Attendance: It Counts

Attendance - It Counts!

Attendance Policy

School employees must investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance law. A student absent without permission from school; from any class; from required special programs, such as additional special instruction, termed “accelerated instruction” by the state; or from required tutorials will be considered in violation of the compulsory attendance law and subject to disciplinary action.

A court of law may also impose penalties against both the student and his or her parents if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. A complaint against the parent may be filed in court if the student:

Is absent on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period or ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year.

Documentation of an Absence

When a student is absent from school, the student—upon returning to school—must bring a note, signed by the parent that describes the reason for the absence. If an absence was due to a medical appointment, always bring a note from a doctor or health clinic. Please note that, unless the absence is for a statutorily allowed reason under compulsory attendance laws, the district is not required to excuse any absence. Should a student develop a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s absence from school in order to determine whether the absence or absences will be excused or unexcused.

 

Thanks for making school attendance a priority in your household.