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Attendance and Enrollment

Application Procedures

ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

In order to be eligible to participate in the Lincoln High School program, a student shall:

1. Be between the ages of fourteen (14) and twenty-one (21) years of age.

2. Be a student who attends or attended a school in Fort Morgan, Brush, Wiggins, or Weldona and referred by either an administrator or counselor.

3. Be a student who is new to Morgan County and who meets age requirements.

4. Meet at least one of State of Colorado’s criteria of a high-risk student. The student and/or parent may be asked to sign an Attestation of Verification that the student meets at least one high-risk criteria, and that documentation can be obtained to substantiate the information provided.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

Applicant must meet eligibility requirements before being considered for admission. Students must show that their needs could be better met in an alternative setting and that they are unable to make reasonable progress toward graduation at their present setting due to existing barriers, such as: reluctance in learning, attendance problems, motivation deficiencies, teen pregnancy, skill deficiencies, consistent failures, or a documentable condition (medical or otherwise) that has precluded success in a traditional environment. Students must have permission from their sending school’s administration to enroll in Lincoln High School and meet at least one of the State of Colorado’s definition of a high-risk student.

PROCEDURES FOR ADMITTANCE

STEP 1 The student, the parent, and/or a school official can initiate the referral process by expressing an interest in attending Lincoln High School. The appropriate school personnel from the referring school, usually the Principal or Counselor, will send a referral to Lincoln High School. A student, who has already dropped out of school, may be asked to return to their home school to begin this process depending on the length of time the student has been out of school and the circumstances for his/her discontinuing his/her education or the student may be allowed to apply without a referral. If the student is not asked by LHS staff to return to their home school, LHS will contact the student’s former school to discuss past performance and issues related to why the student is no longer enrolled in high school.

STEP 2 After the student and parents meet with school officials and all agree that a referral to LHS is in the best interest of the student, school officials will complete a Referral Form and send it directly to Lincoln. Students new to the district can complete online registration and indicate their school preference as Lincoln.

STEP 3 Once a referral is received or online registration is complete, an Intake Interview will be scheduled for the student and at least one parent or guardian to attend with staff. The Intake Interview with the staff is mandatory for all new applicants. During the Intake Interview, and initial Individual Learning Plan will be developed to address identified areas of need.

STEP 4 Parent-Student Orientation must be completed prior to the student’s first day of classes. Since LHS is an alternative school, this process is necessary so that both, the parents and the student, has a working understand of LHS’ expectation for academics, attendance, and behavior.

Attendance

One criteria of a student's success in school is regular and punctual attendance. Frequent absences may lead to poor academic work, lack of social development, and possible academic failure.

Regular attendance at school is a critical component in school success. WHEN YOUR SON\DAUGHTER IS ILL OR MISSES SCHOOL, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SCHOOL 24 HOURS A DAY @ 970-867-2924.

Parents/Guardians are required to call Lincoln High School to report an absence or tardy for their son/daughter on the morning of the absence or tardy.

Parents/Guardians must approve an early release by notifying the office or coming in to sign the student out. Only a parent/guardian or a person identified as an Emergency Contact for the student may sign a student out of school. It is imperative to keep contact information up to date for this purpose. An individual who is picking up a student may be required to show picture identification.

UNEXCUSED/UNVERIFIED ABSENCES

In the event a call is not received at school, parents/guardians are contacted by the attendance office. If we are unable to contact a parent/guardian, this absence will be marked as Unverified. Page 7 Unexcused absences will count as an attendance violation. If you have difficulties with any of these issues or need additional support, please see an administrator/counselor. Examples of unexcused absences are:

  1. Alarm clock failure or getting up late
  2. Taking a family member to work or school
  3. Traffic/Train
  4. Car trouble
  5. Work
  6. Babysitting

TARDIES

A student will be marked tardy if he/she is not in class by 7:45 a.m. Unexcused tardies will also be considered an attendance violation with three unexcused/unverified tardies = one-day unexcused absence.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

In order to excuse an absence, the student must provide proper documentation. It is preferred that appointments are scheduled outside of regular school hours, if possible. Examples of Excused Absences are:

  1. Illness, injury, hospitalizations, or mental or emotional condition Must provide documentation from an appropriate authority: doctor, licensed counselor, social worker, etc. (not a note from parent).

  2. Medical and dental appointments Must provide documentation from doctor/dentist.
  3. Family emergency (i.e., death in the family) Must provide documentation of such emergency
  4. Absences required by legal body (court, juvenile authorities, or police) Must present citation or legal document
  5. School sponsored activities or activities of an educational nature - including internships, Capstone activities, college visits, and work-study experience.

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM

When a student has an excessive number of absences, these absences negatively impact the student’s academic success. For this reason, a student who has 16 total absences in a school year, whether the absences are excused or unexcused, may be identified as “chronically absent” by the principal or designee. Absences due to suspension or expulsion shall not be counted in the total number of absences considered for purposes of identifying a student as “chronically absent.”

If a student is identified as “chronically absent,” the principal or designee shall develop a plan to improve the student’s attendance. The plan shall include best practices and research-based strategies to address the reasons for the student’s chronic absenteeism, including but not limited to notification of parents, home visits, meetings with parents/guardians, requiring doctor’s notes, and/or community interventions. When possible, the student’s parents/guardian shall participate in the development of the plan.

Please note, a student does not have to be identified as “chronically absent” prior to declaring the student as “habitually truant” and pursuing court proceedings that would compel the student’s attendance in accordance with state law.

PROCEDURES

First Notice: If a student has 5 unexcused absences, a notification will be sent stating that the student and their parent/guardian needs to set up an attendance conference with a designated staff member, he/she may be placed on an Attendance Contract.

Second Notice: A notification will be sent home after the 7th unexcused absence stating that the student and his/her parent/guardian will be referred for a Family and Community Team Conference (FACT Conference), community truancy board, or a student staffing.

Certified Letter: A certified letter will be sent home after the 10th unexcused absence.

According to Colorado Compulsory School Attendance Law (Colorado Revised Statues – Article 33, Section 22-33-104 & 107; Amended by Senate Bill 06-073), a child who has attained the age of seven years and is under the age of seventeen years must be enrolled in school. A child within this age range who has four (4) unexcused absences from a public school in any one month or ten (10) unexcused absences from public school during any school year will be considered habitually truant.

Truancy Proceedings may be initiated for a student under the age of 17 whose attendance is deemed by the administration to be excessive and interfering with the student’s education. Specifically, the student and their parent/guardian will receive a letter stating that further absences will not be excused unless documentation is provided. If further absences are accrued after the letter, an attendance contract will be signed, and the student could be referred to the Diversion Program or Truancy Court.

This process will also be followed for students 17 years and older, with the exception that, after notification of excessive absences the student will be placed on an attendance contract.

It is the responsibility of parents and students to track the student’s attendance. This can be done through the Parental Portal, as well as the Student Portal, on Infinite Campus.

ATTENDANCE CODES AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

UNX An Unexcused Absence occurs when an absence is deemed unacceptable by the Principal regardless of the prior approval or knowledge of the parents.

EXC The principal has the authority to determine whether an absence is excused or unexcused. 

ILL The ILL code is used for up to three (3) days of illness without requiring a doctor’s note. After three days in a semester, a doctor’s note will be required to continue to excuse the absences.

ACT The Activity code is used for school-sanctioned activities, whether field trips, performances or other special meetings or events.

SUS The Suspension code will be used whenever a disciplinary action, resulting in a suspension from school, has occurred.

CUT Student has been at school or in an individual class period but has left campus without permission of school administrations or notification from parent.

TDY A Tardy code is used when a student fails to report to class on time.

CT-E This code is used when a student is required to go to court and has returned with proper documentation.

DR This code is used when a student has a doctor’s appointment and has returned with proper documentation.

UNV This code is used when the attendance office has not received a phone call from the parent/guardian.

FME This code is used for a Family Emergency.

FUNE This code is used for a Funeral.

Students who attend MCC and FMHS for elective credits do earn LHS credit, after “successful completion” of the course. “Successful Completion” is defined as performing academically at a level that earns the student a passing grade. Since dual credit is being earned at MCC, attendance at MCC is the same as LHS.

Re-enrollment 

A student, who has previously attended Lincoln High School, drops out or is referred to the Advance Learning Program, may reapply directly to LHS. A meeting of the interview committee will determine if the student will be re-admitted. Usually, a personal interview will be required, depending upon the circumstances for the student leaving LHS. Being granted a re-interview does not guarantee re-admittance to LHS. A student may be denied admittance based on, but not limited to:

  • Unresolved or volatile problems/conflicts with current LHS student(s), which could adversely affect the LHS culture, climate, or safety of others
  • A student’s past history is severe enough to be considered a threat to students and/or staff

LHS will make every effort to assist the parents and student in obtaining a more appropriate educational setting.

Retention Policy

Please see District Policy information on our website ~ fortmorgank12.com.