Attendance Information

CONTACT
Last Names A-K
Spruce House
952-556-8800
 
Last Names L-Z
Pine House
952-556-8900

Eastern Carver County Schools recognizes that daily attendance is critical to the academic success of students and therefore expects every student to attend school on time every day. Because students who have good attendance are more likely to experience success and enjoy school to a greater degree, it is very important that parents/guardians make every effort to support student daily attendance. Whenever possible we encourage parents/guardians to schedule doctor and dental appointments, family vacations and special events on days when school is not in session. Illness, family emergencies and special out of school learning opportunities do occur which may impact regular student attendance.   Once a student under the age of 7 is enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade in a public school, the student is subject to compulsory attendance. Our school administrators are committed to working with families to support student attendance in a manner that recognizes these opportunities while consistently following Minn. Stat. 120A.22, subd. 5 and subd. 8.

Attendance Reporting Procedure

Please call the school Attendance Line before school starts if your child will be absent from school. Please leave your child’s name, grade, and reason for absence. If we do not hear from you when your child is absent, our automated phone system will call you. if you do not contact us after that with information, the absence will be considered unexcused. Your cooperation helps us ensure the safety of our students. Please call us if your home, work or emergency phone number changes.

Definitions

Excused Absence

A parent/guardian can call or contact the school regarding the absence via phone, email or in person. An absence is excused (does not count toward truancy) for some of the following reasons:

  • Family events like wedding, graduation, funeral, drivers exam, moving, church retreats, caring for siblings, interviews, etc.

  • Legal/court appearances or appointments

  • Co-Curricular activities not sponsored by school including sports clubs

  • Doctor, Dentist, or other medical professional appointments

  • Environmental emergencies like fire or weather

  • Student Illness

  • Medical documentation

  • Religious instruction (up to 3 hours per week)

  • Religious holidays

  • Family matters necessitating absence from school with advanced notice

  • Special talent/club activities – prior building approval required

  • Suspension

  • Family vacation

  • Issues outside of the student’s control (car trouble, late bus, etc.)

  • Missed bus if parent/guardian provides a reason

Unexcused Absence

When no call or contact is made by a parent/guardian regarding the absence via phone, email, or in person and the absence is not excused, it counts toward truancy.  Unexcused absences may include:

  • Truancy/skipping

  • Oversleeping/sleeping in 

  • Tardy:  Arriving after the start time of school. 

    • A tardy becomes an absence from class  after 10 minutes

School Exempt Absence

  • School sponsored co-/extra- curricular activities

  • School sponsored field trips

  • Office visits with school personnel

  • Testing

Attendance Monitoring and Truancy

Excused absences occur when a parent/guardian calls or contacts the school or the school reaches the parent/guardian to confirm the absence. Parents/guardians will receive notice regarding excessive unexcused or excused absences. Additional notice(s) will be sent out if absences continue. Parents/guardians will then be asked to meet with the school counselor, dean, and/or principal to discuss school attendance.  Unreported absences are considered unexcused and excessive unexcused absences will trigger the involvement of Carver County Social Services and a truancy case may be opened. After 15 consecutive days absent, state law requires that we withdraw the student from our enrollment. Upon the student’s return, a new enrollment form must be completed, signed and dated by the parent/guardian and submitted to the Welcome Center. If the student attended the first day of school, was dropped or left, and is returning the same school year, the school can re-enroll them after confirming the parent/guardian contact information and their home address.

UNEXCUSED Absence

No call or contact from parent/guardian; school could not reach parent/guardian; OR absence is not excused.

  • 3 unexcused absences- When a student has 3 or more unexcused absences from class periods from 3 different days, the school will send a first notification letter to parent/guardian. This letter will remind parents/guardians of school notification procedures.

  • 5 unexcused absences- When a student has 5 or more unexcused absences from class periods from 5 different days, the school will send a second notification letter home to parent/guardian and a pre-diversion meeting will be set up with parent/guardian, administration, other school personnel and the County Truancy Social Worker.

  • 7 unexcused absences- When a student has 7 or more unexcused absences from class periods from 7 different days and the school has made efforts to address the situation without success, the school files the truancy paperwork with Carver County Social Services and a Truancy Case may be opened by the County.

     

EXCUSED Absence

  • 6 cumulative absences- When a student has 6 or more cumulative absences from class periods from 6 different days, the school will send a first notification letter to parent/guardian with the intent of alerting the parent to the amount of time missed out of possible attendance days (unless the school staff is aware of special circumstances and a phone contact is made instead). This does not include school exempt absences.

  • 12 cumulative absences- After 12 or more cumulative absences from class periods from 12 different days, the school sends a second notification letter to parent/guardian  (unless the school staff is aware of special circumstances and a phone contact is made instead). This does not include school exempt absences.

  • 18 cumulative absences – After 18 or more cumulative absences from class periods from 18 different days,, the school sets up a meeting to discuss a plan to support student attendance and success in school. This meeting may include the school nurse, school social worker or other support staff that may provide input into the plan. This does not include school exempt absences.