The Student Attendance Process - 10 Important Things to Know

1. Attending school is very important when it comes to academic success.  It is in your child's best interest to be in school, and we encourage students to attend school every day.

2. Georgia Law requires children under the age of sixteen to attend school daily. 

3. If a child is absent, an absence note is required upon the student's return to school. 

4. Absence notes should include the student's name, his/her reason for being absent,  and the parent's signature and contact information.   A note from the doctor is also acceptable/preferred.  

5. Students should take the parent or doctor's note to their grade level academy office as soon as they return to school. 

6. A student is considered truant after 5 days of unexcused absences, and the school will send home an absence letter every time he/she has 5 unexcused absences.

7. An attendance protocol, which may include Juvenile Court involvement, will be followed by the school in the event that a child becomes truant.

8. The following absences are considered excused by the Georgia  Department of Education: personal illness; serious illness or death in the student’s immediate family; a court order or an order from a government agency; observing religious holidays; conditions which are hazardous to a student’s health or safety.

9. A student will be marked absent for the day (excused or unexcused) if he/she misses more than half of the school day (more than three classes). 

10. Attendance at Lilburn Middle School is important for making Annual Yearly Progress (AYP), and if a student misses over 15 days of school – excused and unexcused - this could possibly have a negative impact not only the school’s AYP goals but on that child’s academic standing as well.