Attendance & Absences
Leman Academy of Excellence is setting a high standard in education and therefore requires a high level of participation in engaged learning.
Regular class attendance is a critical part of the process that enables scholars to benefit from classroom discussions, presentations and interactive activities. These shared academic experiences cannot be replicated or re-created outside the classroom. We appreciate your partnership in keeping absences to a minimum so that your child will have continuity in their education and not miss the presentation of skills and concepts.
Per A.R.S. 15-802 and A.R.S. 15-803, attendance is compulsory for every child between the ages of six and sixteen years. Leman Academy of Excellence is committed to the enforcement of these state mandatory attendance laws.
Attendance Guidelines
At Leman Academy of Excellence, we believe that consistent attendance is vital; however, we realize there will be times when your child will be unable to attend school.
When your child is absent from school, the parent/guardian must call the school before 9:00 am.
Sierra Vista
520-352-7780
Leman Virtual Academy
520-462-0832
Marana
K-8: 520-639-8080
Pre-K: 520-639-8071
Mesa
602-975-4750
Oro Valley
520-912-4005
East Tucson
K-8: 520-526-0474
Pre-K: 520-526-0480
Central Tucson
K-8: 520-462-1202
Pre-K: 520-462-0876
Please include in the message the scholar(s) name, the parent/guardian name, grade, teacher, reason for the absence and the expected return date. If the teacher is able to collect homework material, it will be available for pickup between 3-4 pm in the front office. Upon return, scholars will have one day to make up missed work or tests/quizzes for every day of absence. If an extended absence is anticipated or planned, the parent/guardian must complete a “Pre Arranged Absence Form” from the front office and submit it to the front office or your child’s teacher. There is no guarantee that the loss of school time will not have an impact on grades and overall academic progress.
An absence is defined as a scholar’s non-attendance in an assigned class during the assigned period.
Excused Absences Include
- Personal Illness: In accordance with Arizona attendance regulations, the specific illness must be identified, (toothache, cold, flu, pink eye, etc).
- Serious Illness of a family member
- Doctor or dental appointment
- Death
- Required court appearance
- Religious holiday
- Suspension
- Prior approval for extended absence
Arizona Statutes require our attendance office to attempt to contact parent(s)/guardian(s) if the absence is not reported. If the attendance office is unable to contact the parent(s)/guardian(s), they will leave a message regarding the absence and direct the parent(s)/guardian(s) to contact the attendance clerk to verify the absence. If the school does not receive notification from the parent(s)/guardian(s), the absence will remain unverified. After 5 unverified absences, the scholar will be considered truant and the school will mail the parent(s)/guardian(s) a notification letter advising them of the truancy and requiring notification of the absences. Under Arizona law, a child absent for 10 consecutive days will be removed from the attendance roster.
The minimum attendance standard for the Leman Academy of Excellence scholars is 90% of the days of the school year per A.R.S. 15-802 and A.R.S. 15-803. Extenuating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis. Scholars who may be absent 10% or more of the school year may need to be retained.
Tardiness Guidelines
Teachers and scholars depend on the structure and routines of the day. When scholars are tardy these routines are disrupted. Young people who are late have trouble settling in and mastering routines. Scholars who do not arrive at school or class on time are tardy. Tardiness can upset their morning and even their entire day. Scholars often find themselves trying “to catch up” from being tardy, and teachers must stop the class to review the expectations of the day to the tardy scholar. To minimize these disruptions to instructional time, scholars need to be present in their classrooms by the official start of their school days.
Scholars who are tardy must have a parent or guardian sign them in at the front office and must receive a tardy slip before going to class. Parents must be aware that scholars who arrive after a certain time may be marked as absent for half or all of the day. Tardiness will be recorded in the scholar’s permanent records. Scholars arriving at school after their class has started may be required to wait in a designated area until the start of the next class.
Scholars who reach 5 tardies in a given quarter will either meet with an administrator or an administrator will call home to discuss the tardies with the parent(s)/guardian(s). Administration will send parent(s)/guardian(s) a letter when a scholar should have 5 tardies in a quarter. If a scholar should have 7 tardies in a quarter, the administration will contact the parent(s)/guardian(s), with a phone call. If a scholar has 10 tardies in a quarter, the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be asked to meet with the Principal.