Glacier and Flathead high school 2014-15 handbooks will reflect a new attendance incentive in the form of academic “catch-up” days.

Academic catch-up days are scheduled Oct. 10, Dec. 12 and March 6, with dates subject to change.

During academic catch-up days, eligible students are not required to attend school. Eligible students must have grades of 70 percent or higher in all classes, no unexcused absences and a clean discipline record.

Students who are not eligible must attend school.

Catch-up days will basically be designed to let students catch up on schoolwork and receive extra tutoring or additional lab time. 

The new incentive comes after both high schools decided to discontinue the practice of allowing students to opt out of final exams based on attendance.

The reasoning behind the change is that students would be better served taking final exams in preparation for college.

Flathead seniors in their seventh or eighth semesters will still be able to opt out of finals if they earn a 90 percent, or above, semester average in classes. 

Flathead Principal Peter Fusaro said the goal is to motivate seniors to finish out their final months of high school strongly and avoid the “senior slide.”

“We hope to keep them focused,” Fusaro said. “The biggest thing is that we’re trying to get them college- and career-ready.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com