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Policy committee advances attendance/excuses policy; mental-health days, McKinney-Vento supports discussed
Summary
The committee recommended a first read of proposed Policy 5113 (attendance and excuses). Members discussed chronic absenteeism thresholds, mental-health days, McKinney-Vento procedures for homeless students, and resource needs for family liaisons.
The policy committee voted to recommend a first read of Policy 5113 (attendance and excuses), a document that defines acceptable excuses, chronic absenteeism thresholds and school/district monitoring procedures.
Kelly (staff member) told the committee the first 10 absences are treated as parent-notified absences; on day 11 and beyond the district asks for additional documentation for the absence to be excused. The draft policy lists acceptable reasons such as illness, religious observance, mandated court appearance, lack of district transportation and extraordinary educational opportunities.
Committee members asked about the district’s chronic-absence rate and supports for vulnerable students. Kelly said the district’s chronic-absence rate had fallen from the COVID-era twenties to roughly the low teens in the fall, and the district is working to get under 10 percent districtwide. She reported more than 100 identified McKinney-Vento (homeless) students and described expanded liaison work; the McKinney-Vento liaison (Lisa Basher, referenced) helps clear enrollment barriers and connect families to supports.
The committee also confirmed mental-health days are included in the policy as excused absences; staff said those days are recorded in PowerSchool, cannot be taken on consecutive days and do not require excessive documentation.
The committee approved the item for first read by voice vote; staff will continue work on communication and monitoring protocols for schools.
