Expectations and Legal Requirements

Students are expected to attend school every day.

1. Georgia’s compulsory attendance law O. C. G. A. § 20-2-690 requires all children under the age of sixteen (16) who are at least six (6) years old attend school (i.e. public, private, or home study). Any kindergarten student (age 5) who enters school and remains in school for twenty (20) school days is subject to the Compulsory School Attendance Law.

2. The Pickens County Truancy Ordinance (see below) defines county law regarding student attendance and parent responsibilities.

3. The PCSD must report to the state students in grades K-12 absent more than 10% of enrolled school days. Student absences impact both the school and the district’s College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) score.

Parental Responsibility

• Parents are expected to complete all student registration forms in a timely manner.

• Parents are required to keep Central Registration and the school updated any time there is a change in a child’s residence or telephone number. Please submit changes to registration@pickenscountyschools.org

• Send an email to the school attendance clerk if your child is absent:

  • Harmony Elementary – hesattendance@pickenscountyschools.org

  • Hill City Elementary – hcesattendance@pickenscountyschools.org

  • Tate Elementary – tesattendance@pickenscountyschools.org

  • Jasper Middle School – jmsattendance@pickenscountyschools.org

  • Pickens Junior High School – pjhsattendance@pickenscountyschools.org

  • Pickens High School – phsattendance@pickenscountyschools.org

• If your child is sick:

  • Parents should not send a child to school who has a fever over 100 degrees and/or is believed to be contagious.

  • If your child has a fever, the student must be fever-free, without medication, for 24 hours before
    returning to school.

  • The student must be free of vomiting and/or diarrhea, without medication, for 24 hours before returning to school.

  • Do not put a child who is sick on the school bus.

  • If you are unsure of whether you can send your child to school, refer to the school district’s website https://www.pickens.k12.ga.us/page/health-services for more information.

• Head lice and nits (eggs) are common in schools. Parents/guardians will be contacted to pick up their child if live lice are found. Students may not ride the bus or return to school until receiving appropriate treatment.  Parents/guardians should bring the child in to be checked by the school nurse before the student can return to class.  Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice.  Parents/guardians will be contacted if nits are found and more information regarding next steps will be provided by the school clinic personnel.  If a cluster/outbreak of lice occurs, parents will be notified.  These guidelines are aligned to recommendations from DPH, NASN, CDC, and CHOA. 

Pickens County Truancy Ordinance

Section 42-6. School Attendance Required

It shall be unlawful for any child who is subject to compulsory school attendance requirements as established under O. C. G. A. §20-2-690.1 to be absent from school without a valid excuse. Such excuse must be provided to a school official within ten (10) school days.  This section shall also apply to those persons who are required to attend school as part of a court order.

Parent Responsibility

• It shall be unlawful for the parent or legal guardian of a minor under the age of 16 years to permit, or by insufficient control, to allow a minor to violate a section of this chapter. A person charged with a violation of this subsection (A) for the first time shall be issued a citation and upon appearance, the court may inquire as to the cause of the violation and take such action that may be necessary to aid the parent or guardian in addressing the cause. Such action may include but is not limited to the making of referrals to social service agencies or other entities who can provide resources for addressing the cause(s) of the violation. If appropriate and in the best interest of the child, the court may withhold adjudication on a first offense and require reviews with the parent or guardian for a period of the remainder of the school year in which the violation occurred. The School District shall notify the court if there are no further violations during the period of absence and if none occurs, the Court shall dismiss the case with no further action. Upon any subsequent violation in the same school year, the person shall be issued a new citation for each such violation. Each subsequent violation may constitute a separate offense and shall be punished in accordance with section 42-12. Citations for this subsection can be served upon the parent(s) by the sheriff or a lawful deputy, the marshal, or by a constable of the magistrate court.

• All parents or legal guardians seeking to enroll a student in the Pickens County School District shall be required to provide the following information to the District:

  • Proof of residence in a form acceptable to the District;

  • Copy of student’s birth certificate, passport, or other proof of age acceptable to the District;

  • Copy of Social Security Card and/or notarized waiver form;

  • Completed Georgia Public Health Immunization Form and/or notarized religious objection form as supplied by the District;

  • Completed Georgia eye, ear, dental, and nutrition form as supplied by the District;

  • Such other information that the District has requested in writing.

  • Failure to provide said information within thirty (30) days of enrollment or notice by the District shall be punishable pursuant to Section 42-12.

• Section 42-12. Punishment for violation of chapter.

  Upon conviction of a violation of a section of this chapter, a person shall be punishable in accordance with section 1-11 of this Code. Each violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.

• Section 1-11. General penalty; continuing violations.

  • Whenever in this Code or in any other ordinance of the county any act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful, or an offense, or the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful, where no specific penalty is provided therefore, the violation of such provision shall be punishable by the imposition of a fine not to exceed $1,000, by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of time not to exceed 60 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, or up to the limits of any penalty provided by state law for the ordinance.

  • Each violation of this Code or other ordinance shall constitute a separate offense.

School Attendance Areas

The Pickens County Board of Education has established geographic attendance zones for students. Students are required to attend the grade-appropriate school in the attendance zone in which they reside.

If a student is enrolled in any Pickens County school and that student’s residency changes to another attendance zone within Pickens County, that student shall be allowed to remain at the school he/she was attending prior to the residency change, or transfer to the school appropriate for the new attendance zone for the remainder of the school year. If the student or upcoming siblings choose to attend the school he/she was attending prior to the residency change, that student shall be responsible for providing their own transportation to that school. If attendance, tardiness, discipline, and/or academics become an issue, the student will be required to attend the school zoned for their residency.  If the student withdraws from the school, he/she as well as upcoming siblings, must attend the school zoned for their residency for the remainder of his/her Pickens County school career.

School choice within Pickens County is allowed to the extent space is available.  Available school space is determined annually based on projected enrollment. Parents will be notified by July 1 of each year which schools have available space and to which of these schools parents may choose to request a transfer for their children.   If a change of school is requested due to hardship, a committee will make the determination as to whether or not a transfer will be granted.

According to Georgia law, “a student shall be allowed to attend and be enrolled in the school in which a parent or guardian of such student is a full-time teacher, professional, or other employee…” O. C. G. A. §20-2-293(b).

As an additional benefit, all employees of the PCSD and/or any full-time teachers or professionals working in a school on a PCSD campus shall be allowed to enroll their children as students in the Pickens County School District; said children shall be allowed to attend any school within the district regardless of whether or not that child’s parent works at that particular school and regardless of the residency of that parent.

The Pickens BOE authorizes the superintendent or designee to develop and implement regulations and guidelines to carry out this policy.

Excused Absences

School policy requires that all excuses be turned in to the school within ten (10) days of the student’s return to school. Excuses should contain the student’s first and last name, the reason for absence, date(s) of absence, and a parent/guardian signature. These can also be sent via email to the appropriate school

Parent/Guardian notes can be submitted to excuse an absence up to five (5) times per semester (5 days).  A doctor’s note will be required to excuse subsequent absences through the end of the semester.  This rule will also apply to parent/guardian notes for student tardies and early check-outs. 

Students will be excused only under the following circumstances unless they have secured prior written permission from the principal or his/her designee.

• Personal illness or attendance in school endangers a student’s health or the health of others.

• A serious illness or death in a student’s immediate family necessitating absence from school.

• A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school.

• Observing religious holidays, necessitating absence from school.

• Conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety.

• A student whose parent or legal guardian is in the Us Armed Forces/National Guard, has been called to duty for, or is on leave from, overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat posting, will be granted up to five (5) excused absences per school year for the day(s) missed from school to visit with the parent or legal guardian prior to such deployment or during such leave.

• A foster care student who attends court proceedings relating to the student’s foster care shall be counted as present by the school and shall not be counted as an absence, either excused or unexcused, for any day, portion of the day, or days missed from school. 

Students may register to vote or vote in a public election within a specified time-period during the school day with written permission of the principal or his/her designee secured in advance.

An administrator must approve any other absence not explicitly defined herein but deemed by the PCSD to have merit based on circumstance in advance.

Hospital/Homebound Instruction

If a student is seriously ill or has incurred an injury that will necessitate lengthy (i.e. ten or more days) or intermittent absenteeism, the student may receive an extension of instructional services via application and satisfactory participation in the hospital/homebound instruction program or other arrangements approved by the principal or his/her designee. Hospital homebound services are not intended to supplant regular school services and are by design temporary.

Students who receive full-time hospital homebound status may not participate in school or work activities unless authorized by a medical professional.

Students Counted Present When

• present in a high school class for 45 minutes, or in attendance at an elementary, middle or junior high school for at least one-half (1/2) of the instructional day;

• serving as a Page of the Georgia General Assembly or Student Teen Election Participant (STEP);

• participating in activities or programs sponsored by 4-H (any day or portion of a day)

• assigned to in-school suspension;

• participating in a school-sponsored function;

• receiving hospital homebound services; or

• attending court as a foster care student.

Make-Up Assignments

Following a documented, excused absence, a student will be given time to make up work for full credit, reflective of the time needed for mastery.  Late work may be submitted with reasonable penalties, also reflective of time needed for mastery. Teachers may initiate the make-up assignments and require alternative assignments from students who have been absent. Grading policies will be established at the district and school levels under the direction of the administration, pursuant to O. C. G. A. § 20-2-929.20.

Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act

Section A1 of the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act applies to all minors who are at least 15 years of age and under the age of 18. When such a minor applies for a Georgia driver’s license or instructional permit, the applicant must present proof that he or she satisfies one of the following conditions as specified in O. C. G. A. § 40-5-22 (A1):

1. is enrolled in and not under expulsion from a public or private school; or

2. is enrolled in a home education program that satisfies the reporting requirements of all state laws governing such program.

NOTE: A student will lose their driver’s license or learner’s permit for one year due to a non-compliant violation. [O. C. G. A. § 40-5-22]

Non-Compliant Students Have

1. Dropped out of school and not enrolled in a public/private school, or homeschool program; or

2. Been found in violation by a hearing officer and/or administrative tribunal panel of one of the following offenses, has received a change in placement for committing one of the following offenses, or has waived his or her right to a hearing and pleaded guilty to one of the following offenses:

• Threatened, struck, or caused bodily harm to a teacher or other school personnel;

• Possessed or sold drugs or alcohol on school property or at a school-sponsored event;

• Possessed or used a weapon on school property or at a school-sponsored event (for purposes of this subparagraph, the term weapon shall be defined in accordance with O. C. G. A. § 16-11-127.1 but shall not include any part of an archaeological or cultural exhibit brought to school in connection with a school project);

• Committed any sexual offense prohibited under Chapter 6 of Title 16; or

• Caused substantial physical or visible bodily harm to or seriously disfiguring another person, including another student [O. C. G. A. § 40-5-22 (1.a)].

Notification and Monitoring

Parents or guardians are required to keep the school and Pickens County Schools Central Registration updated any time there is a change in a child’s residence or telephone number.  Central Registration can be reached at 706-253-1700. Emails and documents may also be sent to registration@pickenscountyschools.org. 

The principal or his /her designee will monitor student absences daily. Parents will be notified of excessive or unexcused absences, and such notice will be documented by the school. Parents/guardians and children who are age ten (10) years or older by September 1 are required by law to sign a statement indicating they have received a written statement of the possible consequences and penalties for violation of the state’s compulsory school attendance law (see page 8). If the parent/guardian does not respond following two (2) reasonable attempts of the school to secure such signature(s), the school will send a copy of the statement to the parent/guardian by mail. In the event parent excuses have been submitted to the school, please disregard the attendance notification letter.

1. Upon the fifth (5th) unexcused absence, a letter will be mailed to the parent/guardian. Additionally, a call will go out to parent/guardian, and a referral will be made to the school social worker. At this time, the Student Services Department will contact the parent/guardian to schedule an Attendance Support Team (AST) meeting. If the attempts to schedule an AST meeting are ignored, the parent will be referred to Magistrate Court.

2. Upon the sixth (6th) unexcused absence, a direct referral to court shall be made by the School Social Worker for breach of AST contract.

3. If a student continues to be truant or excessively absent, upon the tenth (10th) unexcused absence, the School Social Worker is authorized to make a truancy referral to Juvenile Court.

4. Upon the 15th unexcused absence, students may fail or be retained for the school year.

Late Check-ins / Early Check-outs / Tardies

A late check-in or early check-out is excused if a medical excuse is provided due to a medical appointment for the student, illness of the student while at school, or sudden serious illness or death of an immediate family member.  The excuse must be provided to the school the following day and/or an email sent to the student’s school attendance clerk.

Parent/Guardian notes can be submitted to excuse a late check-in or early check-out up to five (5) times per semester. Following this, a doctor’s note will be needed to excuse late check-ins or early check-outs through the end of the semester in order for them to be excused.

Kindergarten through Grade 8: 10 unexcused late check-ins / early check-outs will result in the equivalence to one (1) absence.  Each subsequent five (5) unexcused check-ins/check-outs will result in the equivalence to an additional unexcused absence.

Consequences Grades 9 -12 for unexcused late check-ins & early check-outs.  Unexcused late check-ins and early check-outs are combined.

• 7th unexcused check-in and/or check-out is one day after school detention.

• 10th unexcused check-in and/or check-out is one (1) day of ISS.

• 12th unexcused check-in and/or check-out is two (2) days of ISS.

• 15th unexcused check-in and/or check-out is three (3) days of ISS.

• Each subsequent unexcused check-in and/or check-out will result in additional consequences at the principal’s discretion.

Tardies while at school.  Tardies while students are at school can occur when students are not on time for their scheduled class or activity.  Students can accrue multiple tardies in a single school day. Tardies are separate and not combined with unexcused check-ins or check-outs. The consequences for tardies for grades 9-12 are as follows:

• 7th unexcused tardy is one day after school detention.

• 10th unexcused tardy is one (1) day of ISS.

• 12th unexcused tardy is two (2) days of ISS.

• 15th unexcused tardy is three (3) days of ISS.

Each subsequent unexcused tardy will result in additional consequences at the principal’s discretion.

Criteria for Withdrawing Students

For the purpose of accurately measuring the academic performance of students continuously enrolled in public schools, the PCSD adopts the following uniform criteria for withdrawing students.

1. Appropriate school personnel are authorized to withdraw a student who:

   • Has missed more than ten (10) consecutive days of unexcused absences;

   • Is not subject to compulsory school attendance; and

   • Is not receiving instructional services through homebound instruction or instructional services required by the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

2. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall use his or her best effort to notify the parent, guardian, or other person who has charge of a student if the school system plans to withdraw such student who is younger than 18 years of age and is not subject to compulsory school attendance.

3. Appropriate school personnel are authorized to withdraw a student subject to compulsory attendance if the superintendent or superintendent’s designee has determined the student is no longer a resident of the local system or is enrolled in a private school or home study program.

4. Appropriate school personnel shall withdraw students retroactive to the first day of the consecutive absences.

5. A minor who is older than the age of mandatory attendance (age 16 and in grades 6-12) who has not completed all requirements for a high school diploma and wishes to withdraw from school must have the written permission of his or her parent(s) or legal guardian prior to withdrawing. Prior to accepting such permission, the school principal or designee must hold an exit interview with the student and parent(s) or legal guardian within two days of receiving notice of the intent of student to withdraw from school. The principal or designee must make a reasonable attempt to meet with the student and parent to share the educational options available and the consequences of not having earned a high school diploma.