Attendance Policy

Your high school does not report absences to Hinds Career Center. A parent/guardian must report student absence to our office at 765-552-9881.

Refer to the academic year calendar for dates of required attendance. Regardless of differences in each school's calendar from our calendar, attendance is required at Hinds according to the academic calendar for Hinds. Exceptions are limited to Fall Break, Spring Break, and days arranged through your high school principal.

REASONS FOR ABSENCE

Excused Absense

Excused absences are deinfed as absences that the school corporation regards as legitimate reasons for being out of school. These include:

1. Illness verified by note from parent/guardian (up to two days per grading period)
2. Illness during which time the student is under the care of a physician (physician's documentation required).
3. Absences due to medical or dental appointments (documentation required).
4. A dangerous communicable disease or infestation with parasites transmittable through normal school contacts
5. Absence due to bereavement of immediate family member (confirmation from parents needed).
6. Participation State Fair (5 max).
7. Absence due to religious instruction. (IC 20-33-2-19)
8. Absence related to military family event (e.g. deployment and return)
9. Other reasons granted by principal or designee.

The governing body of the school corporation may authorize the absence of a student who attends an educationally related non-classroom activity if the activity:

1. is consistent with and promotes the educational philosophy and goals of the school corporation; facilitates the attainment of specific educational objectives;
2. is part of the goals and objectives of an approved course or curriculum;
3. represents an unique educational opportunity;
4. cannot reasonably occur without interrupting the school day; and
5. is approved in writing by the school principal. Legal Reference: IC 20-33-2-17.5

Exempt Absence

Under Indiana Code, a student is excused from attending school for:

1. serving as a page or honoree of the General Assembly; (IC 20-33-2-14)
2. serving as a poll worker on election day; (IC 20-33-2-15)
3. absences due to legal appointments and court hearing; (IC 20-33-2-16)
4. ordered active duty with Indiana National Guard - 10 days max/academic year; (IC 20-33-2-17)
5. participation in the Indiana wing of civil air patrol. (IC 20-33-2-17.2)

In each of these circumstances, the student is excused from school and is not to be recorded as absent, and is not to be panalized in any way by the school. Certain school trips fall under this exception, as well as individual student absences. Students have been excused from attendance to participate in various academic bowls, band trips, for attendance at local, state or federal government proceedings, or to hear various public speakers or performers.

Unexcused Absence

An unexcused absence is any absence not covered under the definition of excused or exempt.

Truancy

A student is truant when he/she:

1. is absent from school without the permission of the parent/guardian, or
2. leaves the school grounds during the school day without permission from school officials, or
3. willfully refuses to attend school in defiance of parental authority.(IC 20-33-2-4)

Pre-Arranged Absence

With the emphasis on increased academic achievement and improvement of attendance under Public Law 221 and the No Child Left Behind Act, Hinds Career Center expects daily attendance for all students. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that absences from school have a negative effect on school performance. Not all work can be made up, especially lab and activity classes.
Occasionally, a student must be absent from school due to unique circumstances, which does not include taking or extending a vacation. When the absence is known in advance, the parent/guardian is to obtain from the school office, complete, and submit to the Director a Request for Pre-Arranged Absence form. This requiremust be submitted early enough in advance of the first date of planned absence to allow the Director review and teacher notification for classroom assignment determination.
Approval of a pre-arranged absence will be granted at the discretion of the Director considering factors including the student's attendance record, dates of requested absence, length of and reason for the absence, and persons accompaying the student. The Director shall determine the absence as excused, unexcused, or exempt. While parents may choose to remove the child for a vacation or to extend a school vacation, absences for these reasons will not be excused.
Days missed, while pre-arranged, are considered absences from school and will accumulate toward attendance policy limits (unless unique circumstances are determined by the Director). Students are accountable for all classroom assignments. Assignments are due upon return from the absence or at the discretion of the teacher.

ABSENCE LIMITATIONS

Grading Period

1. 1st and 2nd absences - excused provided the absences are for valid reasons (see Reasons for Excused Absence).
2. 3rd absence and each thereafter - is unexcused without a valid medical excuse unless special circumstances warrent an extension beyond the 3rd absence (ex. death in family)

Unexcused Absence Limitations

Each unexcused absence will result in the deduction of three (3) percentage points from each grade period grade percentage.

Tardy Limitations

Three (3) tardies will equal one unexcused absence. These equivalent absences will be included in the count of unexcused absence grade reduction calculation.

Admittance Procedures

Late Arrival: Students who arrive late are to obtain an admission slip from the office prior to reporting to class. A student will be marked tardy if s/he arrives one-half of a class period or less late.
Absence: Students absent on the prior days(s) must provide the office a reason for the absence if a parent call has not been received.

Alternate Class Time Schedules

In general, the expectation of student attendance exists when Hinds Career Center is in session; however, several scenarios exist that may necessitate deviation from the normal schedule of classes.

If a student is unable to attend due to poor road conditions, an absence will be excused if the number of absences are within the attendance policy guidelines (2 per grading period).

Delayed Start

• If Hinds CC is delayed, Elwood students attend on EJSHS.schedule. Sending Schools the AM class attendance is not required. PM classes meet 1:25-3:00.
• Sending School is delayed. Elwood students are expected to attend as normal.
  Sending Schools- AM class attendance is not required unless the home school provides transportation. PM class reporting time will be adjusted to coincide with the home school's schedule.
• Both Schools are delayed. Elwood students attend on EJSHS delay schedule.
  Sending Schools- AM class attendance is not required unless the home school provides transportation. PM classes meet 1:25-3:00

Closing

• Hinds CC is closed. No classes will meet.
• Sending School is closed. Elwood students attend. Sending school students are not expected to be in attendance unless the closure is due to non-weather related causes.

Early Dismissal

• Hinds CC is dismissed. Early Classes will meet on an abbreviated schedule to be determined.
• Sending School is released early. Elwood students attend. Sending school students in AM classes may be on an abbreviated schedule due to home school schedule of classes. PM classes expected arrival time is determined considering the release time of students from school.

Break/Vacation

Elwood Students attend on ECSC calendar. Due to different dates of Fall and Spring breaks (only) in the sending schools individual instructors may allow class time to be “banked” to substitute for days of the sending school break; otherwise attendance is expected in accordance with Hinds Career Center academic calendar.

Documentation of “banked” time: A time log is to be submitted to the instructor by the end of the semester in which the break occurs. The instructor will then submit the log to the Director for review and approval in order for absences during breaks to be exempt.

Attendance FAQs

Q: What do I need to do if I’m ill or have other reason that I cannot attend class at Hinds CC?
A: Parents are expected to call our office at 765-552-9881 to report each day of absence. Your high school does not relay absence information to Hinds.
Our attendance policy emulates expectations of the workplace; therefore, it carries an academic penalty of credit loss for excessive unexcused absences.

Q: What do I do if there is an activity at my high school during class at Hinds?
A: School sponsored activities (pep sessions, convocations, field trips, special athletic situations, testing, etc.) are permitted with advanced notification communicated by the home high school’s administration to our office.

Q: If my high school’s breaks are different from Hinds, who’s calendar do I follow?
A: The simplified answer is both. For Fall and/or Spring breaks (only), if different, you are permitted to be absent from Hinds as long as the you make up the time. (2.5 hours each day missed).

Q: What is the policy on travel in poor weather conditions (snow, ice, high water, fog, extreme cold)?
A: We understand the apprehension of being a young, inexperienced driver traveling 10-15 miles to attend Hinds in inclement weather. For that reason, if a parent does not feel travel would be safe, we ask your parent call our office to inform us of their decision. These days will be excused. If the home high school is closed, attendance is not expected at Hinds.

If the home high school is closed for other reasons, (electricity out, “e-learning” days, etc.) not due to weather/road conditions, attendance is expected.