Attendance Guide

Reporting an Absence:

Please call or email the school attendance line before school starts or by 9:00 am if your child will not be attending school or will be late. Please indicate the reason why your student will be absent or late. Families may report an absence 24 hours a day.

*Language Line Direct: use this phone number to call schools in your preferred language 1-833-611-1664

What You Can Expect

• Calls and/or emails from teachers when your student is absent
• Automated calls from office staff if you have not called in to report an absence, follow-up from school social worker if needed
• 7 Absences - Letter from school offering support and concern
• 10 Absences - Letter from school, doctor’s excuse or official court documents may be required to excuse additional absences, optional parent/guardian meeting
• 13 Absences - Letter from school, parent/guardian meeting, create attendance improvement plan
• 17 Absences - Letter from school, parent/guardian meeting, adjustment to attendance improvement plan, truancy warning/referral
• 5 Unexcused Absences - Habitual truancy letter will be mailed home requesting a parent/guardian meeting, create attendance improvement plan
• In extreme circumstances, the school is obligated to involve local law enforcement and/or child protective services when a student is chronically absent

When can my child return?

• Fever, Temperature 100.4 or higher - Exclude until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications
  • Fever =Temperature 100.4°F, only take a child’s temperature if the child seems ill
• Pink Eye - None unless fever, antibiotics not required for return to school
• Strep Throat - Exclude for at least 12 hours after initiation of antibiotics, AND they must have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications
• Influenza/Other Respiratory Illnesses (i.e. COVID) - Exclude until fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications
• Diarrhea (3 or more loose stools in a 24 hour period, not associated with changes in diet) - Exclude until asymptomatic for 48 hours
• Hand-foot and Mouth Disease - None, unless fever
• Lice - Exclude at the end of the school day until after treatment or removal of live lice
  

Always follow the recommendation and advice of the student's healthcare provider. If you have any questions, reach out to health room staff. *Guidelines followed by the Wisconsin Childhood Disease Chart

Tips for Attendance

• Set a regular bedtime for your child.
• Lay out clothes and backpacks the night before.
• Establish a morning routine.
• Make sure your child goes to school unless they are truly sick (they have a fever, are vomiting, have diarrhea, versus a minor stomach ache or runny nose).
• Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments during school hours.
• Talk to teachers and student services if your child feels anxious about school.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school. Ask a family member, neighbor, or another parent for help if needed.

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit early so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. 

Reach Out for Help

• Your student’s teacher is a great resource for help and support!
• Call or email our school social worker for problem-solving and resources.
• Connect with other families and neighbors for help. It takes a village to raise a child!

Did you Know?

• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
• Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.