The Ada-Borup-West Public Schools attendance policy complies with the requirements of Minnesota state law. Parents must notify the school in writing each time their child is absent or tardy. The notification needs to document the reason for the absence and be signed by a parent or guardian. If the school does not receive the notification, the absence will not be excused. The notification is required within two days of the student's return to school in order for the absence to be excused. The state of Minnesota recognizes the following as valid reasons for absence from school: personal illness, death or medical emergency in the immediate family, and inclement weather. Other reasons for absence that may be excused are religious activities, medical and dental appointments, and travel. Family trips may be excused if the school is notified in writing at least one week in advance of the absence. We encourage parents to keep these requests for absence to a minimum. Oversleeping or missing the bus are not valid reasons for being tardy or absent and will not be excused. Also, absences of three or more consecutive days and/or excessive absences due to illness may require a statement from a doctor to be excused.
A child who is subject to compulsory instruction requirements and is absent without valid notification for three or more days within a single school year is considered a continuing truant. "Continuing truant" means a child who is subject to the compulsory instruction requirements of section 120A.22 and is absent from instruction in a school, as defined in section 120A.05, without valid notification within a single school year for:
(1) three days if the child is in elementary school; or
(2) three or more class periods on three days if the child is in middle school, junior high school, or high school.
Failure to ensure that your child attends school may constitute neglect under the Child Abuse Reporting Act, Minnesota Statute 626.556. An amendment to the Child Abuse Reporting Act further defines neglect as failure to ensure that a child is educated in accordance with compulsory instruction law.
After two unexcused absences, school staff can contact you with a reminder on the attendance policy. Support services may be offered in order to avoid possible truancy and educational neglect. If the unexcused absences continue, parent and child may be subject to the Norman County Truancy Protocol and/or court proceedings in accordance with Minnesota Statute 260A.
When a student is absent, the classroom teacher will be responsible for giving the student the make-up assignments once. The parent may request the assignments a second time, but that would be the extent of the teacher’s responsibility. If parents know their child will be absent for an extended period of time, they should contact the teacher and request homework in advance. Incomplete work due to school absence will receive zero credit at the end of the quarter.
It is the opinion of the Ada-Borup-West School District that students are in school regularly to make the most of their educational experience. The daily interaction between teachers and students is an extremely valuable part of your child’s education.
Absences:
● Students who arrive to school more than 30 minutes after the start of the school day
will be marked ½ day absent.
● Students who arrive in the classroom after 8:25am will be marked tardy.
● Students who leave 30 minutes prior to dismissal at 3:08 will be marked ½ day absent.
Excused Absences
● Illness of the student
● Serious illness, death, or emergency in the family.
● Religious reasons
● Unsafe weather conditions
● Family trip with prior approval and notification
● The principal may designate other absences as excused as situations arise.
Unexcused Absences
● Oversleeping
● Missing the bus
● Absences without prior approval
● Any Absence without parental permission
● The principal may designate other absences as “unexcused” as situations arise.
● Tardiness: A student who reaches four unexcused tardies will be considered truant
for one school day
