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Attendance: Miss School, Miss Out

Attendance Guidelines

Student attendance is governed by the School District of Lancaster attendance policy. Daily school attendance remains required for compulsory age students (ages 6-18).

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Reporting Absences

Absences should be reported to the teacher or the school office within three (3) days of the absence, listing the reason for the absence. Excuse notes may be submitted via ParentVUE or emailed to your child’s school building, using the school’s email address.

If you have any questions, please call your school principal.

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Missing school affects reading level, grades, graduation and future success.

Regular attendance has many benefits

Regular school attendance is directly related to success in learning, benefits students socially, emotionally, and mentally, and establishes habits that help students both now and in the future. Students who miss just two days per month are more likely to:

  • Have lower grades
  • Fall behind their peers in learning
  • Drop out of school before graduating
  • Fail to get into college

School attendance provides opportunities for social and emotional growth. School attendance gives students the opportunity to develop positive relationships with others through social experiences and lessons. A child who misses a day of school misses a day of learning. Attendance gaps lead to achievement gaps. By 6th grade, high absenteeism is one of the signs that a student may drop out of high school.

Explore Attendance Data

Attendance policies and procedures

  • After the use of 10 parent excused days, students are required to submit a medical or legal excuse for any additional absences.
  • Students have three (3) days to turn in an attendance note stating the date and the reason for the absence to be considered excused. There are multiple options to submit absences including;
    • Log in to ParentVue and submit absences for the day of or future absences.
    • Turn in a physical excuse from the parent/guardian, medical provider, or legal office.
    • Email the building attendance email address listed on the bottom of this page.
  • A phone call and/or message from a third-party app (e.g. Class Dojo, Remind app, etc.) are insufficient for excused absences.
  • If your child has already had an Attendance Improvement Conference and subsequently misses additional unexcused days, the School Social Worker or the Home School Visitor will conduct a home visit and offer additional support.
  • A truancy citation may be filed with the District Magistrate if your child continues to be absent from school.
  • Please see Board Policy #204 for more local and state attendance requirements information.

Attendance Terms

Allowable Parent/Guardian Excuse Note

Excused Absences

Unexcused /Unlawful Absence

Truant

Habitually Truant

Chronically Absent

Did you know?

  • When a student is absent from school they miss time with friends, interaction with teachers, and keeping pace with learning for their grade.
  • In fact, students who miss just 2 days per month are more likely to have lower grades, fall behind their peers in learning, drop out of school before graduating, and fail to get into college.
  • Every child should attend a minimum of 95% of school. Parents can check their child’s daily attendance, grades, and report an absence on the ParentVUE app.

Valid reasons for excused absences

Reasons absences will be excused with a legitimate note:

  • Illness/surgery/medical appointment
  • Death in the family
  • Court appearance
  • Physical incapacity
  • Observance of religious holidays/event
  • Special events arranged in advance

Anticipated trips and event absences

  • A Pre-Planned Trip form, available on the district website, should be handed in at least one week before the event/trip. You will then be notified of approved or unapproved dates.
  • When forms are approved, families are agreeing to use Parent Excuses for the absences. All families have 10 Parent Excused days per student per school year.
  • Forms will not be accepted after the absence, and the days will continue to accumulate unlawful absences

When to keep your child home

  • Signs of severe illness such as being unresponsive, irritable, crying more than usual, having difficulty breathing, or has a quickly spreading rash.
  • Fever (temperature above 100.4°F [38.3°C
  • Diarrhea, defined as having more frequent and loose stool (poop) than usual that’s not caused by a change in diet.
  • Vomiting two or more times in the previous 24 hours. The exception is if the vomiting is found to be caused by a non-infectious condition.
  • Abdominal pain that continues for more than two hours, or abdominal pain that comes and goes, along with fever or other concerning symptoms.
  • Mouth sores with drooling that the child cannot control, unless their doctor or local health department authority states that the child is noninfectious.
  • Rash with fever or behavioral changes, until a primary care provider determines that the illness is not a communicable disease. If your child has a new, rapidly spreading rash that resembles bruising or small red or purple “blood spots,” call 911.
  • Skin sores that are weeping fluid located on an exposed part of the body that cannot be covered with a waterproof bandage.

Do you follow these guidelines?

  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
  • Seek support from school staff or community groups to help with transportation, health problems, or no safe path to school.
  • Avoid medical appointments when school is in session.
  • Don’t permit missing school unless your child is truly sick. Use a thermometer to check for a fever.
  • Avoid scheduling vacations when school is in session. They are considered unexcused absences.

Attendance Improvement Conferences

District Resources

If your child misses six unexcused days, we will schedule an Attendance Improvement Conference (AIC). You will be invited to meet with the school attendance team to discuss your child’s absences and learn about resources to help increase school attendance.

The following resources are available at the building level to ensure your child receives the support and services to meet their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally.

  • School Social Worker: Works with families and school personnel to increase school attendance. Provides input in intervention program planning and implementation at the school site.
  • School Counselor: Works to maximize student success, promoting access and equity for all students.
  • School Nurse: Works with families and students to help with any medical needs which may prevent them from attending school. The school nurse is also available in the morning if you are not sure if your child can attend school if they are not feeling well. If the nurse agrees they shouldn’t be in school the nurse will excuse them.
  • Home School Visitors: Work as a liaison between schools, home, and community to remove barriers related to truancy. The Home School Visitor can also connect students and families to community-based resources to decrease absenteeism.
  • Special Education Consultant: Support for students, parents, and staff to ensure the district’s efforts to provide Free Appropriate Public Education for all students who receive special education and gifted services.

You can contact your child's attendance team by email

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