Attendance

(Refer to Board Policy JB and JBD) 

Parents shall notify the school when the student must be absent from school. Please REPORT THE ABSENCE BY 8:30 a.m. to the school office. Reasonable attempts to contact the parent will be made by the school or designee if a parent or guardian fails to notify the office of the absence or tardy. Schools that use automated calling will begin calling unreported absences soon after attendance has been taken. 

Excused/Unexcused Absences

The definition of “excused absence” includes the following:

○ Personal illness;

○ Health-related treatment, examination, or recuperation;

○ Serious illness or death of a member of the family; ○ Obligatory religious observances;

○ Participation in a district-approved or school sponsored activity or course;

○ Absences prearranged by parents and approved by the principal or designee; and

○ Students of active duty military personnel may have additional excused absences at the discretion of the principal for visitations relative to leave or deployment.

All absences which do not fit into one of the above categories would be considered an unexcused absence. A student serving a period of suspension or expulsion from the district shall not be considered inexcusably absent.

An absence of two or more hours in any school day shall be considered an absence for a significant part of the school day.

In the event a child is absent for more than 3 consecutive days or for more than 10 days cumulative in a year, the school may require a note from a doctor verifying the need for these or any additional absences. School representatives will consult with parents of students with poor attendance records. If school attendance does not improve, appropriate authorities will be notified of the attendance concern. 

Any unexcused absence from school is a violation of school policy/expectations. Students who miss more than twenty (20) days (excused or unexcused) during the school year may be required to: 

● show significant progress toward mastery of grade level skills in reading and/or math; OR ● be considered for retention if the student is not performing at grade level. 

Students absent for two weeks or more because of illness or injury may be eligible for home-bound instruction. Parents should contact the school to make these arrangements.