As a student in Proviso West, I am personally affected by the current school policy that blocks students from entering class if they are not present within the first 10 minutes of first period. This policy is not only hindering our education but also preventing us from reaching our full potential. 

The issue at hand is not about tardiness; it's about access to education. The current system punishes students by denying them an entire lesson for being slightly late, which can be due to unavoidable circumstances such as traffic or health issues as well as our school buses arriving routingly late. It's crucial to note that every minute of classroom instruction matters - according to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), missing just 15 minutes of instruction time can significantly impact a student's performance.

Instead of barring students from classrooms after 10 minutes have passed, we propose that security guards patrol the halls and ensure latecomers enter their classes quietly and with minimal disruption. This approach will ensure all students have access to their full learning time while maintaining order in our schools.

We believe this change will promote fairness and inclusivity in our educational environment while also ensuring each student has every opportunity possible to reach their academic goals.

Please sign this petition if you agree that it's time for change in Proviso schools' late entry policy.