Attendance

Student achievement and a strong attendance record are highly correlated. Therefore, at the Higley Schools we take attendance seriously, and ask you as parents and students to do so as well.

You may also be aware that Arizona State law requires the regular school attendance of a child of school age. The parent or guardian is responsible by law for making sure that the child attends school regularly.

Contact

You can contact the 24hr attendance hotline or you can email your absence.

Kelly Harkins

Attendance Specialist

480-279-6900 *option 2

kelly.harkins@husd.org

What can you do to help as parents?

Make sure that your child attends school daily and arrives and departs at the scheduled times. Please do not keep your child from school unnecessarily for birthdays, haircuts, missing the bus, waking up late or for vacations. Please work hard to schedule appointments and vacations around the school calendar.

When is it appropriate for my child to not attend school?

If your child is ill, we recommend that you keep your child at home for your child's benefit, as well as their class members and teachers.

What do I do when my child cannot attend school?

State law mandates that the schools record all reasons for all student absences. Therefore, when a student is absent, please call the school the morning of or before the day of absence in order to advise the school as to the reason for the absence. All absences not verified will remain unexcused. Only a parent or legal guardian of said student can excuse an absence.

To review the districts attendance policies in the Student Code of Conduct.

CUTS: Court Unified Truancy Suppression

Did you know that Truancy is known as a "gateway offense" often leading to further delinquent activity? With this in mind, the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department has developed several Truancy Suppression programs for schools to implement on their campuses. These programs have proven to be effective tools in reducing truancy in schools and increasing promotion rates of students. The CUTS program has proven that the collaboration between the school, parents, student and the probation department is effective in reducing truancy and subsequently curbing deliquent activity.

Coronado Elementary issues a letter regarding attendance to students who have met the following criteria:

1st letter = 5 or more absences
2nd letter = 9 or more absences
3rd letter = 13 or more absences
4th letter = 18 or more absences
Conference with school administrator

*Please note that the absences count whether they are excused or unexcused.*

FAQs

How do I submit an absebce?

Call the attendance line.
- 480-279-6900 *Option 2
The message line is available 24hrs a day - 7 days a week.
The automated absence caller will start calls at 9:30am each morning.
Any messages left after 9am are subject to receiving a call.
All absences are to be reported within 24hrs of missed dated and must be reported by the parent or legal guardian of said student.

What is the tardy policy?

Tardy is defined as failing to be at a designated location at a specified time. Repeated acts of tardiness may be considered defiance/insubordination.

All students will be marked TARDY if they are not in their seat and ready for class instruction by 8:10am.
Any student that has accumulated 3 or more tardies will be issued an attendance letter.
Discipline consequences can range from a written notification, student detention and Parent conference with School Administration.

The above information can be found on page 31 of the Code of Conduct.

What is the attendance policy?

Parents/Guardians are charged by law with the responsiblitiy for their student's attendance. In the event of a necessary absence known in advance, the parent/guardian is expected to inform the school. All absences not verified by either parental or administrative authorization within 24 hours will be recorded as unexecused.

Parents are asked to prioritize their child's education by scheduling medical and dental appointments outside of school hours, as well as scheduling family vacation during school breaks, holidays and summer vacation.

Absence slips are available in the front office for foreseen events. You can submit to the front office or send in with your student.
Absences are to be reported within 24hrs of date missed.
Absences are calculated on the amount of curriculum time missed during the school day. So arriving late or leaving early may result in a half or full day's absence.
Refer to the CUTS section within attendance for additional information

(The above information can be found on page 10 of the Code of Conduct.)

Click here to view the HUSD Code of Conduct.

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