Norwood Elementary - Attendance / Absences

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Attendance Policies

Attendance is a major factor in determining the academic success of students. Arriving on time and remaining the entire school day provides students with full academic instruction.

Kindergarten students must attend a minimum of two hours and thirty eight minutes per day and grades one and above must attend at least three hours and sixteen minutes per day in order to be counted present.

State law in Tennessee excuses absences caused by sickness, death in the family, recognized religious holidays, and genuine family emergencies (documentation required). Acceptable reasons for being tardy or being dismissed early would include medical or dental appointments (doctors’ excuses required) or a death in the family.

The Knox County Board of Education requires that written excuses indicating the date and reason for an absence be signed by the child’s parent or guardian and given to the child’s teacher within 5 days of returning to school. Students who have been absent a total of five days without adequate excuse must be reported to the attendance and social services department.

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	Tardy Policy According to Knox County School Board policy, all students are expected to be on time to school. A student who accumulates five (5) unexcused tardies to school shall be assessed one unexcused absence. Such assessments for unexcused tardies will accumulate on the student's attendance record and will be considered as a part of the student's aggregate days missed during a school year. These days will be reported to parents for five (5) day notifications and to the attendance officer for ten (10) day notifications in compliance with Compulsory School Attendance Law. Excused or unexcused tardies will follow the same definitions as school absences. Principals may use discretion in determining excused/unexcused based on circumstances as presented.