Attendance

Attendance Procedures

Students attending Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center are expected to meet the following guidelines in reference to their daily attendance.

  • The parent/guardian must call in the absence at (317) 988-7600 before 11:00 a.m.
  • Parent/guardian will be contacted for any students who we do not receive a call for at 11:00 a.m.
  • When possible, a truancy officer will be sent out periodically.
  • In order to verify a student’s absence and keep them in good standing, a parent should send documentation verifying the student’s absence (such as a doctor’s note) with the student the day they return to school. Our fax number is (317) 988-7698.
  • All written documentation (medical or otherwise) to excuse absences must be submitted to the attendance secretary in the main office. If no documentation is received, the absence will remain unexcused.
  • Any student that arrives after 8:30 a.m. with no written documentation will be counted tardy and must check in at the 1st floor main office before reporting to class. Students will be assigned disciplinary consequences for excessive AM tardies to school.

The attendance consequences for students with an excessive amount of unexcused AM tardies or absences are as follows:

  • Restriction from gaining a driver’s license or invalidation of a driver’s license
  • Lunch detention
  • In-School suspension
  • Restriction from participating in or attendance at extracurricular events
  • Truancy office sent to home with a legal notice
  • Referral to Truancy Court
  • Referral of parent/guardian to court for educational neglect
  • Removal from Ben Davis 9th Grade Center and placement in an alternative school setting

AM Tardy Policy

Late Arrival to School, Impact Period

All AM tardies when a student signs in late in the main office are considered unexcused UNLESS:

  • A parent/guardian comes in and signs them in or calls the office prior to arrival
  • The student provides medical documentation that excuses the late arrival

  • Five unexcused AM tardies are permissible for illness, missing the bus, or extreme circumstances.  Anything over FOUR is considered excessive.

  • After FIVE (5)  unexcused AM tardies students will be assigned a lunch detention, after school detention or any other appropriate consequence (depending on the situation).

  • See attendance procedures for students with excessive absences above.

Consequences and School Actions

The attendance procedures for students with an excessive amount of absences can be as follows:

  • Restrictions from obtaining or the invalidation of Driver’s License.
  • Lunch detentions, after-school detentions, in-school suspensions.
  • Removal of school-related privileges such as attendance at extracurricular events (sports, dances, etc).
  • Formal referral to truancy court.
  • Referral of parent/guardian to Connections Court.
  • Referral of parent/guardian to the Department of Child & Family Services (DCS).
  • Placement in an alternative school setting.