School Policies

At Concordia Lutheran High School, we believe that daily attendance is essential for academic excellence, spiritual growth, and personal responsibility, reflecting our mission to nurture students in faith and learning. Regular attendance at school is an integral factor in a student’s ability to learn and provides the student with valuable opportunities that can best be utilized when a student is engaged in school. The student’s educational experience is further enhanced by purposely participating in the discussion and interaction with teachers and fellow students through the school setting, particularly in the classroom.

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) supports this by expecting students to achieve a 96% attendance rate (7 or fewer absences, excused or unexcused, in a 180-day school year) to be recognized as “model attendees.” Field trips, co-curricular events, and school approved functions where a student misses class are not considered absences. This protocol outlines proactive steps to partner with students and parents/guardians to address attendance concerns, offering support and resources while using consequences as needed to prevent chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more of school days, approximately 18 days/school year) and habitual truancy (10 or more unexcused absences during a school year). Aligned with Indiana law, including Senate Enrolled Act 482 (2025), and rooted in Christian values, this protocol seeks to support families without causing undue hardship.

The school is responsible for a student when the school day is in session. The school office must be able to locate a student any time during the school day. Mandatory school attendance is a requirement of state and federal legislation. Parents may view their student’s attendance record via FACTS Family Portal. (Concordia’s FACTS District Code: CON-IN)

Definitions

• Model Attendee: A student who attends at least 96% of enrolled school days (7 or fewer absences in a 180-day school year), per IDOE standards.
• Chronic Absenteeism: Missing 10% or more of school days (approximately 18 days/school year), including excused and unexcused absences, as defined by the IDOE.
• Habitual Truancy: Accumulating 10 or more unexcused absences in a school year, per Indiana Code 20-33-2.
• Excused Absence: Absences verified by a parent/guardian or documentation for reasons such as:
• Illness (with a parent/guardian note or healthcare provider documentation)
• Medical or dental appointments
• Bereavement or family emergency
• Religious observances
• Family pre-arranged planned absence (CLHS Pre-planned Absence Form)

• Other exemptions per Indiana Code 20-33-2 or approved by the school administration.
• Unexcused Absence: Any absence not meeting the criteria for an excused absence or without proper notification/documentation within 24 hours.
• State Exemptions - in certain situations, students are considered present at school when absent for the following reasons:

• Subpoenaed to testify in court
• Service as a page or honoree in the Indiana General Assembly
• Serving on the precinct election board or as a helper on election day.
• Other exemptions per Indiana Code 20-33-2 or approved by the school administration.

1. PLANNED ABSENCE FORM (VACATION, FAMILY, COLLEGE VISITS) – Attendance at school is important and valuable for the student’s success, learning, and participation in our school community. Vacations during school time should be avoided. Students who take a vacation or college visit during school time must have a parent/guardian call or email the Dean of Student Success at least one week in advance.  The student needs to complete a Pre-Planned Absence Form that must be signed by a parent, the student, and each teacher one week in advance. The completed form is returned to Student Services. This gives the teachers a chance to provide assignments and/or other work in advance, and the opportunity to communicate any concerns the absence could create. The student is expected to complete the work before the planned absence. This policy prevents an overwhelming amount of makeup work for the student upon their return to school. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain and complete all missed work.
2. LATE ARRIVAL/EARLY DISMISSAL – Whenever a student arrives late or leaves early during the school day, they must sign in/out at Student Services. In every case, s/he must either present a note from home or have a parent contact the Dean of Student Success or the Student Success Assistant. See Tardies for Period 1 & 2 classes for further details.
3. ILLNESS – In case of illness during the school day, the student must report to the nurse's office. Our goal is to help your child minimize the instructional time he/she may miss because of an illness. Students may stay in the clinic to help recover and return back to class. PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO SEE THE NURSE WHEN THEY ARE ILL AT SCHOOL. The nurse can help determine the seriousness of your child’s illness and will be in contact with the parents. If your child is ill, they will be asked to go home. Students may return to school when they have been fever free for 24 hrs. When the student is in the clinic or is sent home by the nurse, this is considered an excused (documented) absence from class.
   
   
4. TRUANCY – Truancy is any absence from school when the absence is initiated by the student without parental knowledge. If a student cuts class (has not left the building and is absent from a portion of one or more classes/lunch without permission of the school), detention and service hours will be assigned. The truancy policy is enforced by the Dean of Student Success according to the following guidelines and covers all instances of truancy during the school year: 
   1. 1st truancy - The absence is an Undocumented (unexcused absence), the parent is contacted and the student is assigned detention and service hours as determined by the Dean of Student Success. 
   2. 2nd truancy - The absence is Undocumented (unexcused absence), the parent is contacted and the student serves an in-school suspension (ISS). 
   3. 3rd truancy - The absence is Undocumented (unexcused absence), the parent is contacted, the student serves a two day out of school suspension, and a conference is held with the Dean of Student Success, student and parents to determine the terms of an attendance probation. Failure to abide by the terms of the probation results in the student being referred to the Principal for expulsion. 

10. CAREER CENTER ATTENDANCE – Students who attend classes at the Anthis Career Center, EACS, ABC Construction, or the AMP LAB are to follow the calendars of both schools unless notified otherwise. The goal is to reduce the interruptions to the school day as much as possible. If a school-sponsored interruption is necessary, the Student Services office of the appropriate school must be informed by a parental note or phone call at least two days in advance.
11. STUDENT STATUS – All students are expected to live with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) while in attendance at Concordia. Emancipated students or students living with someone other than a parent or legal guardian may not be eligible to attend Concordia. A change in status must be reported immediately to the office of Student Services. Proof of guardianship (or power of attorney) must be on file for those students not living with their parents. 
12. PART-TIME STUDENT POLICY – Students from a homeschool environment may take up to 3 periods of instruction at Concordia Lutheran High School. This must include a religion class. Enrollment is with the approval of the admissions committee. These students are allowed to attend all school activities and to participate in activities which are open to all students. Only full-time students may participate in activities which are based on tryouts, auditions, or elections. Athletic participation is governed by IHSAA rules which state that a student must be enrolled in and passing six full credit classes to be eligible.