Attendance

We excuse these absences:

• Medical appointments: Visits with doctor, dentist or counselor. Please try to schedule these after school.
• Illness: When a student is sick and cannot come to school.
• Family emergency: Events like funerals.
• Religious holidays: Time for religious observances or instruction (up to three hours a week).
• Vacations: Family trips or non-school activities. You must get approval from the principal in advance. Please avoid trips during testing dates.

Minnesota law requires all students to attend school:

• From age seven (or when they enter kindergarten)
• Until they are 18 years old.

We pay close attention to attendance and follow these steps for unexcused absences:

• Three absences: We send a formal letter to discuss any barriers to attendance.
• Seven absences: We report it to the Be@School program for county-level support.
• 12 absences: We make a second report; a social worker may review the case.
• 17 absences: We make a third report; the county may start a referral to protect the student's right to an education.

About too many absences: 

• We view 10 excused absences in a school year as excessive.
• If a student is absent for 15 or more consecutive days, they must be withdrawn and re-enrolled through the Welcome Center.