Attendance

Regular school attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students, and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of the student. The purpose of School Board Policy 503 is to encourage regular school attendance and is intended to be positive and not punitive.

To be considered an excused absence, the student’s parent or legal guardian may be asked to verify, in writing, email or phone call, the reason for the student’s absence from school. A note from a physician or a licensed mental health professional stating that the student cannot attend school is a valid excuse. Excuses must be received within two (2) business days or they will be recorded as unexcused absences.

A parent or guardian may clear a total of 12 excused absences per school year while school is in session. Subsequent clearances for illnesses require verification by a valid health care professional or administrative approval. Student attendance will be monitored to detect patterns of excessive excused absences so that appropriate intervention takes place. A school reserves the right to accept or deny any request for an excused absence.

The following are examples which will be excused:
Illness.

• Serious illness in the student’s immediate family.
• A death or funeral in the student’s immediate family or of a close friend or relative.
• Medical, dental, or orthodontic treatment, or a counseling appointment.
• Court appearances occasioned by family or personal action.
• Religious instruction not to exceed three hours in any week.
• Religious Observance (per School Board Policy 503)
• Physical emergency conditions such as fire, flood, storm, etc.
• Official school field trip or other school-sponsored outing.
• Removal of a student pursuant to a suspension. Suspensions are to be handled as excused absences and students will be permitted to complete make-up work.
• Family emergencies.
• Staying home to care for a family member.
• Active duty in any military branch of the United States.
• A student’s condition that requires ongoing treatment for a mental health diagnosis.
• Impassable roads or weather making travel unsafe.
• Five (5) days maximum per school year for vacation purposes or special events such as “Take Your Child to Work Day.”  (Requests must be in writing and submitted to a school administrator prior to vacation)

Consequences of Excused Absences
Students whose absences are excused are required to make up all assignments missed or to complete alternative assignments as deemed appropriate by the classroom teacher.

Upon returning to school, work missed because of absence must be made up within two (2) days for each day absent. Any work not completed within this period shall result in “no credit” for the missed assignment. However, the building principal or the classroom teacher may extend the time allowed for completion of make-up work in the case of an extended illness or other extenuating circumstances.
 

The following are examples of absences which will not be excused:

• Overslept
• Child is not immunized
• Work
• Too tired
• Missed the bus
• Cold weather
• Inadequate and/or inappropriate clothing
• Truancy — an absence by a student which was not approved by the parent/guardian and/or the school district

Consequences of Unexcused Absences
Absences resulting from official suspension will be handled in accordance with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, Minnesota Statutes  sections 121A.40-121A.56. Days during which a student is suspended from school shall not be counted in a student’s total accumulated unexcused absences. In cases of recurring unexcused absences, the administration may also request the county attorney to file a petition with the juvenile court, pursuant to Minnesota statutes. 

• Elementary (K-4) students with unexcused absences shall be subject to discipline in the following manner:
  • For all unexcused absences, work missed because of absence must be made up within two (2) days for each day absent. 
  • After the 3rd cumulated unexcused absence, a student’s parent or guardian will be notified that their student is nearing a total of 7 unexcused absences. 
  • After the 5th cumulated unexcused absence, the administration will request a meeting with the student's parent or guardian.
  • After 7 cumulated unexcused absences, the administration may file educational neglect or truancy charges against the parent or guardian and the student.
• Secondary (grades 5-12) students with unexcused absences shall be subject to academic sanctions and discipline in the following manner:
  • For all unexcused absences, work missed because of absence must be made up within two (2) days for each day absent.
  • After the 3rd cumulated unexcused absence, a student’s parent or guardian will be notified that their student is nearing a total of 7 unexcused absences.
  • After such notification, the student and/or their parent or guardian may, within a reasonable time, request a conference with school officials regarding the student’s absences and the prescribed discipline. 
  • After the 5th cumulated unexcused absence, the student's parent or guardian will be referred to an attendance liaison.
  • After 7 cumulated unexcused absences, the administration may impose the loss of academic credit in the class or classes from which the student has been absent. However, prior to loss of credit, an administrative conference must be held among administration, student, and parent or guardian. Attendance personnel may also file educational neglect or truancy charges against the parent or guardian and the student. 
  • If the result of a grade reduction or loss of credit has the effect of an expulsion, the school district will follow the procedures set forth in the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, Minnesota Statutes sections 121A.40-121A.56.
     

Students are expected to be in their assigned area at designated times.  Failure to do so constitutes tardiness.

Procedures for Reporting Tardiness

• Students tardy at the start of school must report to the school office for an admission slip.
• Tardiness between periods will be handled by the teacher.
   

The following are examples of tardies which will be excused: 

• Illness.
• Serious illness in the student’s immediate family.
• A death or funeral in the student’s immediate family or of a close friend or relative.
• Medical, dental, orthodontic, or mental health treatment.
• Court appearances occasioned by family or personal action.
• Physical emergency conditions such as fire, flood, storm, etc.
• Any tardiness for which the student has been excused in writing by an administrator or faculty member.
   

An unexcused tardiness is failing to be in an assigned room at the designated time class period commences without a valid excuse.

• Elementary (K-4) students with unexcused tardies shall be subject to consequences in the following manner:
  • After the 3rd unexcused tardy, a student’s parent or guardian will be notified of the excessive unexcused tardies. 
  • After the 6th unexcused tardy, the administration will request a meeting with the student's parent or guardian.
  • After the 9th unexcused tardies, the administration may refer the student and parent/guardian to Winona County.
• Secondary (5-12) students with unexcused tardies shall be subject to the same consequences outlined above for Elementary (K-6) students.
  • After the 3rd  unexcused tardy, a student’s parent or guardian will be notified of the excessive unexcused tardies and will be asked to attend a meeting with administration. 
  • After the 6th unexcused tardy, the administration will request a meeting with the student's parent or guardian and the student will serve one before/after school detention.The detention shall be served within one week, if this is not completed a student will be escorted to and from classrooms for two school days. Additionally, if a student participates in an extracurricular activity and does not comply with completing the detention they will sit out one competition.
  • After 9th unexcused tardies, the administration will request a meeting with the student’s parent or guardian and the student will be assigned an escort to and from class for one week. If a student does not comply, additional steps will be determined by administration in collaboration with the parent/guardian.