Regular attendance is an important part of the child’s growth and development in the Head Start Program. Attendance is based on the daily and monthly average of 90% which is a requirement in the Head Start Performance Standards (1302.16). A parent or guardian is expected to contact Southside Early Childhood Center each day your child is absent or is late to school. If attendance falls below 90%, Head Start/Early Head Start staff must analyze the cause of absenteeism. The analysis must include a study of the pattern of absences for each child, including reasons for absences as well as the number of absences that occur on consecutive days.

Head Start Performance Standards (1302.16) state that if absences are a result of illness or if there are well-documented absences for other reasons, no special action is required. If absences result from other factors, including temporary family problems that affect a child’s regular attendance, the program must initiate appropriate family support procedures for all children with four or more consecutive unexcused absences.

These procedures must include home visits or other direct contacts with the child’s parents. Contacts with the family must emphasize the benefits of regular attendance, while at the same time remaining sensitive to any special family circumstances influencing attendance patterns. All

contacts with the child’s family as well as special family support service activities provided by program staff must be documented.

In circumstances where chronic absenteeism persists and it does not seem possible to include the child in either the same or a different program option, the child’s slot must be considered an enrollment vacancy.

Please complete the General Information Form and return it to the school immediately for the following changes:

• Parent or Student Name,

• Parent Contact (address, telephone, email),

• Add or Remove an Emergency Contact,

• Remove Someone from Your Child's Pick-up List.

This form is for our center-based students.

Please include:

• First and Last Names,

• Their Relationship to the Student, and

• Their Contact Information.

Please remember to have valid ID available when picking a student up from the school.