Attendance and Discipline Policy

Attendance
Excused Absences
Absence Procedure
Tardy /Tardiness Procedure
Early Departure
Loss of Credit Policy
Philosophy of Discipline
Behavior Definition and Range of Action
Levels of Disciplinary Action
Appeal Procedure

Attendance Policy

Research has shown that there is a direct relationship between regular daily attendance and academic success in school.  Therefore, it is crucial that all students attend their scheduled classes and required/ approved activities under the supervision of school staff.  Students must attend and participate in all assigned classes in order to participate in any athletic practice/event or other extracurricular activity on that day.

Excused Absences

Illness (doctor's note required for absences of five or more consecutive school days)

Death in the immediate family

Court summons

Hazardous weather conditions

Observance of religious holiday

State emergency

Activity approved by school authorities

Suspension

Absence Procedures

1.    A note, signed by a parent/guardian explaining the absence along with the student’s ID# and grade must be brought to the Attendance Office within three school days of the student’s return; otherwise the absence will be recorded as unexcused, regardless of the reason, and count toward a possible loss of credit.

2.    Notes should include the student’s name, grade, the date(s) of and reason for the absence, and be signed by a parent/guardian with a daytime phone number.

3.    Students who have an Age of Majority form on file may write their own notes.

4.    Notes should be brought to the Attendance Office before school or during lunch.  Students may not be excused from class for this purpose or for making attendance corrections.

5.    For a planned absence (e.g., college visits, surgery, going out of the state, etc.), a note signed by a parent/guardian listing the date/s and reason for the absence should be brought to the Attendance Office at least five days in advance of the planned absence. 

6.    For all absences, the student is responsible for finding out from teachers what work was missed and making it up in a timely manner. 

7.    Excused absences must be pre-approved for a student to be eligible to participate in all athletic practices or events.  If a student is absent on a Friday without pre-approval, he/she cannot participate in a Saturday game.

8.    Unexcused absences and tardies will count toward a loss of credit.  See Loss of Credit Policy.

Tardiness/Tardy Procedures

1.    Tardiness is defined as not being in your assigned classroom and seated when the late bell rings for that class.  Tardiness of more than half of the period will be recorded as an absence.  Unexcused absences and tardies will count toward a loss of credit for the class.  See Loss of Credit Policy.

2.    Any student who arrives late to school, with or without a note, should report directly to first period.  Exception:  Students who arrive more than 20 minutes late must sign in at the Attendance Office.  Students who are late due to a late school bus will be given late bus passes by the attendance office and sent to class. 

3.    Students who arrive after first period, with or without a note, must sign in at the Attendance Office.

4.    Parking Permits can be revoked for student drivers after the fifth time they are late for school without a valid excuse.

5.    Teachers will assign detention for unexcused tardiness to class.

Early Departure

1.    Students who need to be excused from school before the end of the school day must bring a note to the Attendance Office before 7:25 a.m.

2.    The note must state the date, time of departure, reason for leaving early, and be signed by a parent/ guardian with a daytime phone number.

3.    The student will be issued an early release pass, which he/she will show to the teacher.  The student will report to the Attendance Office to sign out at the time specified.  It is the student’s responsibility to remember to do this.

4.    A student who needs to leave early for medical problems that develop during the school day must do so from the Health Room.

5.    Students who sign out for only part of the day must sign back in at the Attendance Office upon returning to school the same day.

Loss of Credit Policy

The Blake HS Loss of Credit policy has been revised to reflect our block schedule.

For single periods, the regular policy remains in effect:

  Note:  Three unexcused tardies = one unexcused absence; fifteen = Loss of Credit.

For block periods, the policy has been revised as follows:

Note:  Three unexcused tardies = one unexcused absence; fifteen = Loss of Credit.

Appeal Process for a Loss of Credit

A student who has lost credit for a class may petition the teacher, within ten days, for restoration of credit. The guidance counselor can assist with this process.  It is important for the student to act immediately to file a loss of credit appeal.  Petition for Restoration of Credit forms are available in the Guidance Office.

1.    To begin the process, the student must complete a Petition for Restoration of Credit form and give it to her/his teacher stating the reasons for the unexcused absences and the reasons he/she believes that credit should be restored.  The student must complete one

form for each class for which he/she has lost credit.  The student is responsible for having the form(s) signed by his/her parent/guardian, the counselor, and an administrator verifying that they have read it.

2.    A copy of the form is sent to the counselor, administrator, and teacher.

3.    The teacher will review the request and make a recommendation for or against restoration of credit. The principal will make the final decision.

4.    If credit is not restored, the LC is recorded on the student’s report card and transcript and is calculated into the student’s grade point average as an E.

5.    Contact the grade-level administrator if you have questions about this process.

Make-Up Work

1.    It is the student’s responsibility to find out what work was missed and to make it up within the time frame agreed upon with the teacher.

2.    Generally speaking, a student who is absent on the day an assignment is due, but was present when the assignment was given is expected to turn it in on the day he/she returns to school. 

3.    Some long-term assignments may have a definite due date; in which case the student is responsible for arranging for the delivery of the assignment to the teacher on the date it is due.

4.    While teachers have an obligation to make accommodations for students to make up work when the absence is excused, teachers are not required to give credit for work made up for unexcused absences.

5.    Work due the day of a field trip or other pre-arranged excused absence may, at the teacher’s discretion, be due on or before the day of the missed class.

6.    If a test or assignment has been announced in advance, and the student is absent the day before the test or due date, extensions will not be granted as long as no new information was missed.

7.    If a test is missed due to an excused absence, but no additional new information was missed, the student may be required to take the make-up test on the first day back to school.

8.    On the second day of an extended absence, the parent/guardian may call the Guidance Office to request homework assignments.  Assignments can then be picked up on the third or fourth day of the absence.  The guidance office number is 301 879-1310 .

Philosophy of Discipline

The James Hubert Blake High School staff is responsible for the equitable treatment of students and for maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment.  The staff will respect the rights of individuals while ensuring that students follow school, c ounty, and state disciplinary procedures.  Freedom is based upon the acceptance of responsibility.  Students are expected to learn and practice responsible citizenship through the normal pursuit of education in high school.  A safe and orderly school climate is essential for students to achieve effectively. 

The five infractions that are bold require a mandatory request for expulsion from the principal.  All other infractions may be modified at the discretion of the principal.

I.  ATTENDANCE  

II. RESPECT FOR THE PERSONAL RIGHTS OF OTHERS

  III . RESPONSIBILITY AND RESPECT FOR PROPERTY

IV. RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING PUBLIC DECENCY AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOR

V. RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

VI.               RESPECT FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

LEVELS OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION

The following is a list of possible consequences available to teachers and administrators when dealing with disciplinary infractions.

1.      Conference:  As a necessary first step to referrals, the teacher or administrator will confer with the student and may contact parents.  In addition, a meeting may be required with the teacher, student, counselor, pupil personal worker, parent, administrator, police, and/or other appropriate person.

2.      Detention:  Teachers or administrators may require that students remain after the regular school day, usually for a period of 45 minutes.  Students will be given 24 hours notice, which the student or parent may waive.  Student involvement in extracurricular or work activity shall not postpone detentions.  Should a conflict arise with work or any school-sponsored activity, the assigned detention will take precedence.  Students must bring schoolwork to do independently.  Students are not permitted to talk with each other during detention.  Students will remain in detention until dismissed by the person in charge.  After dismissal, students are expected to leave school grounds.  Transportation is the responsibility of the student.  It is also the student’s responsibility to notify the parent/guardian of the assigned detention.  Detention may also be assigned during the lunch period.

3.      Temporary Removal from Class:  A student, for cause, may be removed temporarily from any class for a period not to exceed two days.  Removal exceeding one day can occur only after consultation between the teacher and the appropriate administrator.  The student removed from class will report to the ISS room during that period.

4.      Alternative to Suspension:  A student may be assigned an alternative to suspension.  The alternative may be a task after school hours under the supervision of a designated staff member.  Such an assignment will be made by an administrator with the knowledge of the student.

5.      Suspension – Out-of-School:  In accordance with the rules and regulations of MCPS, the principal or principal’s designee may suspend a student for cause for up to ten school days.  The student will be given notice of the reasons for the suspension, an explanation of the evidence, and an opportunity to present his/her side of the story.  During the time of the suspension, the student may not be on any MCPS property or participate in any school-sponsored activities without prior approval of an administrator.  Students will be given information on the Sharp Street Suspension Alternative.

6.      Suspension – In-School:  As an alternative to out-of-school suspension or detention, a student may be assigned to in-school suspension.  During the suspension, the student will report to the ISS room instead of to his/her regular classes.  Teachers will send work for the student to the Student Monitor who supervises in-school suspensions.  Students are expected to bring a bag lunch to school for the days they are suspended, as they may not use the cafeteria during the regular lunch period.

7.      Police Referral:  Any student who violates the law will be reported to the Montgomery County Police and/or Fire Marshall, as appropriate.

8.      Expulsion:  In accordance with MCPS Regulation JGA-RB, a student may be excluded from all Montgomery County Public Schools.

9.      Financial Reimbursement:  A student will be required to reimburse individuals or MCPS for theft of or damage to/destruction of property.

10.  Restoration of Property:  Students may be required, as a consequence during detention, to restore furniture or an area they have damaged or trashed to a clean and/or safe condition.

11.  Confiscation of Property:  Inappropriate items brought to school may be confiscated by any staff member and returned to the student or parent/guardian at a later time or turned over to the police.

12.  Search and Seizure:  Any principal, assistant principal, security officer, or other authorized staff member of a public high school may conduct a reasonable search of a student or the student’s property if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the student is in possession of an item, the possession of which is restricted by the policies and procedures of the school, the school system, or the laws of the State of Maryland.  The search must be conducted in the presence of a third party of majority age.  Any principal, assistant principal, security officer, or other authorized staff member of a public high school may conduct a search of every part of the physical plant of the school, including upon reasonable cause, students’ lockers.  Students may also be requested to do a self-search.

APPEALS PROCEDURES

A student has the right to appeal a disciplinary action.  The student has the right to have an advocate present during any step of the procedure.  The appeals procedure has a number of levels.  Every effort is made to reach agreement at the lowest possible level.

1.       Informal Conference:  Within three days of the incident, the student will discuss the problem with the person involved at a time agreed upon by both parties.

2.       Appeal to the Grade-Level Administrator:  Within three days of the informal conference, the student may request a review of the complaint and appeal the decision to the grade-level administrator.

3.       Appeal to the Principal:  If the problem is still unresolved, the student may appeal to the principal.  The student may meet with the principal to seek an informal resolution.  If, after fifteen school days, the problem is still unresolved, the student may file a written request for a formal review of the complaint by the principal.  The student will be provided with the opportunity to present witnesses and evidence in support of his/her cause.  The principal will render a written decision, forwarding a copy to the student, within ten school days of receipt of the written complaint.

4.       Appeal to the Superintendent of MCPS:  If a student is not satisfied with the written decision rendered by the principal, the student may submit a written appeal to the Superintendent’s Office within ten school days of receiving the principal’s written decision.  The appeal must request a review of the complaint, include the principal’s decision and all pertinent factual information, and state the remedy requested.  Within ten school days of the receipt of the appeal, the Superintendent or his/her designee will render a written decision and send it to the student and principal.

5.       Appeal to the Board of Education:  A student/parent may initiate an appeal of the Superintendent’s decision by writing to the Board of Education.  The appeal must request a review of the complaint, include the decision of the Superintendent/Designee and include all pertinent factual information, and state the remedy requested.