A .
B .
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
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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