Attendance Office - 

Stephanie Pedigo - [email protected] 270-831-8862

Mary Hazelwood - [email protected] 270-831-8861

Attendance 

Educational research indicates the strongest relationship to academic achievement is good school attendance. Regular and punctual school attendance fosters the best educational environment; it is also state law!

Pupils are required to attend regularly and punctually the school in which they are enrolled. Recording of absences and tardies shall be made in compliance with the requirements of 702 KAR 007:125. 1 

All procedures included in the Henderson County Schools Board Policy on attendance (09.123) are followed. 

Excused Absences 

Reasons for an excused absence or tardiness include: 

1. Death, funeral, or severe illness in the pupil's immediate family, 
2. Illness of the pupil, 
3. Religious holidays and practices, 
4. Appointments with doctor or dentist, 
5. Failure of bus transportation, 
6. summons to appear in court, 
7. One (1) day for attendance at the Kentucky State Fair as a participant, 
8. Documented military leave, 
9. One (1) day prior to departure of parent/guardian called to active military duty, 
10. One (1) day upon the return of parent/guardian from active military duty 

11.Visitation for up to ten (10) days with the student’s parent, de facto custodian, or person with legal custody who, while on active military duty stationed outside of the country, is granted rest and recuperation leave, 

12.Ten (10) days for students attending basic training required by a branch of the United States Armed Forces, or 

13. Other valid reasons as determined by the Principal, including trips qualifying as educational enhancement opportunities. Students shall be granted an excused absence for up to ten (10) school days to pursue an educational enhancement opportunity determined by the Principal to be of significant educational value. This opportunity may include, but not be limited to, participation in an educational foreign exchange program or an intensive instructional, experiential, or performance program in one (1) of the core curriculum subjects of English, science, mathematics, social studies, foreign language, and the arts. Unless the Principal determines that extenuating circumstances exist, requests for date(s) falling within State or District testing periods shall not be granted. The Principal’s determination may be appealed to the Superintendent/designee whose decision may then be appealed to the Board under its grievance policy and procedures. Students receiving an excused absence under this section shall have the opportunity to make up school work missed and shall not have their class grades adversely affected for lack of class attendance or class participation due to the excused absence.

Within three (3) school days of an absence, students shall submit a written statement of verification from a parent, doctor, or public health official which shall be approved by the Principal or the Principal's designee in order for the absence to be excused. 

Any absence or tardy, regardless the length of time, is considered an attendance event. A maximum of eight (8) absences and/or tardy events per school year (four [4] per semester) may be excused by a parent note. A statement from a medical practitioner, dentist, the judicial system, or county health department will be required for any additional absences and/or tardies. 

Unexcused Absences 

All other absences shall be considered unexcused. Absences before or after a scheduled holiday, Christmas break, spring break, intersessions, or the senior prom will be automatically unexcused unless the student shows proof of a doctor's excuse or an emergency. In the event of an emergency or doctor's statement, the Principal's designee will check to verify that the reason is authentic.