District Attendance Policy

The Calhoun City Board of Education believes that regular attendance and promptness are habits, which should be developed early, adhered to through a student’s school life, and carried over into adulthood. In addition, all children enrolled for 20 school days or more prior to their seventh birthday are subject to the compulsory school attendance law as stated in O.C.G.A. 20-2-150 (c).

Students shall be temporarily excused from school for the following:

1.  When personally ill to the extent that school attendance would endanger their health or the health of others;

2.  When in their immediate family there is a serious illness or death that would reasonably necessitate absence from school; (immediate family is limited to the student's father, mother, sister, brother, child, spouse, grandparent, legal guardian, or other relative living in the residence of the student);

3.  On special and recognized religious holidays observed by their faith, upon written verification by their church leader to the principal of the local school prior to the religious holiday; 

4.  When mandated by order of governmental agencies, i.e.; pre-induction physical examination for service in the armed forces, court order, detention by law enforcement officials;

5.  When prevented from attendance due to conditions rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous to their health or safety;

6.  When a student registers to vote (not to exceed one day);

7.  When a student whose parent or legal guardian is in military service in the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard, and such parent or legal guardian has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted excused absences, up to a maximum of five school days per school year, for the day or days missed from school to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian prior to such parent's or legal guardian's deployment or during such parent's or legal guardian's leave.  Other absences in extenuating circumstances approved by the Superintendent or designee

8.  Any other absence not explicitly defined but deemed to have merit based on circumstances as determined by the Principal and/or Superintendent prior to the absence being taken.

All other absences shall be considered unexcused. See CCS Board Policy JBD.

Contact School Attendance Office

CELA Attendance
CPS Attendance
CES Attendance
CMS Attendance
CHS Attendance

School Procedures

Attendance & School Climate Protocol Committee

A message from Calhoun Gordon County Attendance Protocol and School Climate Committee:

Dear Parents and Students, 

Now more than ever, it is important for your child to be at school. Children who are frequently absent without an excuse not only miss important instruction, they and their parents are subject to serious consequences. Since unexcused absences are the issue, it is important to understand what an excused absence is. Acceptable excuses for being absent from school may be found in Georgia Code O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1; Georgia Department of Education Rule 160-5-1-.1; or local School Board Policy.

A written note explaining the reason for the absence must be given to the school within a specified time period upon the student’s return to school or the excuse is considered invalid. Medical excuses may be required by the school consistent with the school’s policy. 

Arriving to school late or checking out early from school is considered being tardy. Please review the school’s policy on how unexcused tardies accumulate into unexcused absences. 

After five unexcused days in a school year, any unexcused absence is considered a violation of the compulsory school attendance law O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1. 

Penalties for parents of children with unlawful absences if prosecuted in Superior Court can include: 

  • Being fined no less than $25 and no more than $100 per unexcused absence after the fifth day; Serving community service hours; 

  • Serving jail time for the parent, guardian, or person having control of the school-aged child not to exceed 30 days per unexcused absence beyond the fifth day; or 

  • Any combination of those consequences.

Penalties for parents of children with unlawful absences if prosecuted in Juvenile Court for Education Dependency can include:  

  • Protective Order with possible consequences to include: 

    • 1st violation - 48 hours in jail and a $50 fine;

    • 2nd violation - 72 hours in jail and $75 fine;

    • 3rd violation - 7 days in jail and $100 fine;

    • 4th violation - 20 days in jail and $125 fine;

    • and/or a referral to the Department of Family and Children Services.

Students 12 and older may also be placed on juvenile probation.  Most importantly, students may fall behind in school work and/or fail his/her class. 

The Attendance Protocol and School Climate Committee hopes that raising public awareness of the importance of school attendance will result in fewer unexcused absences and higher student achievement. Please contact the school if you need assistance with attendance related issues. Signed acknowledgement of receipt of this notification is required of parents and students. Please return the attached signature form to the school office. 

Sincerely,
Members of the Attendance Protocol Committee

Adopted May 13, 2024

Covid-19 Protocols Effective August 8, 2023

We will begin the school year with the following procedures and will revise as needed based on any new guidance from the CDC. Please see our revised procedures below.

  • Student Positive for COVID: minimum 5 days at home from when symptoms start (regardless of vaccination status),  fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.

  • COVID Close Contact: no quarantining necessary, monitor for symptoms

We do ask that parents continue to monitor their children for symptoms. If your child is running a fever or becomes symptomatic after close contact with someone who tested positive, please keep your child at home and/or seek medical guidance. Children should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.