Excused and Unexcused Absences

Student Attendance Policy

Student attendance is a cooperative effort and the school board involves parents and students in accepting the responsibility for good attendance.


Each parent/guardian or person having control or charge of a child within the compulsory attendance age is responsible for such child's regular and punctual attendance at school as required under provisions of the law.


Parents of students who are absent must inform the school of the reason for the absence within 24 hours of the student’s absence. Absences are excused for the following reasons:


  1. illness

  2. medical procedures

  3. legal obligations

  4. death in the family

  5. religious holidays

  6. extenuating circumstances determined by the school administration

  7. for middle and high school students, one school day per school year to engage in a civic event


The principal, principal’s designee, or other school personnel may implement a plan of attendance improvement upon a student’s tenth (10th) absence, whether excused or unexcused, including, but not limited to, the requirement to provide a note from a professional (e.g. doctor, lawyer) no later than the student’s return to school.


Attendance Reporting

Student attendance is monitored and reported as required by state law and regulations. At the end of each school year, each public school principal reports to the superintendent the number of students by grade level for whom a conference was scheduled pursuant to Policy JED Student Absences/Excuses/Dismissals/Truancy Procedures. The superintendent compiles this information and provides it annually to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Dismissal Precautions

Principals do not release a student during the school day to any person not authorized by the student's parent/guardian to assume responsibility for the student. Students are released only on request and authorization of parent or guardian. The superintendent establishes procedures for release of students who are not residing with or under the supervision of a parent/guardian. The burden of proof on the authority of the person to receive the student is on the requesting party. A formal check‑out system is maintained in each school.


Interventions for Partial-Day Unexcused Absences

Each parent/guardian or person having control or charge of a child within the compulsory attendance age is responsible for such child's regular and punctual attendance as required under provisions of the law. To remain successful, there is an expectation that students will attend school all day, every day. Students who engage in a pattern of partial-day absences for reasons that would not be excused if the absences were for a full day may be subject to the following interventions in an effort to improve full-day attendance.

  1. Teachers take attendance daily in every class and log each absence.

  2. Teachers contact the parent if poor attendance is affecting a student’s growth and document each contact.

  3. Teachers contact a parent once a pattern of unexcused absences is established and alert the principal, principal’s designee or the attendance secretary and the school counselor.

  4. School counselors may provide support to those students who engage in a pattern of unexcused absences.

  5. Students, who engage in a pattern of unexcused absences, may be counseled by the principal or principal’s designee.


Make-Up Work

Students are responsible for initiating the completion of make-up work upon return to school. Because regular attendance at school is directly related to academic success, the following requirements are set forth:

  1. To receive credit for a class, a student with more than five absences in a semester must complete all requirements set forth by the teacher in a timeline defined by the teacher, not to exceed 10 days after the marking period.

  2. The parent may appeal to the principal for a review of any failing grade set forth by a teacher due to student absences. A parent or student who wishes to request a review must notify the principal of the appropriate school within five business days after receipt of notification of failure of a subject(s) because of missed work during absences.