A. For absences one through nine, a student’s absences from school are considered excused when
the student’s parent/guardian approves such absence and submits appropriate documentation; and
B. For the tenth absence and all absences thereafter, a student’s absences from school are considered
excused for the following reasons:
1. student illness (Note: all student illness absences must be verified by an appropriately
licensed medical professional to be deemed excused, regardless of the length of absence);
2. student’s observance of a religious holiday;
3. death in the student’s family or other emergency beyond the control of the student’s family;
4. mandated court appearances (additional documentation required);
5. the lack of transportation that is normally provided by a district other than the one the student
attends (no parental documentation is required for this reason); or
6. extraordinary educational opportunities pre-approved by district administrators and in
accordance with Connecticut State Department of Education guidance.
Excused Absences for Children of Service Members
An enrolled student, age five to eighteen, inclusive, whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty
member of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, and has been called to duty for, is on leave
from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be
granted ten days of excused absences in any school year and, at the discretion of the Board of Education,
additional excused absences to visit such child’s parent or legal guardian with respect to such leave or
deployment of the parent or legal guardian. In the case of such excused absences such child and parent or
legal guardian shall be responsible to obtaining assignments from the student’s teacher prior to any period
of excused absence, and for ensuring that such assignments are completed by such child prior to his or her
return to school from such period of excused absence.
Chronic Absenteeism
The Board of Education, in compliance with statute, requires the establishment of attendance review
teams when chronic absenteeism rates in the District or at individual schools in the District meet the
following circumstances:
Chronic Absenteeism (Continued)
1. A team for the District must be established when the District chronic absenteeism rate is 10 percent
or higher.
2. A team for the school must be established when the school chronic absenteeism rate is 15 percent
or higher.
3. A team for either the District or each school must be established when (a) more than one school in
the District has a school chronic absenteeism rate of 15 percent or higher or (b) a District has a
District chronic absenteeism rate of 10 percent or higher and one or more schools in the District
have a school chronic absenteeism rate of 15 percent or higher.
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