Current Practice to Assess School Absenteeism
North Carolina General Statute 115C-378 outlines school
personnel responsibilities in response to absences. It is the
teacher’s duty to ascertain whether the absence is excused
or unexcused. It is the principal or designee, usually a social
worker, who notifies the parent after three unexcused
absences in a school year. After six unexcused absences, the
parent must be notified by mail. After 10 accumulated unexcused
absences in a school year, the principal or designee
must meet with the parent. If the principal determines that
there has not been adequate effort to comply with the law,
he or she may file a complaint with the juvenile court counselor.
The social worker’s duty is ‘‘to investigate absences
reported by the principal to analyze causes and steps to eliminate
the problem’’ (North Carolina General Statute
[N.C.G.S] 115C-378, 2009).