The STEMM Academy expects parents or guardians to make reasonable efforts to ensure the regular attendance of their children, and to inform the school of any absences and their causes. A middle school student who is not in class for at least one-half of the class period is counted as absent from that class.

Definitions of absences:

• Excused (E): death in family; appointments or illness requiring medical attention (physician’s statement required); religious holidays; absences verified by a parent/guardian and approved by administration. Note: School-sanctioned activities are marked as School Leave (SL) and do not count as absences.

• Unexcused (U): truancy or suspension. An absence marked with a U has been marked by a teacher and in accordance with OSCD policy needs to be resolved by the student within 5 days. No make-up work will be accepted for periods /days absences that are unexcused.

All absences will remain unexcused unless verified within 5 days by a legible note from a parent/guardian. The absence will be considered unexcused if the school does not receive written verification for the excused absence within that timeframe. Students who place on file with OCSD legal and/or medical documentation or a permanent and total disability as defined by the U.S. Social Security Act are excused from school and eligible to make up any and all work for absences from medical care or medical conditions related to their permanent and total disability.

Excused absences are absences resulting from the following:

• Death in the family;

• Any family reason up to 9 absences per semester;

• Illness or injury requiring medical or dental attention (physician’s statement required);

• Illness, injury, or circumstances not requiring medical attention will require a parent note explaining the absences, up to 9 absences per semester;

• Appointments for medical or dental care (physician’s note required);

• Appointments scheduled to receive a therapy service provided by a licensed health care practitioner or behavior analyst for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder, including, but not limited to, applied behavioral analysis, speech therapy, and occupational therapy;

• Religious holidays: students are permitted to be absent in observance of established religious holidays, but they must be counted absent on all school records. Absences of a religious nature, preceded by prior parent notice, will not require written notification on the student’s return to school. Review School Board Policy for additional information.

Unexcused absences are absences resulting from:

• Any absences not designated as excused/unverified absences

• Truancy

• Suspension

• Expulsion

• Participation in private lessons, activities, or classes sponsored by outside agencies

Students with an unexcused absence will receive a grade of zero (0) for any classwork/test/assignments by the teacher on the day of the absence. When a student accumulates a total of nine (9) excused or unexcused absences in any class period per semester, the student must have an excuse from a doctor or an official agency (i.e., Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Children and Families, etc.) for each subsequent absence.

Attendance for Children/Dependents of Active Duty Military, 1000.36, Article V(E), F.S. S. 1000.36, Article V(E), F.S., states that “a student whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined by the Compact, and has been called to duty for, or is on leave from, or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted additional excused absences at the discretion of the school 18 superintendent.” The additional excused absences are to allow the student to visit with the student’s parent or legal guardian for the reasons specified. Notwithstanding the above, the local school superintendent or head of school may provide maximum number of additional excused absences.

1. After the third (3rd) unexcused absence or absences for which the reasons are unknown, parents/legal guardian of the student will be notified. The contact will include a review of the current attendance/truancy policies.

2. After the fifth (5th) but before the eighth (8th) absence, (excused or unexcused) per semester in any class period, the parents/legal guardian will be notified of the absences.

3. After the ninth (9th) absence (excused or unexcused) per semester, a letter will be sent to the parents/legal guardian notifying them of the necessity for a doctor’s excuse or an excuse from an official agency in order for the make-up work to receive grades. In addition, this letter will notify parents of the consequences of any additional absences.

4. Prior to the fifteenth (15th) absence, the principal may review any absence caused by some insurmountable situation or event that places an undue hardship on the student and notify the teachers that this student may make up all work.

5. After the fifteenth (15th) absence per semester in any class period, no make-up work will receive grades. An attendance expectation agreement may be initiated, outlining the consequences of non-attendance.

6. After the fifteenth (15th) absence per semester in any class period, the student’s parent/legal guardian can appeal to the school’s attendance committee for permission to receive grades for missed work. Pending approval of the appeal and the submission of a doctor’s excuse, absences after the fifteenth (15th) may be entered as an excused absence.

Students should request missed classwork and homework materials when they return to school. 

Students will be provided five school days to complete assignments following an excused absence; the five day period begins the day the student returns to school. However, the teacher and/or principal may grant additional time for make-up work to be completed if the situation warrants.
It is the student’s responsibility to request make-up work for excused absences (up to 15 per semester). 

Students absent for multiple days are expected to seek and work on make-up assignments, as medically appropriate and practical. Students absent for any reason on a school sanctioned/sponsored trip on the day a previously assigned project is due, or a previously assigned test is scheduled, will submit the project or take the test the day of his/her return, as appropriate and practical. 

Principals will ensure that teachers provide make-up assignments upon parent or student request.  Make-up work will be provided no later than 24 hours following a request.

Students should request materials to be provided in advance for pre-planned absences of three days or more. Please make the request 48 hours prior to the absence. Parents and students should monitor Canvas and/or Google Classroom during extended absences. 

Students who expect to miss classes because of a field trip or other school-sponsored activity must arrange with the teachers of the classes missed for make-up work in advance of the absence.