Attendance Office

Excused absences include:
• Illness
• Professional appointments 
• Court summons
• Bereavement
• Religious observance
• School-sponsored activities

Excused tardies include:
• Doctor/dentist/legal appointments
• Medical necessity
• Late bus

Students and parents/guardians will be notified of each unexcused absence by a phone call. Students are responsible for having absences cleared through the attendance office. All work needs to be made up in any class missed.

All absences, excused and unexcused, will be reported by class period on all grade reports.

• Excessive absences are defined as five or more excused or unexcused days during a term. Specific consequences will include before or after-school detention. It may also result in the student being dropped from the class. Hospitalization or extended illness under doctor’s care is considered as exceptions to this rule.
• Three unexcused tardies or two unexcused absences to class will result in a detention, assigned by school administration. Subsequent unexcused tardies/absences will result in additional disciplinary consequences.
• For additional information, please refer to the parent student handbook.

Students who are absent from school for any reason will be expected to make arrangements with their teachers to make up missing assignments. Students may be able to access class assignments while away from the building. Contact teachers via email and check Google Classroom and Canvas.

Students who receive an unexcused absence WILL NOT be allowed to make up work, including tests, quizzes or projects missed during their absence.

Compulsory Attendance Law:  Iowa Law requires all children between the ages of 6 and 16, by September 15th of each year, who are in proper physical and mental condition, to attend school.  Students must attend school for the total number of days or hours per the school calendar.  The following exemptions apply to the compulsory attendance policy:

• Completion of graduation requirements or high school equivalency diploma.
• Excusal for sufficient training reason by a court or judge.
• Attendance at religious services or religious instruction.
• Inability to attend due to documented medical reasons.
• An individualized education program (IEP) affecting attendance.
• A plan under Section 504 of the rehabilitation Act affecting attendance.
• Attendance at other approved institutions (college prep, accredited nonpublic school, homeschooling, etc.)

Chronic Absenteeism: CRCSD defines chronic Absenteeism as missing 10% of the days in a grading period or semester (approximately 56 hours or 8 days).  If a student misses 10% or more days in a grading period/semester, the school will send a letter to the student's parent or guardian and notify the county attorney.  No legal action will be taken at this time.

Truancy: CRCSD defines truancy as missing 20% or more days in a grading period or semester (approximately 84 hours or 12 days).  If a student reaches 15% Absenteeism, the student and their parent/guardian are required to attend a School Engagement Meeting with officials.  During this meeting, an Absenteeism Prevention Plan will be created to prevent more absences.  That plan will be signed by the parent/guardian and a school representative.  If a parent/guardian refuses to sign the Plan, the matter will be referred to the county attorney.  Following this meeting, parents/guardians will receive weekly updates from the school regarding their child's attendance for the remainder of the school year. 

Absence Types: The new legislation does not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences; all absences count towards the total time missed and are included in the 10% and 15% absenteeism rates.  This means that the notification and intervention process will occur at these thresholds, regardless of the type of absence.