Herbert A. Ammons

Middle School

International Baccalaureate

Middle Years Program

Dear Parents,

Please note that School Board Rule 6Gx13-5A-1.04 defines "Excused School Absence as: student illness, medical appointment, death in family, observance of a religious holiday, school sponsored event or activity, and field trip.

This same School Board Rule also states that "whenever a child of compulsory school attendance age is absent, the parent of the child shall, as soon as practicable after learning of the absence, report and explain the cause of such absence to the teacher or principal of the school." This must be done in writing.

Further, Florida Statutes Section 232.09(2) (d), states, "If a student is continually sick and repeatedly absent from school, he or she must be under the supervision of a physician in order to receive an excuse from attendance." Students accumulating ten (10) or more absences in an annual course, or five (5) or more absences in a semester course, due to illness are required to have a note (on file at the school) from a physician in order to receive an excused absence.

School Board Rule 6Gx13-5A-1.04 states that "Any absence that does not fall into one of the above excused absence categories is to be considered unexcused. All unexcused absences will result in a failing grade being issued for any work missed on the day(s) in question. A student accumulating ten (10) or more unexcused class absences in an annual course or five (5) or more unexcused class absences in a designated semester course will be subject to the withholding of passing final grade(s) pending a student-parent requested administrative screening and/or review of all absences by the attendance review committee."

Parents are reminded that students who accumulate fifteen (15) unexcused absences in a ninety (90) day period will be referred to the Department of Children and Families for truancy. Parents of students who have excessive unexcused absences will be asked to attend a Truancy Child Study Team meeting at school, where your child's attendance will be reviewed and documented.