BEING ABSENT , ARRIVING LATE AND LEAVING EARLY
Attendance
Regular attendance in school is essential to the success of our students . As parents and guardians , you play the most important role in your child ’ s education . Making sure your child arrives at school every day rested , well fed and ready to learn is a great contribution to your child ’ s education .
Children who are well should be at school every day that school is in session . Students who are ill should not be in school . Refer to page 12 for “ Is my child well enough to go to school ?”
Generally , children don ’ t miss more than six days of school a year from illness . If there are chronic health concerns keeping your child out of school , please consult your school ’ s nurse .
Compulsory education law
Under the compulsory education law , students between the ages of seven and 17 are required to receive instruction each year . Children under age seven who are enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade are also subject to the law .
Minnesota statutes , section 120A . 22 – Compulsory instruction
Subdivision 1 . Parental responsibility . The parent of a child is primarily responsible for assuring that the child acquires knowledge and skills that are essential for effective citizenship .
Subdivision 5 . Ages and terms . ( a ) Every child between seven and 17 years of age must receive instruction unless the child has graduated . Every child under the age of seven who is enrolled in a kindergarten program shall receive instruction . Except as provided in subdivision 6 , a parent may withdraw a child under the age of seven from enrollment at any time .
Subdivision 6 . Children under seven .
( a ) Once a pupil under the age of seven is enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade in a public school , the pupil is subject to the compulsory attendance provisions of this chapter and section 120A . 34 .
( b ) In a district in which children under seven are subject to compulsory attendance under this subdivision , paragraphs ( c ) to ( e ) apply .
( c ) A parent or guardian may withdraw the pupil from enrollment in the school for good cause by notifying the district . Good cause includes , but is not limited to , enrollment of the pupil in another school , as defined in subdivision 4 , or the immaturity of the child .
( d ) When the pupil enrolls , the enrolling official must provide the parent or guardian who enrolls the pupil with a written explanation of the provisions of this subdivision .
( e ) A pupil under the age of seven who is withdrawn from enrollment in the public school under paragraph ( c ) is no longer subject to the compulsory attendance provisions of this chapter .
Absent or late to school
If your child will be absent , arrive late , or leave early , please call the school attendance line . You can call 24 hours a day and leave a message . If a child is not at school , and the school has not received notice of an absence , the school will call a parent or guardian . If we don ’ t hear from you , your child ’ s absence will be recorded as unexcused . Absence due to weather concerns will be excused only if reported by a parent or guardian .
Absence guidelines : Grades K-5
• A student is considered tardy if he or she arrives up to 60 minutes late .
• A student is considered absent for a half day if he or she arrives more than 60 minutes late up to half of the school day .
• A student is considered absent for a full day if he or she arrives to school and is picked up within 90 minutes .
• A student is considered absent for a full day if he or she misses four or more hours of the school day .
Grades 6-12
• Student attendance is recorded each class period .
• A student is considered tardy if he or she arrives up to 15 minutes late to a class period .
Early dismissal
Early dismissals are discouraged . Students leaving a few minutes early often miss important last minute instructions and / or reminders . Interrupting classes to call students to the office also distracts other students and interrupts end of the day classroom routines . Early dismissals should occur only in rare circumstances and requests must go through the school office . Please make every effort to schedule appointments outside of school hours .
• Students leaving early will be marked as early out . This is considered the same as a tardy .
Unexcused absences and tardies
Regular attendance is a crucial part of success in school . There are consequences when students are continually absent from school . If an elementary student is absent three days within a single school year ; or a secondary student is absent from three or more class periods on three days within a school year without excuse that student is considered a “ continuing truant ,” according to state law ( section 260A . 02 ). The school is required by law to notify a parent when a child is a “ continuing truant ” and if the child continues to be truant there may be juvenile court proceedings . Once a child is considered a “ continuing truant ”, parents and guardians are given an opportunity to explain their child ’ s absences .
When an elementary student is absent seven or more days from school within a single school year ; or a secondary student is absent from one or more class periods on seven days within a single school year without excuse , that student is considered a “ habitual truant ,” according to state law ( section 260C . 007 ). Anoka-Hennepin schools refer “ habitually truant ” students to the county attorney .
Attendance letters will be sent home when absences or tardies become excessive so families can take corrective action and address the issue .
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