Absences

Being at school has a significant impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school.

Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is important for success in school and on the job. ISD 728 attendance policies are in full effect for the 2023-2024 school year. 

Students will be responsible for attending all school days including classes, study halls, and advisories each and every day. Parents and guardians will be tasked with ensuring students attend school and informing the school of a student absence, working cooperatively with school staff to solve any attendance problems that may arise.

The attendance policy can be found on our website at www.isd728.org/attendancepolicy. The policies and terminology here can assist parents and guardians with any responsibilities and problem areas that might arise during the school year. 

Any parent from an ISD 728 school can report an early dismissal, late arrival or absence via the following Attendance Reporting Options including Attendance Reporting Phone Line at 763-241-3555 or via the Campus Portal. This is a central hub that all ISD 728 building attendance staff can access.

Please review this police closely, as Truancy and Educational Neglect are mandated Child Protection reports under the Reporting ACT.

To be considered excused, parents or legal guardians must inform the school of the reason, follow attendance procedures and cite one of the following examples:

• Illness.
• Serious illness in the student’s immediate family.
• A death or funeral in the student’s immediate family or of a close friend or relative.
• Medical, dental, or orthodontic treatment, or a counseling appointment. A note may be required.
• Court appearances occasioned by family or personal action.
• Religious instruction not to exceed three hours in any week.
• Physical emergency conditions such as fire, flood, storm, etc.
• Official school field trip or other school-sponsored outing.
• Removal of a student pursuant to a suspension. Suspensions are to be handled as excused absences and students will be permitted to complete makeup work.
• Family emergencies.
• Active duty in any military branch of the United States.
• A student’s condition that requires ongoing treatment by a licensed mental health provider.
• Vacations with family with pre-approval.
• Other valid reasons as determined by the administrator.

To be considered an unexcused absence, student’s parent or legal guardian did not provide verification and/or did not provide a valid reason for the student’s absence from school.  

Examples are listed as follows:  

• Truancy. An absence by a student which was not approved by the parent and/or the school district.
• Any absence in which the student failed to comply with any reporting requirements of the school district’s attendance procedures.
• Work at home.
• Work at a business, except under a school-sponsored work release program.
• Vacations with family without pre-approval.
• Absences resulting from cumulated, unexcused tardies.
• Any other absence not included under the attendance procedures set out in school district policies and guidelines.