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Attendance Information

As per Wis. Stat. § 118.15(1)(a), it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure their child attends school regularly throughout the entire school term. We are here to support you in achieving this goal!

Below are four key topics from Administrative Rule 510P: Procedure for Student Attendance.

  1. Attendance Limits:
  • 10-Day Absence Limit: Students should not miss more than 10 days in a school year. Parents may excuse their student from school 10 times in a year. Additional excused absences may be allowed under district policy for certain reasons such as religious observances, funeral attendance, or  medical necessity.
    • If a student misses school due to medical reasons, those absences will count toward their 10-day limit unless they provide a written statement from a medical professional. The statement must confirm that the student was not in suitable physical or mental condition to attend school.
  • The district will make efforts to notify families when they are approaching their 10 day excuse limit.  
  1. Reporting Absences:
  • Call in the absence: Notify the school each time your student will be absent. Notifying the school is the best way to ensure the student absence is excused.
  • Advanced Notice: If you know in advance that your student will be absent for more than one day, please inform the school office ahead of time.
  1. Coming in Late/Leaving Early
  • Students that miss more than one-third of the school day will accrue 0.5 absence(s).
    • In our elementary schools, one-third of the school day is 2 hours and 20 minutes on regular start days. On late start days one-third of the school day is 1 hour and 40 minutes.
    • In our high school and middle schools, daily absences are calculated based on how many scheduled periods the student misses in a day.
  • Once a student has missed more than two-thirds of the school day, they will accrue 1.0 absence(s)
    • In our elementary schools, two-thirds of the school day is 4 hours and 40 minutes on regular start days. On late start days two-thirds of the school day is 3 hours and 20 minutes.
  1. Truancy and Habitual Truancy
  • Students are considered truant when they have missed one-third or more of a school day without a valid excuse.
  • Families may face legal consequences if their student is habitually truant.
    • Students are considered habitually truant once they accrue 5 or more unexcused absences in a semester.

How you can help your student:

  • Be excited about school! Share your positive experiences and check in with your students about their feelings and experiences with school.
  • Make a routine: Set a regular bedtime and morning routine, make sure your child gets 8+ hours of sleep, lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before
  • Schedule medical appointments and extended trips for when school is not in session.
  • Connect with your school Social Worker, Psychologist, or Counselor for any mental health concerns around attending school.

By working together, we can support your child’s regular attendance and academic success. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the school office.