High school attendance policy reverts to old plan

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June 21, 2012

High school attendance policy reverts to old plan

Rachel Brown rachelbrown@daltoncitizen.com The Dalton Daily Citizen Thu Jun 21, 2012, 06:20 AM EDT

One year ago, Whitfield County Schools officials did away with a policy that barred high school students from getting credit for classes in which they had a high number of absences, saying failing grades would take care of the credit issue anyhow.

Now, the school system is reverting to the old policy. It says students can’t get credit for the class if they have more than six unexcused absences for a semester-long class or more than 10 for a year-long class.

Southeast Whitfield High School Principal Karey Williams said the lack of a policy was creating situations in which some teachers would allow students to make up large amounts of work despite a high number of absences while others for varying reasons didn’t. The result was that individual teachers, rather than a system-wide policy, were in some cases deciding which absentee students would get credit for a class and which would not.

“I think most of us felt that without that policy, the teacher was put on the spot of being kind of the bad guy,” Williams said. “It’s all on the teacher.”

Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy Principal Tim Fleming said going back to the old policy also emphasizes how important attendance is to learning the material well enough to actually pass.

“Part of the deal (with the policy) is we get you at school,” he said. “In the end, that helps you pass your classes.”

Technology use policy

The school system is also changing its policy on bringing cellphones, computers and other personal technology devices on school property. The local policy, in accordance with state Board of Education rules, had banned students from using the devices, including cellphones, during school hours.

Now the state board has done away with its policy, and school system officials said they’re inviting students to bring their own technology if they like for school-related purposes. Rules in the student handbook that govern how students can use any technology will remain in place, and students will still be blocked from going to sites the school has deemed inappropriate.

School system spokesman Eric Beavers said the policy is scheduled for a final vote at the Whitfield Board of Education’s July meeting.

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High school attendance policy reverts to old plan

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