Attendance Office 763-745-6055
To report a student's absence, please call and leave a message with the following information:
- student's name
- team and grade level
- reason for absence
Compulsory Attendance Law
Minnesota State Law provides that children enrolled in school after 1988 shall attend a public or private school, for a period of not less than nine months during any school year until age 18 or until they graduate. Both parents and students have responsibility for school attendance. Students need to arrive at school and get to class on time. Parents assist them. This section outlines the procedures for attendance, make-up work and consequences for unexcused absences and tardies.
Rules, Policies, and Guidelines
- Reporting: Teachers record each student absence and tardy in every period.
- Verification: the attendance clerk verifies all student absences. Verification occurs in several ways. Parents call in, send a note, or the attendance clerk calls the home.
- Call In: the parent/guardian should call the attendance office as soon as possible on the day of the absence. Messages can be left on voice mail.
- Notes: If a phone call is not made, the parent/guardian should send a note with the student on day he/she returns. The student brings the note to the attendance clerk in the Main Office.
- Pre-Excused: when an absence is known ahead of time, please notify the attendance office by writing a note indicating the anticipated days of absence.
- Definition of Excused/Verified Absences
- school sponsored activities
- illness
- non-illness absences requested by parent
- out-of-school suspension
- Definition of Unexcused Absences:
- leaving school without permission
- any absence that does not meet the criteria specified in excused/verified absences
- Definition of Unexcused Tardy:
Students are considered tardy if they are not in the classroom and prepared when the class period begins and have no written pass from the office or from a staff member to excuse the tardy.
- Consequences of Abuse of Attendance Policy:
- If a student accumulates an excessive amount of excused absences, the following steps may be taken to help the student’s attendance improve
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student and teacher meet to address attendance problem
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student and his/her family receive a notification letter of the attendance concern
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parents/guardians attend meeting with student, staff, and administrator or counselor to develop a plan to improve attendance
Leaving the Building During the School Day
If a student is leaving school before the final bell, the parent must check them out in the Front Office. Students should bring a note from their parent/guardian, stating the time they need to be excused; the student should bring that note to the Front Office or Main Office in exchange for a School Pass. Leaving without signing out will result in an unexcused absence.
Late Arrival to School
When a student arrives after the start of the school day, he/she must report to the Front Office for a pass. Late arrivals are considered excused or unexcused absences, not tardies. Chronic late arrivals will be considered abuse of the Attendance Policy and will be addressed by the building principals.
