Attendance

The Board of Education of Independent School District 196 adopted Policy 503 and Regulation 503.2AR governing high school attendance. It sets the expectations that a major student responsibility is regular attendance.

1. Expectation – Excessive absences may have adverse consequences due to the
     inability of students to keep up with course assignments, activities, assessments,
     etc. With the exception of the school-authorized and verified absences noted below,
     high school students are expected to attend every class every day.

2. Excessive Absence Rule – Notification/Intervention Process
          2.1 Each student’s attendance, grade and discipline incidents are recorded
                 electronically and available to parents online.
           2.2 When a student reaches his or her seventh absence in a specific trimester
                  course, notification of the absences will be communicated to the student’s
                  parent/guardian. This notification will also advise that there may be adverse
                  consequences, which may include loss of credit due to the student’s inability
                  to keep up with course assignments, activities, course assessments, etc.
          2.3 When the number of a student’s absences reaches 10 in one trimester
                (excluding absences specified in section 3.1 below), the school’s designated
                administrator will review and investigate the reasons for the absences and
                 determine a course of action which may include one or more of the following:
                      2.3.1 Parent meeting;
                      2.3.2 Parent meeting with teacher(s) and counselor, and/or
                      2.3.3 Development of an attendance intervention plan.
3. Types of Absences
            3.1 Absences which are not counted in the excessive absence rule include, but
                   are not limited to:
                        3.1.1 School-sponsored curricular and cocurricular activities;
                        3.1.2 Official religious holidays;
                        3.1.3 Death of an immediate family member (parent, step-parent, guardian,
                                 sibling, grandparent);
                        3.1.4 Unique or emergency circumstances which are authorized (or,
                                  whenever possible, pre-authorized) by a school administrator;
                        3.1.5 Chronic or long-term illnesses which are verified by a doctor’s signed
                                 statement and authorized by a school administrator;
                        3.1.6 Authorized appointments with school personnel;
                        3.1.7 Military deployment of a family member, and
                        3.1.8 In-school suspension, out-of-school suspension and transitional
                                 study hall (removal from class for one or more class periods).
          3.2 Absences which are counted in the excessive absence rule include, but are
                    not limited to:Regulation 503.2AR
                       3.2.1 Verified – Absences which are verified by the parent/guardian with
                                 reasons accepted by the school. Accepted reasons are:
                        3.2.1.1  Illness;
                        3.2.1.2  Medical or dental appointments that cannot be made outside of school time, and
                        3.2.1.3  Pre-authorized, pre-planned absences of one day or more.  this must be arranged
                                     prior (preferably at least one week) to the absence in order to be verified.
           3.2.2 Unexcused – Unexcused absences will be treated with consequences
                     in accordance with the behavior expectations and consequences for
                    misbehavior outlined in district policy and administrative regulation.
                    Unexcused absences occur when a student chooses to be absent from
                    school without school approval. Consequences which may include,
                    but are not limited to, detention and in-school or out-of-school
                    suspension will be assigned to students who have unexcused
                    absences. Students with unexcused absences from one or more class
                    periods on seven school days per year may be identified as truant and
                    subject to Administrative Regulation 503.2.1AR, Truancy, in
                    compliance with state law on compulsory instruction.
           3.2.3 Tardies – Tardies are defined as being late to class without a pass.
                     Consequences such as detention and in-school or out-of-school
                      suspension may be assigned to students with excessive tardies.
4. Make-Up Work – Class absences necessitate make-up work, which, if not
     completed on time, may lead to failure or incomplete grades. Teachers must allow
     students to complete missed work, assignments, tests, quizzes, etc., but it is the
     student’s responsibility to consult their teacher about absences from class and
     required make-up work. Students generally have two days per day of absence in
     which to turn in make-up work. 

Excessive Absence Rule - Notification/Intervention Process - 503.2AR High School Attendance

3.1 Absences which are NOT counted in the excessive absence rule include, but are not limited to: 3.1.1 School-sponsored curricular and cocurricular activities; 3.1.2   Official religious holidays and religious observances or American Indian cultural practice observance or ceremony; 3.1.3   Death of an immediate family member (parent, step-parent, guardian, sibling, grandparent); 3.1.4   Unique or emergency circumstances which are authorized (or, whenever possible, pre-authorized) by a school principal; 3.1.5   Chronic or long-term illnesses which are verified by a doctor’s signed statement and authorized by a school principal; 3.1.6   Authorized appointments with school personnel; 3.1.7  Military deployment of a family member, and 3.1.8  In-school suspension, out-of-school suspension and transitional study hall (removal from class for one or more class periods).
 
3.2  Absences that are counted in the excessive absence rule include but are not limited to: 3.2.1   Verified – Absences that are verified by the parent/guardian with reasons accepted by the school. Accepted reasons are: 3.2.1.1  Illness; 3.2.1.2  Medical or dental appointments that cannot be made outside of school time, and 3.2.1.3  Pre-authorized, pre-planned absences of one day or more. This must be arranged prior (preferably at least one week) to the absence to be verified.
 
3.2.2   Unexcused – Unexcused absences will be treated with responses in accordance with the behavior expectations and consequences for behavior outlined in district policy and administrative regulation. Unexcused absences occur when a student chooses to be absent from school without school approval. Responses that may include, but are not limited to, detention and in-school or out-of-school suspension will be assigned to students with unexcused absences. Students with unexcused absences from one or more class periods on seven school days per year may be identified as truant and subject to Administrative Regulation 503.2.1AR, Truancy, in compliance with state law on compulsory instruction.

Our district and school districts across the country are looking at the relationship between chronic absenteeism and student academic success.  We know that attendance and engagement in school are important factors in a student's learning and social/emotional development.  Students who are absent from school miss out on the valuable learning activities that take place in the classroom, both with the teacher and with peers.  Even strong students with good grades can fall off course in middle and high school if they miss too many classes; lessons build on one another and move more quickly in the upper grades.  While students may be able to make up assignments from days they were gone, they cannot make up for missed instruction, discussion, and peer and classroom experiences when they are absent from class.  While they may complete some or even all of the work missed, the learning experience is significantly altered.
We understand there may be circumstances that prevent a student from attending, however, we expect those absences to be limited.  We care greatly about the health and well-being of our students.  We want to partner with students and families when challenges exist and work together to support your students in any way we can.  We always strive to reduce absences, keep students in the classroom, and maximize learning. 
Please contact us if there are extenuating circumstances of which we are unaware and/or if you need support or resources in getting your student to school consistently.

To support students and families, we are implementing the following attendance protocol for the 2024-25 school year:
Upon five (7) absences from any single class period, students/families will be sent an awareness letter indicating that the student is considered chronically absent, and close monitoring will take place.
 
Upon ten (10) absences from any single class period, principals will be connecting with students to develop a plan for reducing absences. A doctor’s note will also be expected to excuse any future absences.  
 
Upon fifteen (15) absences from any single class period, students will receive an NC (no credit) mark on their report card for that class if a passing grade is earned (students not earning a passing grade will receive a grade of F).  No credit will be earned at that time.  Credit may be earned with the successful completion of one of the following:
 
1. Approval of an Attendance Appeal
Attendance appeals will be reviewed by an attendance appeal committee which will include a Counselor, Grade Level Administrator, Nurse, and Case Manager (if applicable).
 
2. Successful completion of an Attendance Improvement Contract
Students must be present for 85% of class periods the following trimester (this would be fewer than nine absences from each class in the twelve-week term).
If neither of the above is approved/met, the following options may be available; students must work with their counselor to plan for and register for either option. 
 
4. CORE (required) classes – successful completion of Credit Recovery for the required course
Credits may be recovered in either Eagan Academy (after school) or Summer School; the original NC will remain on the student’s transcript, but the recovered credit will also be listed (with a grade of P for pass) and count toward graduation requirements.
 
4. ELECTIVE (non-required) classes – registration and successful completion of another course in the subsequent year
The original NC will remain on the student’s transcript, but the recovered credit will also be listed (with the letter grade earned). 

Students that will be absent 3 or more days for a pre-planned absence should complete the “Pre-Planned Authorization” form.  
The forms are located in the EHS Attendance Office.

1. The form should be completed and submitted prior to the planned absence. We recommend at least one week or more in advance. 
2. The student is responsible for arranging make-up assignments with all teachers prior to the absence in order to receive credit for the work. 
3. Our attendance policy counts these preplanned absences in the excessive absence policy.
4. Vacation absences beyond 5 days will be marked as unexcused.