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Attendance Policy

Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 5/26-1 Compulsory Attendance applies to students between the ages of six (on or before September 1) and 17 years (unless the child has graduated from high school), or students who are enrolled in any of grades kindergarten through 12, regardless of age. The School Code states that a child must “attend some public school in the district wherein the child resides the entire time it is in session during the regular school term” except for the following valid reasons: illness, including mental or behavioral health of the student), observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, other situations beyond the control of the student, other circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s safety or health, or other reason as approved by the Superintendent or designee. Students absent for a valid cause may make up missed homework and classwork assignments in a reasonable timeframe. All District schools must enforce and follow the Illinois School Code. Therefore, absences will be determined by the Building Administrator to be excused or unexcused. 

 

In accordance with the Illinois School Code, family vacations or trips do not constitute a “valid cause” for an absence and should, therefore, be listed as an unexcused absence. 

Excused Absences include: 

● Personal Illness (cases involving vomiting, fever, or diarrhea), including 5 allowed mental health days 

● Death in the family 

● Religious holiday 

● Family emergency 

 

Unexcused Absences include: 

● Oversleeping 

● Transportation problems 

● Business that could be held outside regularly scheduled school hours

 ● Vacations 

 

Attendance Expectations:

Daily attendance for all students at all grade levels is essential for successful learning.  According to research, chronically absent students are more likely than their peers with good attendance to face reading difficulties by third grade and less likely to earn a high school diploma. The state defines “chronic absenteeism” as any student who misses more than 10% of the school year, including absences both with and without a valid cause.  Moline-Coal Valley School District expects students to be in attendance for a minimum of 90% of the scheduled school days.  That means a student should miss no more than 4 days in a single semester of school (or fewer than 9 days for the school year).   Help us reduce chronic absenteeism by ensuring your student attends school all day, every day!

 

Timeliness:

Students are expected to be present and accounted for during each instructional period. In accordance with District Policy 7:70, the Superintendent or designee shall manage an absenteeism and truancy program in accordance with the School Code and School Board policy. The program shall include but not be limited to:

  • A process to identify and track students who are truants, chronic or habitual truants, or truant minors as defined in the School Code, Section 26-2a.

  • A description of diagnostic procedures for identifying the cause(s) of a student’s unexcused absenteeism, including interviews with the student, his or her parent(s)/guardian(s), and staff members or other people who may have information about the reasons for the student’s attendance problem.

 

Diagnosing Unexcused Absences:

  • Parents must provide the specific reason for absence by calling the school office, or in the case of a K-8 student, providing a signed note.  For absences without notification of reason, school staff will discuss with the student & contact the parent for clarification of the reason for absence.

  • School officials may also be required to report absence information and reasoning should they be made aware of those circumstances.

 

Supportive services for students and families struggling with absenteeism:

  • Parent conferences with administration and/or counselors

  • Student or family counseling, such as school-based counseling, social work services, or referrals to outside agencies such as Robert Young, Youth Service Bureau, or Transitions Mental Health

  • Community services, such as Metrolink Bus Service, Project Now,  RICCA.

  • Referral to district and/or ROE Truancy Support Personnel

  • Referral to Alternative School programming

 

Building absentee data is reviewed quarterly through leadership and problem solving team discussions at each building.  Student supports, resources and interventions for high-risk absenteeism are updated as needed for students and families struggling to meet attendance expectations.   The district analyzes chronic absenteeism data annually to identify trends and patterns in absenteeism, which can help in tailoring interventions for individual building needs.