Florida law defines “habitual truant” as a student who has 15 or more unexcused absences within 90 calendar days with or without the knowledge or consent of the student’s parent or guardian, and who is subject to compulsory school attendance.
Florida law (Section 1003.436, Florida Statute) defines a full credit as a minimum of 135 hours of bona fide instruction in a designated course of study.
Importance of Attendance
Students who attend school regularly:
- Earn better grades
- Feel safe and more confident
- Develop trusting relationships with their peers and teachers
- Are challenged by the rigor of the academic process
Excused Absences:
Parents/guardians are to contact the office if their child is going to be absent from school. On the day he/she returns to school, parents/guardians must send a note explaining the reason for your child’s absence or a note from your child’s physician. Notes submitted more than 48 hours after your child’s return to school will not be accepted and the absence(s) will be deemed unexcused. There is a maximum of 10 handwritten notes that will be accepted per school year. Referrals will be issued after reaching the school’s maximum allowance and may result in the student’s report card reflecting insufficient attendance for receiving a grade.
Unexcused Absences:
For every three unexcused absences, the student will receive a referral which may result in the student’s report card reflecting insufficient attendance for receiving a grade.
Tardies:
All tardies will be considered unexcused. We understand that emergencies may arise. In such cases, we will need a letter signed by the parent or guardian explaining the reason for being tardy.
Arrival:
Arrival times are from 7:30 am – 8:00 am for K-5th Grade and 8:00 am to 8:15 am for 6-12th Grade. Students must be in their seats at the commencement of class in the morning. Any student arriving after the commencement of school will receive a tardy pass. Students arriving or departing outside of the school’s designated times may be enrolled in a before-care program, where available, including all applicable fees. Please be advised: ABF Academy is not responsible for students who arrive more than thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of school.
Dismissal:
Dismissal times are 3:00 pm for K-5th Grade and 3:25 pm for 6- 12th Grade. Students departing outside of the school’s designated times may be enrolled in an after-care program, where available, including all applicable fees. Please be aware that all charges must be resolved in full by the last day of school. Please be advised that ABF Academy is not responsible for students remaining on campus after the school’s dismissal times.
Early Dismissal:
For a student to be dismissed early, parents must report to the front office. Students will not be dismissed 30 minutes prior to dismissal time. There are NO EXCEPTIONS!