REQUIRED BY WIS.STAT.SEC. 118.16(4)(D)
The District shall abide by and implement student compulsory attendance laws. State law requires each child between the ages of six and 18 residing in the District to be in school attendance (religious holidays excepted) unless the student:
- Is excused temporarily for physical or mental reasons;
- Has graduated;
- has been authorized to attend an alternative educational program;
- Has been excused by their parent/guardian prior to an absence in accordance with state law; or
- Has been excused by the building principal by their designee.
Any violator of the compulsory school attendance law shall be subject to penalties outlined in state law.
Absences
Students are expected to be in daily attendance at school unless they need to be absent for one of the following reasons:
- Personal illness, medical, and dental appointments
- Funerals
- Required legal appearances
- Designated religious holidays
- Family emergencies
- Driver’s examinations
- Approved school district-sponsored activities
- Prior approved absences that have been deemed educationally beneficial for the student by the school principal or designee. (The student must obtain a prearranged absence form from the Attendance Office and have it completed and returned to the Attendance Office at least three days prior to their absence.)
- The school board may excuse a student who is temporarily not in proper physical or mental condition to attend school. An excuse under this condition shall be in writing and shall state the duration of time, not to exceed 30 days. Students with excused absences are entitled to make up work and are responsible for doing so.
Absences not excused within 72 hours from the date of absence will remain unexcused unless approved by an administrator.
When a student is absent, a parent or guardian must either call or email the Attendance Office at (414) 766-5120 for each daily absence (written notes will not be accepted) or complete the online absence form through the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus, no later than 2:00pm the day of the absence, with the following information:
- Name of student
- Reason for absence
- Estimated length of absence
Students are required to request homework directly through their teacher through email or Google classroom to keep up with their work during an absence.
Absence-Excused
When a student has excessive excused absences in a semester, an attendance notification letter may be sent to the parent/guardian. After 10 excused absences in a semester, the above procedure will be repeated. A conference may be scheduled (s.118.15, 431-Rule). Medical documentation may be required after 10 days to excuse additional absences.
Absences-Unexcused
If a call is not provided for an absence, a student will be marked unexcused. Correction of this will be the responsibility of the student, and they will be given within 72 hours from the date of absence for the correction. If this is not cleared within 72 hours, the parent/guardian will need to discuss clearing these dates with the student’s Associate Principal/Dean of Students.
For any student who is absent from all or part of a day, and for whom the school has not received notification, the family will receive an automated phone call informing the household of the absence.
Parents/Guardians may call the Attendance Office at (414) 766-5120 at any time during normal office hours to check on their student’s attendance.
Students, who are excused after the date of absence, but within the 72-hour limit, by a phone call or email from the parent/guardian to the Attendance Office, will be reflected as excused on the teacher’s daily absence lists.
Students Age 18-20
Students age 18-20 may continue to attend school provided they meet school attendance requirements and are making progress toward achieving a diploma. The failure to demonstrate a good faith effort in attendance and achievement may be cause for their dismissal from school.
Truancy
Truancy means any absence of part or all of one or more days from school during which the school attendance officer, principal, or teacher has not been notified of the legal cause of such absence by the parent or guardian of the absent pupil. Truancy also means intermittent attendance carried on for the purpose of defeating the intent of s.118.15.
Students who are habitual truants will not be able to participate in special activities including, but not limited to: school dances (i.e. Homecoming, Winter Formal, and Prom).
1. “Habitual Truant” 118.16(1)(a) means a pupil who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse under sub.(4) and s.118.15 for part or all of five or more days on which school is held during a school semester.
2. Habitual Truancy Follow-Up Procedure: When a student is identified as a habitual truant, the school shall notify the parents/guardian by registered or certified mail. The notice shall include:
a. a statement of the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility under s.118.15(1)(a) to cause a child to attend school regularly.
b. a request that the parents/guardians meet with appropriate school personnel to discuss the child’s truancy*.
*At the meeting the parent/guardian or child may request program or curriculum modifications for the child and that the child may be eligible for enrollment in a program for children-at-risk.
c. a statement of the penalties under s.118.15(5), that may be imposed on the parent/guardian if they fail to cause their child to attend school regularly.
3. Make-up Policy for Unexcused Absences:
a. A student must fulfill all course requirements to pass the course.
b. The school may not deny a student credit in a course or subject based solely on the student’s unexcused absences. Students will be awarded credit for make-up work completed during a detention period [s.118.16(4)].
