Students and Families

Student attendance laws require the following days present to receive credit, provided the student receives a passing grade in the course.

In a 45-day course, a student must be present 42 days. You can only have 3 absences.
In a 90-day course, a student must be present 85 days. You can only have 5 absences.
In a 180-day course, a student must be present 170 days. You can only have 10 absences.

Students who exceed the approved limits for unexcused absences do not receive credit in the course.

Any student who misses more than 45 minutes of a 90-minute class or more than 22 minutes of a 45-minute class will be counted absent in that class.

State law mandates that children 5-years old to 17-years old must attend school. The school year consists of 180 school days. The district considers students present only when they are actually at school, on home bound instruction, or present at a school activity authorized by the school.

 

If a student is absent, he/she must present a written excuse signed by a parent, guardian, physician or other appropriate person—within three days after returning to school. The excuse must include the date the excuse is written, date of the absence, reason for the absence, telephone number where the parent/guardian may be reached, and the required signature.

The following guidelines apply for medical excuses:

• Original excuses must be submitted;
• No photocopies will be accepted;
• Faxes will be accepted from the doctor’s office only.

Excused Absences
The district gives excused absences with provided and approved documentation for:

• ill students whose attendance in school endangers their health or the health of others, as determined by a doctor or the school nurse
• chronically ill or students who have an extended illness, with a called in excuse from a doctor – this requires a letter on file from a doctor stating the student has a chronic illness
• students who must keep medical or dental appointments, must turn in medical note to be excused.
• students whose immediate family member dies, (In the case of a death in the immediate family, the student must turn in an obituary or funeral announcement as well as a note from parent/guardian within 3 days).
• students who get permission, prior to a school-sponsored or school-approved event/activity, unusual or mitigating circumstances as determined by the school principal.

If you have any questions, please contact the Attendance Office at 803-821-5258.