Attendance

It is important that you contact your child’s school if your child is absent from school. 

On the day of your student’s absence, you will receive a notification via phone call, text, or email if the absence has not been reported or is unexcused via our district system. Contacting parents and guardians of students who are not in class is an important measure undertaken by the District to ensure the safety of all of our students.

Absences that are not excused may result in disciplinary action. 

All absences are considered unexcused, until the school receives a note or email documenting a valid reason for the absence. Students who are absent from school with the consent of their parent or guardian, but whose absence does not fall under the excused absences reasons, shall be considered unexcused. Examples include, but are not limited to, missing the bus, a family trip not approved in advance, and oversleeping.

Any student excused in writing by their parent/guardian, prior to an absence, is excused from school attendance. A student may be excused by the parent/guardian under this provision for not more than 10 days in the school year.

A student absence is considered excused under the following circumstances:

• Illness, including reasonable treatment for such illness, where the student is temporarily not in proper physical or mental condition to attend school. A written statement may be required to be submitted to the school as proof of the student’s health condition for student’s absences due to illness; 
• Health Care Appointments (medical, doctor, dental, mental health) that cannot be scheduled outside the school day. A written note by the provider shall be required for the absent due to health care appointment; 
• Religious Holiday; 
• Severe weather conditions that, in the parent/guardian’s reasonable judgement, are a danger to the health, welfare, and safety of the student; 
• Funeral for a family member or close friend; 
• School sponsored activity; 
• Mandatory court appearance; 
• Suspension from school; 
• College visitation for high school seniors and second semester high school juniors (2 days). Additional days may be granted on an individual basis by the guidance department/administration;
• Serving as an election official;
• Sounding Taps
   

Students who miss a significant number of school days (10% or more), regardless of the reason, are considered chronically absent and may face academic and social challenges. The School District of the Menomonie Area  is committed to working with families to address chronic absenteeism and support student success. We are committed to your child’s success and we are your partner. Together, we can set your student up for success! 

Review DPI’s School Attendance Resources

Wisconsin public schools share responsibility with students and caregivers to ensure school-age children are enrolled in and attending appropriate educational programs. The law provides that any person having under their control a child who is between the ages of 6 and 18 years and that has not yet graduated from high school shall cause the child to attend school regularly during the full period and hours, religious holidays excepted, that the public or private school in which the child should be enrolled is in session until the end of the school term, quarter, or semester of the school year in which the child becomes 18 years of age. [Wis. Stat. § 118.15(1)(a)]. Instruction in a home-based private educational program (home schooling) that meets the criteria found in Wis. Stat. § 118.165(1) may be substituted for attendance at a public or private school. [Wis. Stat. § 118.15(4)]. There is no exception in the law for a child who has been expelled and that child is still required to attend school (or a legal alternative). If the expelled student is a student with a disability, the resident district must continue to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

The Wisconsin Constitution guarantees a free education for children ages 4 through 20 who have not yet graduated from high school. The requirement of the local school district to provide free public elementary and secondary education to resident children is stated in Wis. Stat. §. 121.77(1) as follows: “Every elementary school and high school shall be free to all pupils who reside in the school district.” A school district must enroll and serve a resident student immediately. A school district may deny education services only if: the student is not a resident of the district; or, pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 120.13(1)(f), if the student is currently expelled from another Wisconsin public school district.