STPPS Senior Exam Exemption Policy

If a Senior with an “A average” in a course and 3 or fewer non-exempt absences in the course for a semester, then exempt from the semester exam.

If a Senior with a “B average” in a course and 1 or fewer non-exempt absences in the course for a semester, then exempt from the semester exam.

*Senior Semester Exam Exemptions will not apply in dual enrollment courses and online courses. All DE courses must have an exam grade entered in JCampus.

**Senior exam exemptions apply only to 12th-grade students and do not extend to 11th-grade early graduates.

Types of Absences

Exempted, Excused Absences are those that allow the student to make up work and will not be counted against students in determining whether a student meets attendance requirements. There is no limit to the amount of exempted, excused absences a student can incur.

The exempted, excused absences are defined in the attendance policy as the following:

·       Extended personal physical or emotional illness as verified by a physician or nurse practitioner licensed in the state.

·       Extended hospital stay as verified by a physician or nurse practitioner licensed in the state.

·       Extended recuperation from an accident as verified by a physician or nurse practitioner licensed in the state.

·       Extended contagious disease within a family in which a student is absent as verified by a dentist or physician licensed in the state.

·       Observance of special and recognized holidays of the student’s own faith with documentation provided.

·       Visitation with an immediate family member who is a member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard of a state and such immediate family member has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting with proper documentation. These absences shall not exceed five days per school year.

·       Travel for educational purposes. These absences must be approved prior to the travel with the supporting documentation submitted to the principal. Verification of the educational experience must be submitted upon return to school.

·       Death in the immediate family with documentation. These absences shall not exceed five days.

·       National catastrophe and/or disaster.

Non-Exempted Excused Absences are those incurred due to personal illness or serious illness in the family documented by parental notes. These absences allow the student to make up work missed and are considered in determining whether the student meets attendance requirements. Non-exempt excused absences will be treated as unexcused absences as it regards to seat time.

Unexcused Absences are absences where a note is not provided to the principal, a note is provided outside of the specified time (within two (2) days of returning from absence), or fails to meet the criteria to be excused. Students are not allowed to make up work for grading purposes and will be given failing grades for those days missed. These absences count against the student when determining whether the student meets attendance requirements.

Suspensions are non-exempted absences. Students are allowed to make up work when suspended from school. The student shall receive the same credit originally available for such work if it is completed satisfactorily and timely as determined by the principal or the principal’s designee, upon recommendation of the student’s teacher. These absences count against the student when determining whether the student meets attendance requirements.

Absences Procedures

Excuses for all absences must be presented in writing to the school principal or designee within two (2) days of the absence. The note must include the student’s full name, days of absence, reason for absence and/or doctor’s verification, parent/guardian signature and date of signature. Failure to send the note will result in the student not being able to make up missed coursework, and zeros for that work will be given. 

In high school, when a student accumulates three (3) absences in a semester which include non-exempted excused, unexcused, and/or suspensions, notification will be made to the parents/guardians. After the fifth ( 5) absence in a semester which includes non-exempted excused, unexcused, and/or suspensions, the school will notify parents/guardians of the seat time recovery requirements.

Seat Time Recovery Requirement

Students in danger of failing due to excessive absences may be allowed to make up missed seat time held outside of the regular school day. The makeup sessions must be completed before the end of the current semester for high school students and the end of the year for elementary/junior high students. 

Truancy

Parents will receive notification of the State truancy policy at the beginning of the school year. Any juvenile student who is habitually absent or tardy from school will be reported as a truant child to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, the family and/or juvenile court according to the provisions of Louisiana Children’s Code regarding families in need of services.

Senior Parents -

Don't forget to schedule your child's Senior Yearbook photo with River Oaks Photography.

This is to be done offsite and will be used for their yearbook photo and parents/guardians can purchase photo packages as well.

Location: River Oaks Photography

Address: 530 Asbury Dr STE C, Mandeville, LA 70471

Phone: (985) 326-2534