GNC.5.2.010 General Definitions
Any term not defined in this section shall be given its ordinary meaning. The following terms, wherever used in this ordinance, shall be construed to apply as follows, except where the context indicates otherwise:
(a) "Truant" is understood by this ordinance to mean any enrolled person who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of any day on which school is held during a school semester. Acceptable excuses are the following:
(1) Excused by the school for temporary physical or mental condition that impairs school attendance. Any request by a parent or guardian to excuse a person under this subsection for more than ten days, cumulative, in any one semester must be accompanied by a written note from a physician or other appropriate professional care-giver justifying the absence.
(2) Written permission of up to ten days per semester for absence by parent or guardian prior to absence, and
(3) Verified instruction in home-based educational program.
(4) Students who have reached their 18th birthdays are permitted to originate their own excuse for an absence only if they are not living with their parents/guardians or the parent/guardian has provided permission for the student to originate their own excuse in writing. The student is still bound by the same set of acceptable reasons in (a)(1).
(b) "Habitual Truant" means any enrolled pupil who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse under the previous subsection for part or all of 5 or more days on which school is held during a school semester.
(c) "Dropout" means a person 18 years or younger who ceased to attend school, does not attend a public or private school, technical college or home-based private educational program on a full-time basis, has not graduated from high school and does not have an acceptable excuse under Section GNC.5.3.030(a) of this ordinance.
(d) "School Age Person" is any person enrolled in school from the age of five years old through the age of 18 or until high school graduation. When a student turns 18 they are still subject to all school policies until the end of the current school year.