• Alabama state law requires that students are present during school hours. Parents will be notified of student absences by an automated email and by written notification according to the following guidelines:

    • An automated email will be sent after each absence, and a letter will be sent home after a student has accumulated five unexcused absences.
    • After the seventh unexcused absence, a petition will be filed by the system's attendance office to the District Attorney's office. 

    All parent and doctor notes for absences should be sent to the following email: jmsattendance@madisoncity.k12.al.us. You will get an email notification that your note was received. Teachers will not accept messages via email, text, or other means. As a reminder, in secondary schools, students are allowed to be excused on a parent's note five days per semester. If the school needs clarification on a message, you may be asked to bring an original copy of the doctor's note to the school.

    If a child is absent for more than 18 days, whether the absences are excused or unexcused, the Alabama State Department of Education considers them chronically absent. Points are taken away from the school on the A-F Accountability Report Card for EACH child who has 18 absences or more each school year, no matter the reason for the excuse. 

    The school administration monitors tardies. It is essential that your child is present at the beginning of the school day, and instruction begins at 8:15 a.m.