Frequently Asked Questions about Absences and Truancy

How can I excuse my child's absence?

To excuse a student, a parent shall notify the school in a timely manner via telephone, written notification or through other verifiable documentation as required by the school administration.

The district may require suitable proof regarding excused absences, including written statements from medical sources. When a student has excessive excused absences due to reported illness, the building administrator may require a written medical excuse from the family physician. If a family indicates they have no physician or medical source available for this purpose, the school nurse is authorized to make a determination if a student is, indeed, ill. The school nurse may also refer families to appropriate medical resources when needed to substantiate the illness.

(From APS Code: JE-R)

What is an excused Absence? What is an unexcused Absence?

The following absences shall be considered excused:

Illness/injury

Absences by a student who is temporarily ill or injured are excused if such illness/injury is documented by the student's parent/guardian.

Appointments/serious circumstances

Absences shall be excused on a case-by-case basis if a student has an appointment or a circumstance of a serious nature, which cannot be resolved before or after school hours. To the extent possible, the parent/guardian is encouraged to notify the school in advance regarding appointments/serious circumstances.

Extracurricular experiences which have been approved by the school

A student's request to participate in extracurricular experiences outside of the school building may be approved for up to five days under certain circumstances and on a case-by case basis. Any absences beyond the five days shall be treated as unexcused. Approval shall be left to the discretion of the school's principal. The principal may use any of the following criteria or any combination of the following criteria in determining whether a student is permitted to engage in said extracurricular experiences.

The student meets CHSAA general eligibility standards;
The student is in good academic standing (passing all classes with a grade of C)
The student has no unexcused absences;
The student has five or fewer excused absences in a semester or nine or fewer excused absences for the school year;
The student is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.

Family business/family vacation days which have been approved by the school

A student's parent/guardian may request approval for an excused absence to attend to family business/family vacation (e.g. wedding, family trip). Approval shall be left to the discretion of the school's principal. This excused absence is not to exceed three days per year if the following conditions are met:

Student is in good academic standing (passing all classes with a grade of C);
Student has no unexcused absences; or
Student has four or fewer excused absences in a semester or seven or fewer excused absences for the school year.

Funerals

A student's parent/guardian may request approval for an absence to be excused to attend a funeral. This excused absence shall not exceed three days. Additional time may be requested on a case-by-case basis. Approval shall be left to the discretion of the principal. Absences due to suspension are considered to be excused for the purposes of truancy.

An unexcused absence is an absence not covered in the excused absence section.

(From APS Code: JE-R)

How does a child become habitually truant?

A child is classified as Habitually Truant if they accumulate four days of unexcused absences in a month or 10 days of unexcused absences within a school year. Unexcused absences are determined by how many cumulative days, not periods or classes, of school have been unexcused absence within a given time period.

If a student is to become truant how does the student return to good standing?

A student may return to good standing at the discretion of the school attendance administrator and/or the school Truancy Specialist. A student must demonstrate a pattern of continued school attendance without unexcused absences to be considered for a return to good standing within the school.

What is the policy regarding a family trip?

A parent/guardian may request that a student be excused from school for the purpose of a family trip. The school Principal may determine on a case by case basis if the student shall be excused from school providing the following conditions are met.

Student has all C's or better.
Student has no Unexcused absences or;
Student has four or fewer excused Absences is a semester or seven or fewer excused absences in a year.

Attendance & Truancy

Attendance & Truancy