Student Attendance and Evaluation

The WRCC is committed to industry recognized credentials, certification and placement upon graduation and completion of occupational training. Towards that end, all students should be aware of the importance of regular school attendance. When a student is absent from WRCC (whether avoidable or unavoidable circumstances may exist) they will not receive either academic or shop hour credit for the time missed. Students involved in the any Career Center program, as well as the full day students in YCAP all fall under the WRCC attendance policies. Therefore loss of credit and/or failure of course work can be achieved through excessive absences. Students and parents are advised to review the home school Parent and Student Handbook for full explanation of the home school policies and how they apply to your attendance in WRCC programs.

A failure or loss of credit in two or more academic classes, or a failure or loss of credit in the student's Career Center program will seriously impact a students' ability to attend the WRCC programs the following year.

All students who have been absent must, upon their return, present to their WRCC Instructor a reason for the absence written by a parent or guardian within two school days using the WRCC Absence Reporting Form. If a student is absent five (5) consecutive days, a physician's certificate of good health may be required before readmission to the school will be permitted.

Authorization for Note Writing

Merely reaching the age of eighteen does not automatically give a student permission to write absence, tardiness or dismissal notes. Students who are eighteen may submit written dismissal requests solely for business or personal reasons that cannot be completed during or after school hours. In the case of students living with a parent/legal guardian, the school will contact the parent/legal guardian to confirm the request. Unsubstantiated requests to leave will not be granted.

Experience has shown that parents, guardians, and high school administration wish to know when students are not present at the Center. Therefore, all parents or guardians must write a note acknowledging that the student was absent or is tardy, or is to be dismissed, for a specific and unavoidable reason. Students will not be dismissed without parent acknowledgment and home high school notification. Notes for dismissal must be presented in the office before school begins.

Excused or Planned Absences

The following documented activities may be considered valid excuses for an absence: school-directed activity, college visit, military field trip, and court-ordered appearances. If a student intends to be absent for a documented and valid reason, that absence must be approved in advance by the WRCC administration. Students must submit the "Student Planned Absence Form" to the WRCC administration, for approval by the Director/Assistant Director at least five (5) school days before the absence is to occur. If no form is filed within the above time frame, the absence will be regarded and handled as an unexcused absence.

Unexcused Absences

Workplace competencies and the sequential nature of career and technical instruction necessitate the best possible attendance by all students. Any absence that is not documented and verifiable will be considered an unexcused absence. Students who are present at their home school, but are absent from WRCC on the same day will be considered cutting a WRCC Class unless documentation indicates otherwise. All home schools have a policy whereby denial of course credit is invoked once a student has exceeded a specific number of absences.

Any student who is absent from a full year course for 16 or more days or half year course for 8 or more days will not receive any credit for that course. The attendance status of students who are losing or in jeopardy of losing credit due to absences will be communicated to the students via WRCC attendance reporting forms and letters produced by the program instructor every 4 to 5 weeks with mid-term progress reports and quarterly report card notations.

Students who have lost, or predict that they will lose course credit because of failure to maintain the necessary attendance requirements and have unusual or extenuating circumstances causing the absence, (i.e., long-term illness, hospitalization, etc.), may request in writing (appeal) to their home high school administration and the Director/Assistant Director, a waiver of the policy.

Career and Technical Shop Hours and Attendance

State regulations concerning career and technical education and the length of school day require that WRCC students attend and participate in the technical program area of their educational program approximately 350 hours per school year for half day programs and 700 hours for full day programs. Students that are absent for any reason will not earn shop hour credit.

Students demonstrating competency as documented on their Individual Competency Progress Record will receive a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency as approved by the Vermont Department of Education (pending). Students with less than 80% of their hours completed may receive a Certificate of Completion. Students that fail the course will not receive a shop hour completion certificate of any kind.

Students who have not completed a minimum of 280 hours (80%) during any one year for a half day program and 560 hours for a full day program may be required to complete the missed hours for that year in order to earn full credit. Students who have not completed all shop hours for the school year but still receive a promotion should make arrangements to complete those hours in order to receive a Trade Certificate upon graduation or completion of their technical training.

Only approved hours may be used for completion of the shop hours required during the school year. This time includes Project Based Learning as well as Activities associated with Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO's). They must be approved in advance by the Director/Assistant Director and the instructor. Assignments consisting of simply reading or written work will not be acceptable. Shop hours may only be completed through one or more of the following approved procedures:

• Open House and Tour Guide Responsibilities
  
  
• Career Expo Activities
  
  
• Recruitment and Special Programs
  
  
• Career and Technical Student Organizations
  
  
• CTE off-site programs including field trips that are directly related to the occupational learning.
  
  
• End of Senior Year Project (maximum 50 hours available)
  The completion of a student's hours must take place in the shop setting with an approved instructor, except where approved prior arrangements have been made through the Director/Assistant Director.

Attendance and Student Evaluation

Career and technical education, by its nature, does not lend itself to "make-up work" as defined by most member academic high schools. There is no substitute for actively engaged, competency-based, hands-on student participation. It is therefore impossible to effectively evaluate student competency gain if the student is not present and this may be reflected in the grade a student receives. Students who for documented reasons have missed work must make arrangements with specified time lines for make up through the Guidance Office and the Instructor.

The following guidelines will be employed in all programs as is appropriate:

• An excused absence should not detract from a student's ability to achieve a passing grade in most cases although all students are required to make proper arrangements to make up for all missed work and to complete that work within the timeframes arranged with the instructor.
  
  
• A student that fails to attend class or shop without a valid excuse will receive a failing grade (zero) for the day and will not be allowed to be made up.
  
  
• Students who cut class/shop will not be allowed to make-up the work missed.