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Attendance 

Student Attendance:
Wisconsin law requires that students attend school during the “full periods and hours” that school is in session.  Early detection is very important for success in dealing with students who skip school. All students shall be required to attend school until they graduate from high school or until the end of the quarter or semester of the school year they reach age 18.

The principal of each elementary school and the principal or his/her designee of each secondary school shall serve as the school attendance officer. The duties of the school attendance officer shall include the following:

1.   Establishing and enforcing procedures in reporting accurate daily attendance in each classroom.

2.   Determining which students are truant from school and reporting such truancies to the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) by the end of the second school day the student was truant and directing the parent(s)/guardian(s) to return the student to school no later than the next day on which school is in session. Such notices may be made by personal contact, mail, or telephone call provided a written record is kept. Notice by personal contact or telephone call shall be attempted before notice by mail may be given.

3.   Maintaining accurate records on attendance, absences, and truancy and reporting to the Administration Building as required.

4.   Securing information from private schools regarding student attendance as may be directed by the deputy superintendent.

5.   Processing requests to be excused from school attendance from students or parent(s)/guardian(s) and prior written approval for student absences from parent(s)/guardian(s). (Wisconsin Statute 118.15(3))

6.   Initiating legal proceedings against truant students or their parent(s)/guardian(s) in accordance with the procedures as outlined in school district policy.

Absences:
The school attendance officer is empowered to approve a legal excuse to any student for the following reasons:

1.   Evidence that the student is not in proper physical or mental condition to attend school or an educational program. The district may request the parent(s)/guardian(s) to obtain a written statement from a physician or licensed practitioner as proof of the physical or mental condition of the student. Such excuse shall be made in writing, shall state the period of time for which it is valid, and shall not exceed 30 days.

2.   An illness in the immediate family that requires the absence of the student because of family responsibilities.

3.   Medical, dental, chiropractic, optometrical, or other valid professional appointments. Parent(s)/guardian(s) are requested to make their appointments during non-school hours.

4.   A death in the immediate family or funerals for close relatives.

5.   Religious holidays.

6.   Family trips that can be taken only during the normal school term. The intent of this statement is to provide opportunity for students to accompany their parent(s)/guardian(s) on a vacation that cannot be scheduled when school is not in session. Parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be required to notify the school attendance officer prior to leaving on vacation of the pending absence for the purpose of reviewing the student’s attendance record and overall performance record. Student vacations or trips without parent(s)/guardian(s) accompaniment are not excused absences.

7.   A court appearance or other legal procedure that requires the attendance of the student.

8.   A public health officer imposes a quarantine.

9.   Attendance at special events of educational value as approved by the school attendance officer.

10.  Approved school activities during class time.

11.  Special circumstances that show good cause which the school attendance officer approves in advance.

12.  Parent(s)/guardian(s) provide a prior written request for absence from school not to exceed ten days during the school year. Course work missed during this absence must be completed.

All other student absences from school will be recorded as truancies. Truancy is defined as any absence of part or all of one or more days from school during which the school attendance officer, principal, or teacher has not been notified of the legal cause of such absence by the parent(s)/guardian(s) of such absent student or intermittent attendance carried on for the purpose of defeating the intent of the compulsory school attendance law. Truancies shall apply only to students who are under 18 years of age. Unexcused absences of students over 18 years of age shall be classified as attendance problems.

Parent(s)/guardian(s) of absent students are expected to notify the school of any student absences. Failure to make such contact shall result in notification of the absence by the school.

The school attendance officer may temporarily excuse a student from school attendance for a period not to exceed 30 days after securing sufficient written proof of the physical or mental condition of the student from a licensed physician, psychologist, chiropractor, or Christian Science practitioner living and residing in Wisconsin.

The Board may excuse a student for “good cause” for a period not to exceed one year. Such requests must be made to the Board in writing with a full explanation of the reasons (cannot be based on disability) upon which the request is based, shall state the period of time the excuse is requested for, and shall include the written approval of the parent(s)/guardian(s). Either the school or the student may initiate such requests.

Enforcement of Attendance:
The school attendance officer shall have the authority to initiate any of the following actions to secure student or parent(s)/guardian(s) compliance with the compulsory attendance law:

1.   Provide parent(s)/guardian(s) notification of absences or truancies/habitual truancy as required by law.

2.   Request parent conferences regarding truancies or attendance problems.

3.   Assign detention for truancy.

4.   Make referrals for evaluation.

5.   Make referrals to the District Attorney and/or courts provided each of the following actions have been complied with prior to initiating legal proceedings:

a.   Met with the student, parent(s)/guardian(s) to discuss truancy, or attempted to meet with them and been refused or received no response.

b.   Provided an opportunity for educational counseling to determine whether a change in curriculum would resolve the truancy problem.

c.   Evaluated the student to determine whether learning problems could be the cause of truancy, and if so, taken steps to overcome the learning problems.

d.   Evaluated the student to determine whether social problems could be the cause of truancy, and if so, taken action or made appropriate referrals.

Students Leaving School Prior to the End of the School Year:
Absences from school during the last two weeks of the school year are strongly discouraged. Excused absences from school during the last two weeks of the school year will be granted only after approval by the school principal. Such requests must be supported by valid reasons and a written parental request. Students who leave school prior to the end of the school year will NOT be allowed to take final examinations early and will be given incompletes until both the following requirements are satisfactorily met:

1.   The student completes all regular course requirements.

2.   The student takes all final examinations.