Attendance Policy
5200 – ATTENDANCE
- Student attendance is a means of improving student performance and critical in raising student achievement. Together, the staff of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, students, parents and the community must make every effort to lessen the loss of instructional time to students.
- Absences shall be reported to the school attendance office by the parent or adult student within three (3) schools days upon the return to school. The Superintendent shall require, from the parent of each student of compulsory school age or from an adult student who has been absent from school or from class for any reason, a statement of the cause for such absence.
- The District reserves the right to verify such statements and to investigate the cause of each single absence.
- Educators shall encourage regular attendance of students, maintain accurate attendance records, and follow reporting procedures prescribed by the Superintendent.
5225 – ABSENCES FOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
- Student absences for religious purposes, as identified on the approved holidays listed in the Student Attendance Reporting Procedures PK-12 Handbook, may not prohibit students from receiving attendance awards or other attendance incentives at the school level, region level, or District level.
5230 – LATE ARRIVAL AND EARLY DISMISSAL
- Students shall be in attendance throughout the school day.
- If a student will be late to school or dismissed before the end of the school day, the parent shall notify the school in advance and state the reason for the tardiness or early dismissal. Justifiable reasons shall be determined by the principal.
- Students will be counted absent if they are not present in class for at least half of the class period. A student is in attendance for a full school day if the student is actually present for at least two (2) hours of the school day, is engaged in an approved, school-sponsored educational activity which constitutes a part of the instructional program for the student, or is participating in pre-approved extra-curricular activities.
- The registering parent shall indicate on the Emergency Student Data Form the individual(s) to whom the student may be released during the school day. The registering parent who completes the Emergency Student Data Form is responsible for providing information that is truthful and accurate – and in the case of unmarried, divorced, or separated parents, consistent with any court order in effect governing their divorce, separation, or parenting matters.
Submitting Absence Notes
- To excuse a student’s absence, a note must be submitted within three (3) days of the student’s absence. Parents have three (3) ways to submit the note: 1. Via email to 0071attendance@dadeschools.net. Please be sure to include the student’s full name, ID number, date of absence and the reason for the absence. 2. Via the parent portal or mobile app: a link will be available to submit notes directly to the school. Through the app, parents will be able to submit attachments and documents as well. 3. In person: Parents who wish to submit documentation in person may do so at the school’s attendance office or you may also send a note to the student’s homeroom teacher.
- Failure to report and explain an absence within three (3) days upon the student’s return to school will result in an unexcused absence. Again, the reason for the absence must be explained.
- Here are some examples of what are considered excused absences: Illness (Five (5) consecutive days or more require a doctor’s note), Medical appointment, and death of immediate family member.
- Family vacations, parent business trips or attendance at sporting events, are examples of unexcused absences.