2.20 - Student Absences

There are two types of absences: excused and unexcused. Excused absences include: illness, observance of a religious holiday or event, death in the immediate family, family emergency, situations beyond the control of the student, circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or safety, attending a military honors funeral to sound TAPS[1], or other reason as approved by the building principal.

Additionally, a student will be excused for up to 5 days in cases where the student’s parent/guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat-support postings. The Board of Education, in its discretion, may excuse a student for additional days relative to such leave or deployment. A student and the student’s parent/guardian are responsible for obtaining assignments from the student's teachers prior to any excused absences and for ensuring that such assignments are completed by the student prior to his or her return to school.

All other absences are considered unexcused.  Pre-arranged excused absences must be approved by the building principal.

The school may require documentation explaining the reason for the student’s absence. 

In the event of any absence, the student’s parent/guardian is required to contact the school no later than one hour after the start of the school day to explain the reason for the absence. If a call has not been made to the school by the specifiied time on the day of a student’s absence, a school official will call the home to inquire why the student is not at school.  If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the student will be required to submit a signed note from the parent/guardian explaining the reason for the absence.  Failure to do so shall result in an unexcused absence. Upon request of the parent/guardian, the reason for an absence will be kept confidential.

[1] Applies to grades 6-12 only.

Cross Reference:
Barrington 220 Policy 7:70, Attendance and Truancy

¹Applies to grades 6 – 12 only