Attendance and Truancy

Students must be in school in order to learn, grow, and achieve academically. Additionally, school attendance is required for all students until they are 18 years old or they have successfully achieved the requirements to graduate high school. Although the expectation is for students to be in school, there are allowable reasons for a student to be absent.

Excused Absences include:

• Physical or mental condition
• Obtaining religious instruction
• Permission of Parent/Guardian for necessary appointments, to attend a funeral, legal proceedings that require the student's presence, college visits, job fairs, and vacations)
• Religious holiday
• Suspension or Expulsion

Help your child understand the importance of being in school:

• Set Expectations
  • Show your child that school is important! Ask your child about their day and school work.
  • Make it a priority for your child to attend school each day. Consistent daily school attendance helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Establishing a school routine teaches students that going to school and being on time is necessary for their academic and social success.
  • Understand classroom and district policies regarding missed work when your child is absent
• Make a Plan
  • Plan vacations during school breaks
  • Set a routine for leaving the house on time so your child is not late. 
    • Being late 10 minutes each day could result in 30 hours of lost learning time during a school year.
    • Missing just 2 days a month means a child misses 10% of the school year.
  • Tardiness and early dismissal constitute being absent for part of a school day.
  • All absences added together should equal 10 days or less per year
  • Schedule appointments after school hours, when possible. Bring your child back to school after their appointment, if there are still hours left in the school day
  • If an absence is unavoidable, let the school know ahead of time so staff can gather assignments your child needs to complete to stay caught up
• Communicate with the School
  • Call the school/submit the absence through Skyward when your child is absent
  • Bring a note from the doctor, if your child had an appointment during the school day
• Partner with the School
  • Reach out to the school if there are obstacles impacting your child’s attendance