Regular, uninterrupted instruction, classroom participation, and interaction with classmates are important to the educational process. For that reason and others, state law requires that all children of appropriate age and condition attend school regularly.

New Mexico's Children’s Code provides that a child who has more than ten (10) unexcused absences is a " A child in need of supervision” by the youth authorities. State law requires the schools to report violations of the compulsory school attendance laws to the juvenile probation office. Violations of the compulsory school attendance laws can subject parents to fines. Maintaining regular school attendance by all students is the joint responsibility of parents and educators. In keeping with that obligation, the (Board of Education/Superintendent) prescribes the following rules for school attendance:

The above code is set forth as a basic policy. Each school, through its governing council, may develop its own attendance policies that are more specific.

1. Parents or legal guardians must telephone the school each day their child will be absent and state the reason for the absence. If a student is absent and parents have not contacted the school, schools will make a reasonable attempt to contact parents before the end of the day.

2. Upon the first day a student returns to school from any absence, if parents have not called to report the student absent, the student must present a signed, dated note from his or her parent or legal guardian stating the reason for the absence.

3. An unexcused absence is an absence for which no appropriate excuse is provided by the student's parent or legal guardian. Absences may be excused for the following reasons:

• Doctor’s Appointment
• Illness
• Death in the Family
• Family Emergency
• Religious Commitment
• Diagnostic Testing
• School Sponsored Activity
• Extenuating Circumstances, as agreed to by the school administration

4. If an absence is an excused absence, a student shall be given a reasonable time by his or her teacher within which to make up the work the student missed during the absence. A student with an unexcused absence is required to make up the work missed, however; a penalty of up to one letter grade will be assessed. 

5. All students are expected to make up work that is missed due to excused or unexcused absences. Failure to make up missed class work and assignments will affect the student’s reportable grades and may result in no earned credit for the semester.

6. A student may receive detention or in-school suspension (or other discipline), for any unexcused absence.

7. If a student is absent for three (3) successive school days during which time his or her parent or legal guardian has not contacted the school and given an appropriate reason for the absence, as required by paragraph (1), the principal or his or her designee, shall, by the end of the school day, of the first day following the three day period, contact the parents or legal guardian by telephone or in person to give notice of the student's absence and to learn the reason for the absence. 

8. If a student accumulates three (3) unexcused absences during a semester, the school principal, or his or her designee, shall notify the parents or legal guardian in writing, by certified mail or personal service. This letter will schedule a meeting and provide the parent or legal guardian with the provisions of the Compulsory Attendance Law. The parent or legal guardian, of the student, must contact the school regarding the student’s absence. Appropriate consequences will be assigned for unexcused absences.

9. If a student accrues any additional unexcused absences, not to exceed a total of ten (1) days, five (5) days at the high school, due to the 4X4 block schedule, following the letter and/or meeting specified in paragraph (8), the student may be reported to the probation services office of the judicial district in which the student resides for an investigation of whether the student should be considered a neglected child or a child in need of supervision, and thus subject to the provisions of the Children’s Code. Students will not be graded specifically on attendance; however, a student’s ability to earn grades and credit is affected by attendance, i.e., class participation, teamwork, lab activities, performance-based classes like music, etc. Willful violations of the Compulsory Attendance Law following the report required by this paragraph may be grounds for student disciplinary action.

10. Student’s with excessive excused absences (10 days at the middle and elementary schools and (5) days at the high school, due to block schedule) must within two (2) days of returning to school bring supportive documentation (doctor’s note, etc.) for each absence. Extended absences due to medical reasons should be reported to the school health office. Failure to comply will be considered unexcused absences subject to the provisions in paragraph (9)

Rio Rancho Public Schools
Adopted: October 28, 1996
Revised: January 26, 1998
Revised: August 9, 1999