University Academy expects that all students will attend regularly.  Parents/legal guardians should call the school if the student must be absent.  Excessive absences may result in loss of academic credit, retention, formal warning from the Courts, referral to the Children’s Division and/or possible withdrawal from University Academy.  University Academy will consider truant any student who is absent without parental notification.  In the event of a period of absence of three (3) or more consecutive days, students returning to school shall provide a written explanation from a health care provider.  If parents/legal guardians fail to call the school prior to the student being absent or the student fails to provide a written and signed explanation from a parent or legal guardian for an absence upon returning to school, the absences are considered unexcused and will be recorded as such.  Additionally, all students, excluding seniors, must have a 95% average daily attendance rate for consideration of promotion to the next grade.  Students in 12th grade must have a 96% average daily attendance rate in order to graduate from University Academy.

Parents/guardians should follow these guidelines with regard to attendance:

• Notify the school between 7:00 and 7:15 a.m. the morning of the absence by calling the appropriate Student Absence Line.  NOTE:  If you have children in several schools, you will need to call each number to report each child’s absence.

Elementary School (K-5th):  412-5905 
​Middle School (6th-8th):  412-5904
​Upper School (9th-12th):  412-5903

The following procedures will be used to implement University Academy’s attendance policy.

Definitions:

Excused absence – An absence from class resulting from an illness or other health related concern, or other unforeseen circumstances that are verified by a parent/guardian with proper documentation. With documentation, the following will be considered excused absences:

• Illness and/or hospitalization
• Medically documented illness (documentation from doctor required after three (3) consecutive days of absence)
• Documented dental, mental health, or medical appointment
• Religious observance
• School-related activities in which the student is participating
• Death in the family
• College visit (Upper School students only)
• Mandatory court date

Unexcused absence – An absence from class that does not meet the requirements of an excused absence regardless of notification from parent. The following will be considered unexcused absences:

• Oversleeping
• Family vacation or going out of town
• Missing the bus
• No ride to school
• Personal business
• Needed at home
• School-related activities in which the student is NOT participating
• Car trouble

Attendance Policy

University Academy will adhere to the following steps with regard to excessive student absences:

• Three (3) absences – phone call to parents/guardians;
• Five (5) absences – conference with school administration and possible referral to the Department of Social Services (Does not apply to medically-documented extended absences);
• Seven (7) absences – referral to SART (Student Attendance Review Team). Examination of these absences occurs on a case-by-case basis. Residency will be reviewed at this time;
• Ten (10) absences – Citation from the Kansas City Police Department will be issued per the compulsory School Attendance Ordinance (#50-243) and/or possible referral to the Department of Social Services. (Does not apply to medically-documented extended absences).

Tardy/Late Arrival Policy

Students who arrive to school after 7:30 a.m. will be marked tardy. Parents/guardians must accompany students into the building and sign them in when they are tardy. Students who accumulate ten (10) tardy infractions within a quarter will not be allowed to participate in various school functions including, but not limited to, class celebrations, assemblies, field trips, Gryphon time, etc. This will continue for every two (2) accumulated tardy infractions after the initial ten (10).

University Academy will adhere to the following steps with regard to excessive student late arrivals:

*Citations can also be issued for accumulated tardies to different class periods (Middle and Upper Schools).

Nothing in this policy shall prohibit an IEP or 504 team from providing accommodations pertaining to attendance and tardies to a student with a disability in accordance with state and federal law.

Middle and Upper School Tardy Policy:

All excessive tardies (13 or more) will result in parents receiving a letter being sent home, parent conferences with the Principal, detention, Saturday School assignments, Citation from KCPD, and/or a District-level hearing.

University Academy believes that students’ regular, full-time attendance at school is important to academic success.  The Board directs that prompt action and investigation occur regarding problems with attendance on the part of any student be investigated and acted upon promptly.

Truancy is defined as deliberate absence from school on the part of the pupil with or without the knowledge of the parent/guardian and for which no justifiable excuse is given. When a pattern of truancy becomes evident, University Academy will investigate and take such action as circumstances dictate.

Excessive absences are a violation of the Compulsory School Attendance Ordinance (Sec. 50-243). Parents/guardians with students that have excessive absences may receive a citation from the Kansas City Police Department requiring their appearance in court.

Section 210.115 R.S.Mo. mandates reporting to the Children’s Division when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a student’s nonattendance is due to the educational neglect of the parents/guardians.

Any University Academy employee who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a student is being subjected to home conditions or circumstances, which would reasonably result in truancy, shall immediately make a report to the Children’s Division.

Staff members will not excuse a student from school before the end of the school day without a request from that student’s parent/guardian.  Four (4) unexcused early pickups equal one (1) unexcused absence.  Parents must sign out their student(s) in Central Office.