Consultation

Interpretations: Michigan Department of Education staff has directed that public school districts route questions and requests for interpretations through pupil accounting staff at the SISD. The SISD pupil auditor will research the issues locally and at the state level to respond. Requests may be made by telephone, email, or in writing. Address questions to the pupil accounting contacts listed under Contact Information.

Procedures: Having procedures, which comply with the state requirements, is a key to any accurate pupil count. The SISD auditor is available to discuss or review district procedures and forms for compliance.

Training: Training is offered by the SISD. Training is conducted before the official count day. Saginaw County school district staff can request additional training.

Auditing: The SISD is required by the State of Michigan to audit the membership counts of the public school districts and public school academies within its boundaries. Public school districts and public school academies must submit information to support their claims for state financial aid to the SISD. The auditors will verify the information by performing desk and field audits of the individual school buildings. Any necessary adjustments to the district's membership count are forwarded to the Michigan Department of Education.

Truancy Policy

Attendance: The Board shall select (or not select) attendance officers in accordance with current law. The Board supports the Uniform Attendance Policy of Saginaw County's public schools and the District will make all reasonable efforts to enforce that policy.

Attendance Review Committee: Each school building in the District will establish an attendance review committee. The committee will review each pupil's attendance record after 5 absences or 7 tardies in a semester. The committee will re-examine each pupil's attendance record following each 2 additional absences/tardies (above 5 or 7 respectively.) The Superintendent shall include in his/her annual report any information relative to students not attending school, which he/she feels, should be called to the attention of the Board and the community. The Superintendent shall attempt to enlist the support and cooperation of local authorities in dealing with school problems created by students not attending school.

Minimum Requirement: Students, parents/guardians, teachers, and the administration all share responsibility for student attendance, and all are expected to cooperate in the District’s efforts to improve school attendance by students. Parents/guardians who fail to cooperate will be dealt with under the auspices of state law regarding their responsibility to see that students are in school.

Compulsory Attendance: Religious Exemption: Any student, who has completed the eighth grade before reaching 16 years of age and who is a member of a recognized church or religious denomination that objects to a regular public high school education, may attend classes in a regularly supervised non-public program of instruction approved by the State Board of Education. Attendance of such a student in a non-public educational program shall conform to state law. It is the parents/guardians’ responsibility to provide transportation to such non-public religious activities.

Appeal Procedure: A pupil negatively impacted by this attendance policy has the right to appeal. The Superintendent will establish administrative rules for the appeal process.

Approval Disclaimer: Approved MASB Rec. (Actual POLICY statement ends here – Administrative Rules Follow) LEGAL REF: MCL 380.1571; 380.1577; 380.1586-1596, 380.1599; OAG 5414 (12/20/78).