Attendance

The Murfreesboro City Board of Education believes that regular school attendance is essential for student success. Every child should actively participate in the school program, and students are expected to attend every day that school is in session.

Daily Absence Notifications

Parents/guardians will receive an automated phone call each day their child is absent from school.

Excused Absences and Required Documentation

To ensure accurate attendance records, it is highly recommended that written documentation should be submitted to the attendance secretary via DOJO or email.

Absences are categorized as excused or unexcused as determined by the principal or designee. Excused absences include those recognized by the State Board of Education and state law:

1. Personal illness/injury (documentation from a medical provider if student’s parent or guardian has exceeded the number of excusal notes as outlined above.);
2. Illness of immediate family member;
3. Death in the family (a copy of the obituary, service program, or other documentation);
4. Extreme weather conditions;
5. Religious observances and holidays (a statement from the spiritual leader recognized by the given religious group stating that the day is set aside as sacred by a recognized religious denomination of which the student is a member, where such religion calls for special observances of the day.);
6. School-endorsed or school-sponsored activities;
7. Summons, subpoena, or court order (Summons, subpoena, or court orders: Documented verification from the summons, subpoena, or court order obtained from the Court Clerk’s Office.); or
8. Circumstances which in the judgment of the principal create emergencies over which the family and/or student has no control.

All other absences will be considered unexcused unless they meet the criteria above.

The district reserves the right to verify attendance documentation. Fraudulent documentation will result in the absences being marked as unexcused.

Parent Notes

Within five days of a student returning from an absence, a parent/guardian may submit written documentation excusing up to 10 school days per year. Each note can excuse absences on a per-day basis, up to the 10-day limit. Once this limit is reached, formal documentation will be required.

Parent/guardian notes must include:

• • Reason for the absence
• • Date(s) of the absence(s)
• • Parent/guardian signature
• • Contact phone number

Written documentation must be submitted within five (5) school days of the student’s return. Verbal notification does not replace the requirement for written documentation. If documentation is not submitted within this timeframe, the absences will be permanently unexcused.

Truancy Enforcement

Tennessee state law requires that all children attend school every day unless they have a valid excuse as outlined above. Our primary goal is to support students and their families.

What Happens If a Student Has Too Many Unexcused Absences? Murfreesboro City Schools follows a Progressive Truancy Intervention Plan, which includes three levels (Tiers) of support for students who are missing school.

Tier I – Early Support: This includes general reminders, schoolwide attendance expectations, and communication to help families stay on track with attendance.

Tier II – Attendance Contracts: If a student reaches 5 unexcused absences, the school will:
Meet with the student and parent/guardian
Create an attendance contract
Identify any barriers to attendance
Offer support

Tier III – Truancy Diversion Board: When school-level interventions are not successful, we move to Tier III for centralized support. At this stage, a Truancy Diversion Board meeting is held as a final effort to engage and support families, provide resources, and address barriers to attendance. If unexcused absences continue, a parent warrant may be filed with juvenile services.

Potential Legal Consequences: If a family refuses to participate in truancy intervention or the student continues to miss school:

• • The district may refer the case to Rutherford County Juvenile Court
• • Parents/guardians could be charged with educational neglect (Class C misdemeanor)
• • Each unexcused absence may be considered a separate offense

For detailed information on truancy enforcement, please refer to:

• • Board Policy 6.200 (Attendance)
• • Administrative Directive 6.200.1 Truancy Intervention Procedures
• • T.C.A. 49-6-3007 – Attendance & truancy reporting, compulsory attendance enforcement
• • T.C.A. 49-6-3009 – Educational neglect, progressive truancy intervention plans, and juvenile court referrals

Note: Families are required to view the MCS Tier III Truancy Intervention Slides before attending a Truancy Diversion Board meeting. (Download the MCS Tier III Truancy Intervention Slides)

For questions, please contact your school’s attendance office or the district’s truancy coordinator, Ken Rocha, for help or more information.