Absences
A student is considered to have been absent for a “full day” when he/she has missed more than 33% (approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes) of a school day. To help families navigate full-day student absences, please note the following Cedarburg School District practices:
Excuse for Absence
A parent/guardian of a student who is absent shall provide either a written or oral notification to the school office, stating the reason and the time period of the absence. It is highly recommended to notify the school office prior to the absence or the school day. If the school office is not notified of the absence, the absence will be unexcused. A family has five (5) school days to inform the student’s school office of the reason for an unexcused absence; otherwise, the absence becomes a truancy.
Excused Absences
Permission of Parent or Guardian
Wisconsin State Statutes 118.15 and 118.16 and CSD Board Policy state that a parent may excuse a student for up to 10 days in a school year with a “permission of parent” excuse, which can be used for any reason provided the school was notified prior to the absence. It is asked that parents use discretion when deciding how to use these ten (10) school-day absences. Any “permission of parent” excuse exceeding ten (10) for the school year or any unexcused absence is considered a truancy.
Physical or Mental Condition (A Sick Student)
When a student is not feeling well, either physically or mentally, a parent can call the student’s school office to notify the school that the student will be absent that day. The Cedarburg School District allows the parent/guardian the ability to call a student in absent for this reason up to five (5) times during a school year. After the 5th “call-in” during a school year, a doctor’s note is required for the absence to be excused. If a doctor’s note is not provided, the absence will be considered a “Permission of Parent or Guardian” excuse and will count toward the ten (10) allotted annual absences.
Absences for Religious Instruction (refer to CSD Policy 5223) or Religious Holiday
Anytime a parent/guardian does not provide the school with an appropriate excused absence reason prior to the absence, the absence will be considered an unexcused absence and the student’s attendance will be recorded as truant. A parent/guardian must provide the school with a valid excused absence reason within five (5) school days or the absence will remain categorized as an unexcused absence on the student’s permanent attendance record.
Unexcused Absences
Unexcused absences demonstrate a deliberate disregard for the educational program and are considered a serious matter. The Principal will determine on a case-by-case basis the appropriate methods to deal with unexcused absences.
A parent/guardian must provide the school with a valid excused absence reason within five (5) school days or the absence will remain categorized as an unexcused absence on the student’s permanent attendance record.
Truancy
A student will be considered truant if he or she is absent “Part of a School Day” (see description below) or all of one or more days from school during which the School Attendance Officer, Principal, or a teacher has not been notified of the legal cause of such absence by the parent or guardian of the absent student or if the reason for the absences does not satisfy one of the excused absences reasons listed above. A student will also be considered truant if he or she has been absent intermittently for the purpose of defeating the intent of the Wisconsin Compulsory Attendance statute (Sec. 118.15, Wis. Stat.).
When a student is truant, the School Attendance Officer shall ensure that all applicable provisions of the District’s Truancy Plan are carried out.
Truant
A student is considered truant if he/she has been absent from school without an acceptable excuse. All absences in which an acceptable excuse has not been provided to the school prior to the absence will be considered as an unexcused absence and a truancy.
Habitual Truancy
A student is considered a habitual truant if he or she is absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five (5) or more days on which school is held during a school semester.
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