[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 45, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 45CFR1305.8]



[Page 150]

 

                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE

 

CHAPTER XIII--OFFICE OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 

                           AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

PART 1305_ELIGIBILITY, RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE 

IN HEAD START--Table of Contents

 

Sec. 1305.8  Attendance.



    (a) When the monthly average daily attendance rate in a center-based 

program falls below 85 percent, a Head Start program must analyze the 

causes of absenteeism. The analysis must include a study of the pattern 

of absences for each child, including the reasons for absences as well 

as the number of absences that occur on consecutive days.

    (b) If the absences are a result of illness or if they are well 

documented absences for other reasons, no special action is required. 

If, however, the absences result from other factors, including temporary 

family problems that affect a child's regular attendance, the program 

must initiate appropriate family support procedures for all children 

with four or more consecutive unexcused absences. These procedures must 

include home visits or other direct contact with the child's parents. 

Contacts with the family must emphasize the benefits of regular 

attendance, while at the same time remaining sensitive to any special 

family circumstances influencing attendance patterns. All contacts with 

the child's family as well as special family support service activities 

provided by program staff must be documented.

    (c) In circumstances where chronic absenteeism persists and it does 

not seem feasible to include the child in either the same or a different 

program option, the child's slot must be considered an enrollment 

vacancy.