Attendances and Excuses

The Murfreesboro City Board of Education believes that regular attendance is a necessary requirement of all students and that every child should be included in some phase of the school program.

All students are expected to attend school on each day that school is officially in session. Excused absences may be granted for the following reasons:

  • Illness of student (doctor’s statement may be required when illness is frequently given as a reason),
  • Death or serious illness within the student’s immediate family,
  • The student is officially representing the school in a school sponsored activity,
  • Special and recognized religious holidays regularly observed by persons of the student’s faith,
  • A legal court summons for reasons other than the student’s misconduct,

Absences other than those outlined above shall be considered unexcused.

A written statement shall be required from the parent or guardian explaining the reason for each absence.

Truancy Enforcement

The following procedure has been implemented in partnership with the Murfreesboro Police Department and the Juvenile Court, as it pertains to the delivery of unlawful absentee notices, T.C.A. 49-6-3007, Attendance and Truancy Reports, and T.C.A. 49-6-3009, Penalty for Violators:

Teachers monitor and document attendance; this is reported to the attendance clerk at each school. The attendance clerk provides an attendance printout to the principal when five days of unexcused absences have occurred. The notice is then hand-delivered by an officer to the parent/guardian, and the parent/guardian is notified that they must contact the school principal. Absences continue to be monitored, and if there is no improvement in attendance, a second notice is issued. If the problem persists, a petition may be filed by the principal. Upon issuance of such warrant, a third request is faxed to the Police Department indicating that the warrant is ready to be served to the parent/guardian.

This procedure is considered a pro-active approach to truancy violations. When children are in school, they can be taught, and are less likely to become involved in activities that are counterproductive to their future.