance@sarasotacountyschools.net. The note must include the student’s full name, dates of prearranged absence, and reason for absence.

Tardy Procedure

All tardy notes should be submitted through the FOCUS portal. Please ensure the student’s full name, approximate time of arrival, reason, and date of tardy are included in the submission. If the tardy is due to an appointment, please upload the submission after that appointment along with the note from the appointment. All early dismissal notes will be verified

Students must pick up their passports and sign out in the attendance office to be dismissed

All parents picking up students for prearranged early dismissal may remain in their vehicle; the student will be permitted to meet them out front once they sign out

If a student returns to campus that day, he/she will report back to the administration office, submit their passport and their doctor’s note to excuse their absence. Students will receive a pass to class Once reviewed by the administration, attendance will be notified, and the absences will be either excused or unexcused

The student must complete all assignments assigned by the teachers within one full calendar day for each day absent

The first period starts at 7:30 a.m.

Reasons to excuse a tardy follow the same guidelines as excused absences

Students who park on campus and arrive after the parking lot gates are locked (7:40 a.m.) must obtain a tardy pass from the administration office. Parking passes will be logged, and disciplinary action will be taken for excessive tardies. Please review the SHS Parking Agreement for details.

School attendance is the responsibility of the parents and the student. There is a strong relationship between attendance and academic performance. All absences are considered unexcused until the school receives a written explanation from the parent/guardian within three days of the absence. The principal or designee has the authority to determine whether or not an absence is excused. Excessive excused absences for illness may result in the student being required to provide a doctor’s note or other substantiating medical evidence.