As with all school and their education systems, there are tardy policies put into place for students. The tardy policies at Collierville High School state how three unexcused tardies in one course is equal to one unexcused absence which are one of the requirements for students to be exempt from taking their final exams.
CHS does permit that there be four free tardies per quarter, after which accumulated unexcused tardies lead to disciplinary action and potential loss of privileges. If there happen to be unexcused tardies from students, it will affect their driving privileges, since 5 unexcused tardies to school per semester will result in the student having to forfeit their parking pass if they can’t get themselves to school on time. If there happen to be multiple excessive tardies, specifically reaching 10, this will result in a loss of privileges, such as parking, as part of the system to enforce attendance, discipline, and campus safety.
However, there are certain examples from getting issued a tardy. One notable example is if you’re a bus rider as the school understand that the buses can run late, which does end up happening multiple times over the course of the school year. First, if you’re at a medical appointment before you arrive at school, you can get a medical note that you can give to the attendance office when you arrive so that the tardy won’t be counted against you as a reason for being late. Second, if you are a member of a club or organization that represents CHS and goes on competitions, special events, and field trips, you are excused for that due to them usually being out of state and taking course over the duration of a few days or more due to how necessary these events are. Finally, if there are any family emergencies that happen out of the student’s control, they are excused as it is a serious situation that would require students to take time off to focus on what they need to.
Some students have commented on how they dislike the in-place tardy policies, noting how the tardy system is both strict and confusing, with others saying how the detentions are given very quickly but aren’t effectively enforced and that communication with school staff is lacking in some areas. While staff and teachers are more understanding of why the tardy policy has severe consequences, there has been mixed feedback regarding the consistency of enforcing tardy policies with many noting that students often avoid consequences for repeated tardiness, leading to a desire for a more centralized, strict approach. Overall, the tardy policies at CHS are something that can be approved on, so that students aren’t feeling pressured to make it school at a good time so that they don’t receive any severe consequences and so that the staff doesn’t need to feel like the policies aren’t enforcing the rules effectively and that students can get punished if they keep repeatedly avoiding tardies.
