The Board shall not tolerate truancy or the habitual and unlawful absence of students from school. The parent or legal guardian is responsible for requiring any student under his/her control or charge and under seventeen (17) years of age to attend school regularly except for legal absences as defined by Alabama School law and State Board of Education rules and regulations. If a student under seventeen (17) years of age becomes a truant, the parent or legal guardian of said student may be guilty of a misdemeanor before a court of competent jurisdiction and subject to punishment by law.  

If the parent or guardian files a written statement in court to the effect that he is unable to control such student, the student may then be subject to action of the juvenile court which will determine whether said student is a dependent, neglected, or delinquent child.

Truancy is defined as a student's unexcused absence from a class or from school without the knowledge or consent of the parents/llegal guardians. 

Procedure:

I. First offense - On the first offense of truancy during any given school year the student will be assigned to 3 hours of after-school detention at his/her school site. The parentsllegal guardians shall be notified of the detention and informed of the consequences should there be a subsequent truancy.

II. Second offense - A. For junior high school students the second offense of truancy during any given school year shall result in the stUdent's assignment to I.S.S. (in-school suspension) for 3 days at their school site. Written notification will be provided to the parentsllegal guardians and to the juvenile court. Prior to the student's return to class the student's parentsllegal guardians shall be required to meet with a member of the school's administrative staff in order to be informed of consequences should there be subsequent incidences of truancy. 

B. For high school students the second offense of truancy during any given school year shall result in the student's assignment to T.A.P. (temporary alternative placement) for 3 days at Enterprise High School. Written notification will be provided to the parentsllegal guardians and to the juvenile court. Prior to the student's return to class the student's parentsllegal guardians shall be required to meet with a member of the school's administrative staff to be informed of consequences should there be subsequent incidences of truancy. 

III. Third offense- A. For junior high school students the third offense of truancy during any given school year shall result in the student's assignment to I.S.S. (in-school suspension) for 5 days at their school site. Written notification will be provided to the parentsllegal guardians and to the juvenile court. Prior to the student's return to class the student's parents/legal guardians shall be required to meet with a member of the school's administrative staff at which time they will be informed that a subsequent truancy may lead to recommendation for expulsion from school and/or action by the juvenile court. 

B. For high school students the third offense of truancy during any given school year shall result in the student's assignment to T.A.P. (temporary alternative placement) for 5 days. Written notification will be provided to the parents/legal guardians and to the juvenile court. Prior to the student's return to class the student's parentsllegal guardians shall be required to meet with a member of the school's administrative staff at which time they will be informed that a subsequent truancy may lead to recommendation for expulsion from school and/or action by the juvenile court.

IV. A junior high school or high school student who has been truant for more than three times during any given school year shall be assigned to T.A.P. (temporary alternative placement) for a minimum of 45 school days and/or may be recommended for expulsion from school and/or action by the juvenile court.