Every School Day Counts: The Forum Guide to Collecting and Using Attendance Data

NCES 2009-804
February 2009

Category 1: Attending/Present

Definition of Attending/Present:
A student is "present" if attending an instructional program approved by the state and/or school.

Category 1 includes students who are "attending" or "present." A student is present if attending an instructional program that has been approved by the school and/or state. This definition means that school, district, or state personnel have deemed the activity to be part of the student's educational program. It encompasses learning that takes place in a variety of settings outside of the classroom, if such placement has been recognized as part of the student's approved educational program.

CATEGORY 1A:	Present–In school, regular instructional program The student is in class. This includes attendance at sites other than the school of record if the site is part of the student's regular instructional program approved by the school and/or state. Examples of other sites are institutions of higher education, vocational/technical centers, and special education centers.
CATEGORY 1B:	Present–Nontraditional school setting, regular instructional program The student is engaged in his or her regular instructional program in a nontraditional school setting. Examples include hospital- or homebound instruction, as well as off-campus distance education.
CATEGORY 1C:	Present–Disciplinary action, receiving instruction The student has been removed from the regular instructional setting for disciplinary reasons and is receiving instruction. In-school suspension typically falls within this category, but it also includes out-of-school suspension if instructional services are provided.
CATEGORY 1D:	Present–Out of school, regular instructional program activity The student is involved in an activity outside of school that is part of his or her regular instructional program, such as a field trip or work-study. The student is under the direct supervision of school personnel or someone who has been designated to act in place of school personnel.
CATEGORY 1E:	Present–Out of school, school-approved extracurricular or cocurricular activity The student is outside of school, participating in instruction that is related to, but not part of, the regular curriculum. Examples include school-approved extracurricular or cocurricular activities, such as a debate, an athletic competition, or a conference that has educational value.

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