Attendance

An excused absence occurs when a student misses school for a reason recognized as valid by Wisconsin state law or school district policy, and the school is properly notified. Common examples include:

• Personal illness
• Serious illness or death in the family
• Funerals
• Family vacation or travel
• Religious observances
• Student court appearances
• Medical, health, or wellness appointments
• College visits
• Car trouble, weather-related issues, or family emergencies
• Missing the bus

Per Wisconsin Statute §118.15(3)(c), students may be excused for up to 10 days per school year for such reasons. Once a student exceeds the 10-day limit, additional absences must be medically excused or otherwise supported by appropriate documentation.

Medical excuses must come from a licensed provider. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Nurses
• Dentists and Orthodontists
• Chiropractors, Optometrists
• Psychologists and Mental Health Therapists
• Christian Science Practitioners
• Physical, Occupational, Nutritional, Speech, or Behavioral Therapists

If you have questions about whether a provider qualifies, contact your school’s administration.

No. Students are allowed up to 10 parent-excused absences per year without a medical note.

However, once that limit is exceeded, schools may require a medical note to excuse further absences. Absences properly documented with a medical note do not count toward the 10 parent-excused day limit.

Yes. Medical excuse notes can be submitted after an absence and will be applied retroactively. Absences properly documented with a medical note do not count toward the 10 parent-excused day limit.

Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, we will be updating how the 10 parent excused days are calculated to more accurately reflect the amount of instructional time missed—while still supporting student needs and family flexibility. These updates aim to create a more accurate and fair approach to tracking absences across grade levels, while keeping student safety, learning, and accountability at the forefront.

What’s Changing:

• Elementary School Level:
  • Absences will be calculated in half-day increments.
  • Missing any part of the morning or afternoon (after the first 10 minutes), will count as a half-day absence.
  • Two half-day absences will equal 1 parent-excused day.

• Middle School Level:
  • Absences will be based on missed class periods.
  • All class periods (Core and Encore) will be considered as one period
  • Missing any part of a class period (after the first 10 minutes) will count as one missed period.
  • 5th Grade: 5 missed class periods will equal 1 parent-excused day.
  • 6th, 7th and 8th Grade: 6 missed class periods will equal 1 parent-excused day.

• High School Level:
  • Absences will be based on missed class periods.
  • Missing any part of a class (after the first 10 minutes), will count as one missed period.
  • 6 missed class periods will equal 1 parent-excused day.

If your child has already used the 10 allowed excused days and you have a trip planned, please contact your school’s administration as soon as possible. Open communication helps us work together to support your child’s attendance and academic success.

An absence is considered unexcused when:

• No valid reason is provided,
• The school is not properly notified, or
• The student has already exceeded the 10 allowed parent-excused days and no medical note is provided.

• Truancy is defined as being absent without an acceptable excuse for all or part of one or more days when school is in session.
• A habitual truant is a student who is absent without an acceptable excuse for all or part of five or more days in a semester.
   

According to KASD Policy 430, a “part of a school day” means an unexcused absence longer than 10 minutes of a class period and is classified as tardy.

If a student is identified as habitually truant:

1. A truancy letter will be sent via registered mail, certified mail, or first-class mail. (required by Wisconsin law).
2. The parent or guardian will be asked to schedule a meeting with school administration.
3. During the meeting, school staff will work with the family to identify challenges and create a plan to support the student’s attendance moving forward.

Our goal is to partner with families to address concerns early and prevent further consequences.

Yes. If you don’t notify us or if the vacation results in the student exceeding the 10 parent days, it can be marked unexcused.

State law requires schools to notify families when a student accumulates a certain number of absences—whether excused or unexcused. These letters are intended to promote awareness, support consistent attendance, and keep families informed. Many parents, especially at the secondary level, may not realize how quickly absences add up.

• 5 excused absences: Notification letter is automatically sent.
• 10 excused absences: School attendance team may send a letter.
• 3 unexcused absences: Notification letter is automatically sent.
• 5 unexcused absences: School attendance team may send a letter.

A student is considered habitually truant when they accumulate five or more unexcused absences, whether full-day or partial-day, within a single semester.

Wisconsin law requires schools to notify parents or guardians by registered, certified, or first-class mail when a student becomes habitually truant. In some situations, school administrators choose certified mail to ensure delivery is documented. This is a legal requirement and part of the district’s process for maintaining accurate and responsible communication with families.

We fully understand that illness is unavoidable, and we encourage students to stay home when they are not feeling well. However, attendance letters are automatically triggered by our system when a student reaches 5 excused absences, regardless of the reason. These letters are part of our effort to maintain open communication and keep families informed.