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Mission Heights Preparatory High School A Tuition-Free Public Charter School
Leona Group
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Attendance

School Policies

Attendance

According to Arizona State law, attendance in school is mandatory. These policies help students make better choices about their attendance.

Unexcused-Absence Steps

  1. Two unexcused absences — the student receives an email from MHP informing them of their attendance warning.
  2. Four unexcused absences — the student receives an email and meets with our student mentor to discuss their attendance record. Parents or guardians will be called to participate in the meeting.
  3. Six unexcused absences — the student receives an email and a meeting is scheduled with the student, parents or guardians, student mentor, and an MHP administrator. The student is placed on an attendance contract, which includes limitations on extracurricular activities and field trips and may outline other agreements such as mandatory tutoring. The contract is re-evaluated in three weeks.
  4. Eight unexcused absences — the student receives an email and a family conference is held with our student mentor and an MHP administrator to discuss the student’s progress and future at Mission Heights.

Arizona Law

Excused absences are identified by the Department of Education as an absence due to illness, doctor appointment, mental or behavioral health, homelessness, bereavement, family emergencies, time necessary to process for the armed forces, and out-of-school suspensions. (A.R.S. § 15-901(A)(1))

Students who accrue 10 consecutive unexcused absences will be withdrawn from school. (A.R.S. § 15-901(A)(2))

Excusing an Absence or Tardy

Parents may excuse an absence or tardy one of two ways — within 3 days of the occurrence.

Online

Submit the MHP Excused Absence/Tardy Form.

Excused Absence/Tardy Form

By Phone

Call the attendance line at 520-836-9383 ext. 120 and explain the reason. An automated phone call and email will go to the parent indicating the absence or tardy if it is not excused.

Parents or guardians do not need to excuse their student’s absence/tardy if it is due to school functions or out-of-school suspension. Parents or guardians may excuse their student’s absence/tardy if it is due to:

  • Illness or injury
  • Medical/dental/health appointments (unless provider documentation was already submitted)
  • Legal situation
  • Family emergency
  • Wedding or bereavement
  • Religious observation
  • College visit
  • Chronic illness (requires documentation and a meeting with the Attendance Clerk)

Online documentation and voicemails left on the attendance line must originate from the parent/guardian who has educational rights, and should contain: the caller’s name and relationship to the student · the student’s name · the reason for the absence/tardy (from the list above — no other reasons will be excused) · the date(s) · parent email (if submitted online). Official documentation from a service provider or legal entity may be requested if the student is absent for three consecutive days or more, or if the absence requires teachers to make special accommodations to assignments and final/post-exams.

Tardiness

When students are late to class, they will be marked tardy. Tardiness will be dealt with as a disciplinary issue. If a student arrives more than halfway through class, they will be marked as absent. The tardy policy:

  1. Third tardy — student and parent receive an email from the Attendance Clerk.
  2. Sixth tardy — parent receives an email and a phone call from the Attendance Clerk.
  3. Ninth tardy (and every third after) — the student is given 1 day of Saturday School.

Early Dismissal

It is the expectation of MHP that students are present for the entire school day; however, we understand that family emergencies, medical appointments, etc. occasionally arise. MHP must be certain that the parent/guardian has given consent before a student is allowed to leave. A parent/guardian must come to the front office to sign the student out in person. The student will only be released to those listed in ParentVUE as Parent/Guardians. If someone else needs to pick up the student, a Parent/Guardian will need to contact the school. School Administration may grant exceptions in the case of a disciplinary incident or extreme emergencies.

If dismissal is requested during lunch period, final exams, state/national exams, or assemblies, the school may be unable to notify a student that a parent/guardian is waiting.

Leaving campus without following the above procedure will be regarded as “skipping” or “ditching” and will result in disciplinary action. The purpose of this policy is to eliminate class disruptions so instructional time is not lost.