12 NCAC 09B .0404          TRAINEE ATTENDANCE

(a)  Each trainee enrolled in a Commission-accredited Basic Law Enforcement Training Course shall attend all class sessions. The school director shall monitor the trainee's attendance at criminal justice training courses in which the trainee is enrolled.

(b)  The school director may excuse a trainee from attendance at specific class sessions for just cause. For purposes of this Rule, just cause means accident, illness, emergency, or other circumstances which precluded the trainee from attending a class session. However, in no case may excused or unexcused absences exceed five percent of the total class hours for the course offering. A trainee shall not be eligible for administration of the State comprehensive examination and shall be dismissed from the course if the cumulative total of class absences exceeds five percent regardless of the prior completion of make-up work.

(c)  If the school director grants an excused absence from a class session, he or she shall schedule make-up work and ensure the completion of such work during the current course presentation. The school director shall schedule instructors and reimburse those instructors for the purpose of completion of the make-up work. Make-up work shall consist of an in-person, one-hour instruction period for each hour of missed training, in the lesson plan where the missing training occurred, and shall be taught by an instructor certified to teach that block of instruction. Make-up work shall be documented on the F-26 BLET Student Absence/Make Up Training Report. The F-26 BLET Student Absence/Make Up Training Report shall contain the following:

(1)           school/Academy Name;

(2)           class Name;

(3)           student name and ACADIS ID number;

(4)           course topic, date, and hours missed;

(5)           reason for missed time;

(6)           student and School Director signatures;

(7)           course topic and hours made up; and

(8)           instructor name and signature.

(d)  If the Governor declares a State of Emergency pursuant to G.S. 166A-19.3(19), the Director of the Criminal Justice Standards Division shall allow additional breaks in instruction for an individual trainee in a specific course delivery, not to exceed 90 hours, when the Director determines that doing so is necessary based on consideration of the following factors:

(1)           Whether instruction has begun in the course or whether course initiation may be postponed;

(2)           The risk of harm to students that may be caused by continuation of the course;

(3)           Whether those enrolled in the course have been or will likely be called to action to help address the State of Emergency;

(4)           The specific need for the waiver; and

(5)           The degree of benefit to the public in allowing a break in instruction.

Notice of waivers granted pursuant to this Section shall be posted on the CJETS website at https://ncdoj.gov/law- enforcement-training/criminal-justice/. The waivers granted pursuant to this Section shall only apply to courses that began during the effective period of the State of Emergency.

(e)  The School Director shall provide the following information to the Director of the Criminal Justice Standards Division for consideration of a waiver under Paragraph (d) of this Rule:

(1)           a memorandum justifying the absence waiver;

(2)           specific documentation related to the trainee's request; and

(3)           a training completion plan pursuant to Paragraph (c) of this Rule.

(f)  A school director shall terminate a trainee from course participation or shall deny certification of successful course completion where the trainee is tardy to or departs early from four class meetings or field exercises.

(g)  Where a trainee is enrolled in a program as required in 12 NCAC 09B .0212, .0213, .0214, .0215, .0218, .0219, .0220, .0221, .0222, .0237, .0238, .0239, or .0240, and the scheduled course hours exceed the requirements of the Commission, the trainee, upon the authorization of the school director, shall be deemed to have satisfactorily completed the required number of hours for attendance provided the trainee's attendance is not less than 100 percent of the instructional hours as required by the Commission.

(h)  A trainee enrolled in a presentation of the "Criminal Justice Instructor Training Course" under Rule .0209 of this Subchapter shall not be absent from class attendance for more than 10 percent of the total scheduled delivery period in order to receive successful course completion.

(i)  A trainee, enrolled in a presentation of the "Specialized Firearms Instructor Training" course under Rule .0226 of this Subchapter, the "Specialized Driver Instructor Training" course under Rule .0227 of this Subchapter, the "Specialized Compliance and Control Tactics Instructor Training" course under Rule .0232 of this Subchapter, the "Specialized Physical Fitness Instructor Training" course under Rule .0233 of this Subchapter, the "Specialized Explosives and Hazardous Materials Emergencies Instructor Training" course under Rule .0417 of this Subchapter, or the "Juvenile Justice Specialized Instructor Training – Restraints, Controls and Defensive Techniques" course under Rule .0241 of this Subchapter shall not be absent from class attendance for more than 10 percent of the total scheduled delivery period in order to receive successful course completion. Make-up work must be completed during the current course presentation for all absenteeism. Make-up work shall consist of an in-person, one-hour instruction period for each hour of missed training, in the lesson plan where the missing training occurred, and shall be taught by an instructor certified to teach that block of instruction.

(j)  Where a trainee is enrolled in a program as required in 12 NCAC 09B .0209, .0226, .0227, .0232, .0233, or .0417, the Director of the Criminal Justice Standards Division shall grant a waiver for completion of course requirements in a course delivery scheduled within 12 months, for just cause based upon the circumstances that created the need for the absence. For the purposes of this Rule, "just cause" includes an accident, illness, emergency, or course cancellation that precluded the student from completing the entire course in one continuous course delivery.

(k)  A trainee, enrolled in a presentation of the "RADAR Instructor Training Course" under Rule .0210 of this Subchapter, the "Time-Distance Instructor Training Course" under Rule .0211 of this Subchapter, or the "LIDAR Instructor Training Course" under Rule .0237 of this Subchapter shall not be absent from class attendance for more than 10 percent of the total scheduled delivery period in order to receive successful course completion. Make-up work must be completed during the current course presentation for all absenteeism. Make-up work shall consist of an in-person, one-hour instruction period for each hour of missed training, in the lesson plan where the missing training occurred, and shall be taught by an instructor certified to teach that block of instruction.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 17C-6; 17C-10;

Eff. January 1, 1981;

Amended Eff. November 1, 1981;

Readopted Eff. July 1, 1982;

Amended Eff. February 1, 2006; May 1, 2004; August 1, 2000; April 1, 1999; November 1, 1993;

July 1, 1989; February 1, 1987; June 1, 1986;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. May 25, 2019;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2025; April 1, 2022; August 1, 2021.