Attendance Policies and Procedures
You must report your child's absence every day.
To submit an absence excuse for your child, please complete the form below.
All absences count - excused absences are absences with an explanation but still count as time missed from school.
To submit an absence excuse for your child, please complete the form below.
All absences count - excused absences are absences with an explanation but still count as time missed from school.
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Student Attendance, Absences and Excuses
It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that their children attend school each day. In the case of illness or other unavoidable circumstances that may prevent your child from attending school, parents are expected to contact the school each day. In the case of a long-term illness, parents must notify the school immediately in order that a special program of instruction can be developed. A student may be retained in a grade with an absence of twenty or more days from school. An appeal process has been established to consider students with extenuating circumstances.
A student who has four unexcused absences in a month or 20 unexcused absences from school in any school year is considered an “habitual truant”, and after a review and evaluation of the reasons for the student’s truancy, the Superior Court Juvenile Matters “Family with Service Needs” (FWSN) report and the school will coordinate services and referrals with community agencies.
In 2012, the Connecticut Department of Education changed its policy regarding what is considered an excused absence. The new policy is as follows:
A student’s absence from school shall be considered excused if written documentation of the reason for the absence has been submitted within ten school days of the student’s return to school or in accordance with Section 10-210 of the Connecticut General Statutes and meets the following criteria:
Additional Unexcused Absences
Student who is absent 4 days (letter to parents & parent must contact school by deadline). Student is absent 10 days (school notifies parent; hearing is held at school; non-response from parents will trigger guidance to fill out Families with Service Needs form that will be sent to truancy court). Student is absent 15+ days (parent is notified and has five days to attend a formal hearing or student may face consequences).
These policies are in the process of being reviewed and may be updated or revised in the coming year. Any changes to policy will be communicated to parents.
It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that their children attend school each day. In the case of illness or other unavoidable circumstances that may prevent your child from attending school, parents are expected to contact the school each day. In the case of a long-term illness, parents must notify the school immediately in order that a special program of instruction can be developed. A student may be retained in a grade with an absence of twenty or more days from school. An appeal process has been established to consider students with extenuating circumstances.
A student who has four unexcused absences in a month or 20 unexcused absences from school in any school year is considered an “habitual truant”, and after a review and evaluation of the reasons for the student’s truancy, the Superior Court Juvenile Matters “Family with Service Needs” (FWSN) report and the school will coordinate services and referrals with community agencies.
In 2012, the Connecticut Department of Education changed its policy regarding what is considered an excused absence. The new policy is as follows:
A student’s absence from school shall be considered excused if written documentation of the reason for the absence has been submitted within ten school days of the student’s return to school or in accordance with Section 10-210 of the Connecticut General Statutes and meets the following criteria:
- 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:
- 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)
- Student’s observance of a religious holiday;
- Death in the student’s family or other emergency beyond the control of the student’s family;
- Mandated court appearances (additional documentation required);
- 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);
- Extraordinary educational opportunities pre-approved by district administrators and in accordance with Connecticut State Department of Education guidance.
Additional Unexcused Absences
Student who is absent 4 days (letter to parents & parent must contact school by deadline). Student is absent 10 days (school notifies parent; hearing is held at school; non-response from parents will trigger guidance to fill out Families with Service Needs form that will be sent to truancy court). Student is absent 15+ days (parent is notified and has five days to attend a formal hearing or student may face consequences).
These policies are in the process of being reviewed and may be updated or revised in the coming year. Any changes to policy will be communicated to parents.
