Newberry High School

Please refer to these documents to better understand attendance requirements:

All Students: https://aptg.co/Z14pZc

Attendance Guidelines All Students

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to promote regular school attendance, ensure compliance with South Carolina State Board of Education Regulation 43-274, and support student academic success through consistent instructional engagement. 

Compulsory Attendance

In accordance with South Carolina law, all students between the ages of 6 and 17 are required to attend school regularly. Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring their child’s attendance and timely arrival each school day.

Lawful and Unlawful Absences

Lawful Absences

Lawful absences shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

● Student illness when attendance would endanger the student’s health or the health of others

● Illness or death of an immediate family member

● Observance of a recognized religious holiday

● Students whose parents/guardians are experiencing a military deployment.

● Suspensions are not counted as unlawful absences for truancy purposes.

● School‑approved activities authorized in advance by the principal up to 10 days per school year. Principals will make the final decision.

Unlawful Absences: Unlawful absences include, but are not limited to:

● Absences without parental knowledge

● Absences without acceptable cause*, even with parental knowledge. This can include a vacation or trip when school is in session.

● Student exceeds 7 parent notes for the current school year

● Absences with no documentation are automatically considered unlawful.

*Acceptable Cause - would include either a death or illness.

Parent Notes and Documentation

● Parents or guardians may submit up to seven (7) written parent notes per academic year to excuse absences. (Excluding 4x4 courses. Please refer to the High School Credit Courses Guidelines)

● After the seventh parent note, all additional absences must be supported by official documentation (e.g., medical or legal documentation) to be considered lawful.

● Absences beyond seven parent notes that lack official documentation may be classified as unlawful, resulting in an unexcused absence for the student.

● Students are required to bring written documentation for absences within 5 days from the day they return from an absence.

When a student is absent more than a total of TEN days, the Board has designated the school principal as a designee to approve or disapprove of any additional absences.

Instructional Seat‑Time Makeup Requirement

Once a student exceeds seven (7) parent‑excused absences with principal discretion, the district will require the student to make up instructional seat‑time to ensure compliance with attendance and learning requirements. Makeup opportunities may include:

● After‑school instructional sessions

● Other district‑approved instructional time

These measures ensure students maintain adequate instructional engagement while remaining consistent with state attendance expectations.

Truancy Definitions and Interventions In accordance with Regulation 43‑274:

● A truant student (ages 6–17) is one who has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences.

● Upon identification of truancy, the school will initiate parent contact and an intervention plan designed to address attendance concerns.

● All reasonable, educationally sound interventions will be implemented prior to referral to the juvenile justice system.

High School Credit Courses 

School District of Newberry County Attendance, Seat Time, and Recovery Guidelines: High School Credit Courses 

S.C. Code §59-1-425, State Board of Education Regulation 43-274, and the Uniform Grading Policy of South Carolina require students to meet both attendance and seat time expectations to earn high school credit. 

Attendance & Credit: Absence Limits Per Course

1 Credit - Year-Long (180 days): 10 absences 

1 Credit - Semester Block (90 days): 5 absences 

1 Credit - A/B Year-Long (90 days): 5 absences 

½ Credit - Quarter Block (45 days): 3 absences 

All absences count toward the limit (lawful, unlawful, medical, suspension). In-School Suspension (ISS) does not count as an absence. Missing too many days without recovery will result in FA (Failure Due to Absences) on the transcript, which calculates as a grade of 50 in GPA. 

Lawful vs. Unlawful Absences Lawful absences may be recoverable through coursework. Lawful absences are to be submitted to the attendance clerk for principal approval. These include: illness with a doctor's note, death in immediate family, religious holidays, medical/legal appointments, out-of-school suspension, or other approved extenuating circumstances. 

Unlawful absences may be recoverable through seat time recovery sessions. Unlawful absences include: skipping class, unexcused absences, or absences without proper documentation. Seat time recovery opportunities are limited. 

Recovery 

Lawful Absence: Coursework 

• Students should follow the school's procedures for submitting written documentation for absence approval and subsequent coursework submission verification. 

• It is important to note that the teacher's grading policy for submitting work following an absence is still in effect. However, coursework can be accepted as documentation for seat time recovery through the end of the term. 

Unlawful Absence: Seat Time 

• Recovery options: Before/after school, or extended-year programs. If seat time recovery sessions are hosted on a non-school day, students may incur a charge of up to $10/hour. 

• Expectations: Arrive on time, remain for the full session, actively work only on schoolwork, and follow school rules (including cell phone policy). 

• Limits: Students may recover up to 10 days (180-day course), 5 days (90-day course), or 3 days (45-day course). Recovery is not unlimited. All recovery must be completed before grades are stored for that course, unless the principal approves a time-bound extension for extenuating circumstances. 

Key Reminders 

Students with approved, lawful absences may recover through assigned coursework. 

Unlawful absences beyond the seat time recovery limit cannot be recovered, resulting in a FA (Failure Due to Absences) on the transcript. 

Attendance records and recovery follow the student if they transfer to another school. 

Contact your school's attendance office with questions.