The Lake Wales Charter Schools Board on Nov. 17 adopted a systemwide attendance policy intended to standardize how schools record attendance and intervene when students miss instruction.

Marsha Rose, who introduced the draft, said the policy sets a 180-instructional-day expectation and distinguishes excused from unexcused absences with clear documentation requirements. The policy pairs procedural flowcharts for staff and families and outlines a tiered intervention model that escalates from early identification and supports to home visits, community-provider referrals and potential involvements defined by statute (including DJJ for habitual truancy where applicable).

Trustees and district staff praised the flowcharts as user-friendly tools for parents and teachers. Rose said the policy replaces defaulting to the sponsor district’s attendance rules and ensures legal compliance and consistent practices across all charter campuses.

The board approved the attendance policy by roll-call vote. Administrators will implement the flowcharts across campuses and monitor habitual truancy cases for timely interventions.