1.00 Statement of Basis and Purpose

This regulation is adopted pursuant to the authority in section 22-33-104 (4)(c), C.R.S. and is intended to be consistent with the requirements of the State Administrative Procedures Act, section 24-4-101 et seq. (the "APA"), C.R.S. These rules are adopted under authority granted the State Board of Education in the Colorado Constitution Article IX, Section 1; and Colorado Revised Statutes 22-2-106 (1)(a) and 22-2-107 (1)(c).

This regulation shall govern the standardized calculation for counting unexcused absences of students, including the circumstance in which a student is absent for part of a school day, and the format for reporting the number of students identified as habitually truant. Many research studies have concluded that truancy is a problem that impacts a student's ability to attain the maximum benefit from the education process. Families, schools and communities must work together to ensure regular daily and punctual school attendance. Students should be advised that each scheduled school day will count in their attendance records. Further, students are required to attend classes, unless excused for good reason, in accordance with the Colorado School Attendance Law (C.R.S. 22-33-101). The purpose of this regulation is to provide specificity for consistency in reporting attendance and truancy data across school districts and BOCES. This regulation intends to increase data accuracy by generating uniform indicators for aggregate excused and unexcused absences and habitually truant student numbers. Another purpose is to allow the usage of these indicators to leverage resources to support the complete success of children and youth in school.

2.00 Definitions

2.00(1) "Absences" means the scheduled school days or portions thereof missed by the student.

2.00(2) "Attendance Period" means the period of time in which student attendance is recorded.

2.00(3) "Automated Data Exchange" (ADE) means the state reporting system to collect, through electronic transfer where possible, all student and public school performance data as required by 22-7-603 C.R.S.

2.00(4) "BOCES" means Boards of Cooperative Educational Services.

2.00(5) "Department" means the Colorado Department of Education.

2.00(6) "Excused Absence" means the student is absent for a reason as identified within the attendance policy set by local school board of education as declared in 22-33-104 (4)(a) C.R.S. which may include, but is not limited to, the following reasons: funerals, illness, injury, legal obligations, medical procedures and religious observations.

2.00(7) "Habitually Truant" means a student who is at least the age of six on or before August 1 of the school year in question and under the age of seventeen years having four total days of unexcused absences from public school in any one calendar month or ten total days of unexcused absences from public school during the reported school year in congruence with C.R.S. 22-33-107(3)(a).

2.00 (8) “Level of Detail” means the most detailed data available for reporting purposes of attendance information.

2.00 (9) “Month” means a named calendar month regardless of the number of school days within each month.

2.00 (10) “Reported School Year” means the full school year as defined by the local school board of education.

2.00 (11) “Safety and Discipline Indicators” is one collection of the Automated Data Exchange system to obtain behavioral incidents and the actions taken as a result, a breakdown of students by racial/ethnic group and actions taken, as well as Gun Free Schools Act (GFSA) Firearms Expulsions.

2.00 (11) “Tardies” may be defined by local school district/BOCES board policy, generally meaning a student entering classes after the scheduled start time.

2.00 (12) “Truancy/Unexcused Absence” means a student is absent from school without a valid and verifiable excuse by the parent/guardian that is consistent with school or board policy as defined in 22-33-104 (4)(a) C.R.S. or the student leaves school or a class without permission of authorized school staff.

2.00 (13) “Unexcused Absence/Truancy” means a student is absent from school without a valid and verifiable excuse by the parent/guardian that is consistent with school or board policy as defined in 22-33-104 (4)(a) C.R.S. or the student leaves school or a class without permission of authorized school staff.

3.00 Standardized Calculation for Counting Absences of Students

3.01 District/BOCES Uphold Written Attendance Policy.

3.01 (1) The local board of education shall adopt a written policy setting forth the district's or BOCES’ attendance requirements. Said policy shall provide for Excused Absences, including those listed as exclusions from compulsory school attendance as declared in 22-33-104 (4)(a).

3.01 (2) The school district or BOCES shall uphold its written attendance policy. To ensure consistency in reporting attendance and Truancy data, districts and BOCES shall enforce uniform interpretations of the definitions of Excused Absences and Unexcused Absences across all schools within the school district or BOCES, according to the adopted district/BOCES attendance policy.