Attendance Policy – What Families Need to Know

At Bessemer City Schools, we believe showing up matters. Regular attendance helps students succeed in school and build good habits for life.

Who Must Attend

• Alabama law requires all children ages 6–17 to be in school every day.

• Parents/guardians are responsible for making sure their child attends regularly and behaves appropriately.

When Absences Are Excused

Students may be excused from school for:

• Illness

• Death in the immediate family

• Dangerous weather

• Legal quarantine

• Emergency situations approved by the principal/superintendent

• Prior permission from the principal (with a parent/guardian request)

What Families Must Do

• If your child is absent, you must send a written excuse within 3 school days.

• If no excuse is received, the absence will be marked unexcused.

Unexcused Absences

• Any absence not covered above is unexcused.

• Unexcused absences may result in your child being considered truant, which can lead to further action.

The Jamari Terrell Williams Student Bullying Prevention Act, No. 2018-472, defines bullying as a continuous pattern of intentional behavior that takes place on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored function including, but not limited to, cyberbullying or written, electronic, verbal, or physical acts that are reasonably perceived as being motivated by any characteristic of a student, or by the association of a student with an individual who has a particular characteristic, if the characteristic falls into one of the categories of personal characteristics contained in the policy adopted by the local board.

To constitute bullying, a pattern of behavior may do any of the following:

a. Place a student in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property.

b. Have the effect of substantially interfering with the educational performance, opportunities, or benefits of a student.

c. Have the effect of substantially disrupting or interfering with the orderly operation of the school.

d. Have the effect of creating a hostile environment in the school, on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored function.

e. Have the effect of being sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment or a student.

Students who are being bullied, should complete the Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harrassment found in the code of student conduct. The student should submit that information to the school administration. The school administration should begin an investigation and follow the steps as outlined in the code of student conduct.

Jamari Terrell Williams Student Bullying Model Policy