Attendance

Proof of attendance

  • Each class will post weekly attendance requirements on the class page (Canvas).

  • A week is defined as Saturday through Friday. Work is posted on Saturday morning and due by midnight Friday (in your time zone).

  • If a student does not meet the attendance requirements for the week, the student will be counted absent.  Failure to submit work timely will also affect the student’s grades.

  • Attendance will be reported weekly based on the amount of work students have completed.

  • For 6-8 students and students with IEPs and in need of direct services, attendance will also be based on attending live, synchronous Zoom classes throughout the week. Failure to attend these live classes will result in an absence from the class.

  • Parents and students will be able to view weekly attendance at https://powerschool.btcs.org/public/. It is the responsibility of the parent and student to check attendance and notify the office of any discrepancies. The office must be alerted within a week after the absences have been posted for any changes to occur. PowerSchool attendance codes are as follows: U- Unexcused, A-Excused, DE- Doctor’s Excuse, blank, or P-Present.

  • Parents must email or call the TOPS office and their teacher(s) to excuse any absence. Please email the office at attendance@tennesseeonlinepublicschool.org. Each teacher’s email and contact information can be found on his or her Canvas syllabus.  TOPS must be alerted before the absence occurs or as early as possible.

  • Excused absences will be excused at the discretion of the TOPS staff. Please remember that students have 7 days to complete their work – not just Monday through Friday.

  • Any doctor’s excuse may be turned in via email, fax, or mail and must be turned in within 2 weeks of the absences.

  • Please remember that the work must still be submitted even if an absence is excused.  An excused absence may still result in a zero or reduced grade if your teacher is not notified in advance or as soon as possible.  Only your teacher can determine the appropriate makeup schedule for missed or late work.

  • Students have 10 days of excused absences before they become truant.

  • After 5 days of unexcused absences students become truant.

  • After 15 unexcused absences in any class students may be dismissed from TOPS.

  • As part of their TOPS attendance, students are expected to check their student emails regularly. All new students are required to complete the TOPS SOS.  

Consequences for Truancy

5 days of unexcused absences – a letter is sent home.

10 days of unexcused absences – a letter is sent home, and a conference is scheduled.

15 days of unexcused absences – driver’s license is revoked, and the student is dismissed from TOPS.

Definitions

  • Absent means a student has not completed the work their teacher asked them to complete for the week or did not attend the live Zoom class.

  • Present means a student has completed the work their teacher asked them to complete for the week.

  • Truant means that a student has accrued up to 5 absences and could be taken to court.