ALL EXCUSED ABSENCES MUST HAVE DOCUMENTATION

Our goal is to increase communication and engage in collaborative efforts to maintain excellent attendance.

Examples:

• Medical documented illness (from a doctor, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or school nurse) 
• Medical documented appointments (from a physician, dentist, etc.)
• Funeral (with documentation)
• Court-documented appointments (from Juvenile Court, DHS, etc.)
• School-sponsored activities
• A student who is a military applicant undergoing military entrance processing or engaged in a military service.
• Weddings (with documentation, and travel time will be determined by attendance representatives).
• Approval from the building principal and/or attendance representative

A parent or guardian may call their student out of school 5% of days in a grading period (semester) for other reasons.  (These days are verified, not excused.)

Any absence beyond 5% of the semester without documentation for the absence is considered truant (non-excused).

Reviewing the steps:

• Chronically Absent (5% or 6 days): A notification letter will be sent to the parent/guardian requesting supporting documentation.
• Chronically Absent (10% or 9 days): A notification letter will be sent to the parent/guardian requesting supporting documentation.
• Chronically Absent (15% or 12 days): A letter will be sent via mail or electronically requesting your presence for a Building Engagement Meeting to develop a plan for improving attendance. This letter will also be sent to the Wapello County Attorney’s Office. During the Building Engagement Meeting a Chronic Absenteeism Prevention Plan will be made. These will be monitored weekly by the Districts At-Risk, Family Service Coordinators.
• Chronically Absent (20% or 18 days): A Truancy Referral will be sent to the County Attorney’s Office requesting enforcement of truancy laws.

If your child will be absent or tardy from school, please call and/or email the building secretary by 8:30 a.m. Feel free to call during non-office hours and leave a voicemail. In the event we are not notified, we will make an effort to call you to let you know your child did not arrive at school.  

If your child has been diagnosed with a contagious disease, inform the office so proper health measures and reporting procedures can be implemented. 

If your child will miss over three days due to illness, a doctor’s note is required in the school office. If you know of the absence in advance, please contact the office. If you want work sent home or picked up for your child, please arrange with the office or the teacher one day in advance.  A note from your doctor stating the reason for his/her absence is required when he/she returns to school, concerning the absence.