The Rice School/La Escuela Rice Tardy policy has been developed to emphasize the importance of each student's being in the classroom for the entire period, as well as arriving on time to school every day. Learning the responsibility of getting to class on time is an integral part of The Rice School/La Escuela Rice standard of excellence, which prepares students for success. For the first week of school, all teachers will work with their students, focusing on getting organized and arriving to class on time, or early, every day. The Tardy Policy goes into effect immediately and will be implemented fairly and consistently throughout the school year.

It is the student's responsibility to be on time to every class. The student's responsibility is to consistently improve personal efficiency in utilizing passing time, planning the quickest route while still moving safely with the traffic. Teachers will encourage you and parents will support you, but it is still your responsibility to BE ON TIME!

The teacher's responsibility is to encourage students to discover the best routine for the efficient use of passing time; stand at the classroom door to supervise students during passing time; and to close the classroom door immediately after the tardy bell. It is also the responsibility of the teacher to make the proper administrative referral of students who are not in compliance with the established time restrictions.

The parent's responsibility is to discuss this policy with your child, reinforcing the student's ability to meet this responsibility of learning promptness and supporting the necessity for the school's establishing immediate consequences to prevent chronic tardiness.

CONSEQUENCES FOR ARRIVING LATE TO SCHOOL

If a child arrives after 8:00, they must sign in at the attendance window by presenting a note from a parent/guardian with the following information:
* Child's name/Child's teacher's name
* Parent's name
* Date/Day phone number
* Reason for tardy
On the third unexcused tardy to school, the student will receive a referral to a campus administrator. Parents will conference with the administrator to develop and implement a plan to help get the student to school on time. If a fourth unexcused tardy to school occurs, the parent will be called and the student may be assigned one day in ISS. Additional tardiness to school may result in off-campus assignment, attendance officer referral, or other consequences determined by the administrator.

Tardiness/Absences to School will be excused for

	Doctor appointments
	Late school bus
	Court date
	Student's personal illness
	Illness or death of an immediate family member
	Participation in legitimate school activities with permission of the principal
	Emergency/extenuating circumstances as recognized by the principal
	Absences for religious holidays are not counted against a student's attendance record as long as the parent notifies the school in writing prior to the student's observance of a religious holiday

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Absences
When a student is absent, the parent clals the attendance office (713)349-1800 extension 306 before 9:30 a.m. to report the following information.
Student Name/Grade
Teacher and/or Homeroom Teacher
After an absence, the student will give the homeroom teacher a written excuse from the parent stating the reason for the absence and a phone number for verification. See above for excused absences.
Attendance Office Location

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Leaving School During The Day
When a student is to leave the campus during the school day, he/she must bring a note from a parent stating the reason, the time to be picked up, and the telephone number for verification. The student is to bring the note to the Attendance Office before school begins. The student will be given a permit to meet the parent and be signed out in the Attendance office at the designated pick-up time. No child will be released to any person other than the parent or person listed in the enrollment card. Special arrangements can be made with written permission from the parent and photo identificaion (Texas Driver's License) by the person picking up the child.

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Truancy
Also known as skipping school, truancy is a crime. It is a class C misdemeanor for a minor child to be in a public place without the company of a parent or permission of the school during school hours. (Houston City Code 28-172 (a)). Violation of this ordinance may result in criminal charges against the parent. A student absent from school without parental or school permission is truant. Refer to HOUSTON ISD Student Code of Conduct.