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Board gives first reading to new attendance policy that outlines county reporting and possible consequences
Summary
At first reading, general counsel presented a proposed Policy 503 establishing uniform attendance rules, excused-absence categories, and a range of permissive consequences for unexcused absences—including county reporting, extracurricular withholding and potential grade/credit consequences; board asked for county-alignment clarity and the policy will return for action after committee review.
The Anoka-Hennepin board on Sept. 23 reviewed a first reading of a proposed attendance and absences policy (Policy 503) intended to standardize how schools track and respond to attendance issues across the district.
General counsel Tim Palmatier said the draft draws on the Minnesota School Boards Association model policy and aligns with county practices and statute. The policy lists excused-absence categories found in compulsory-attendance law, proposes county reporting for habitual unexcused absences, and describes permissive consequences school administrators may use, such as withholding extracurricular participation, pursuing grade-level retention for elementary/middle students in extreme cases, and academic or credit consequences for high-school students with excessive unexcused absences.
Palmatier and district social worker Britt O’Lien emphasized the policy is intended to provide consistent guidance and local discretion. They described a process for terminating intra-district open enrollment at a trimester for students who are habitually truant, subject to the limitations of Minnesota statute 268 and county juvenile-court processes. The policy committee recommended the draft move forward as a first read.
Directors asked whether the district’s tardy thresholds align across its two counties; staff explained Anoka County generally recommends counting a 15-minute tardy as an absence for reporting purposes and that elementary attendance is taken AM and PM, with a 60-minute late marking a half-day absence. Hennepin County has different practices on truancy referrals, so the district will continue to use county-tailored coding while aiming for consistency. The board will bring the policy back for second reading and committee refinement before formal adoption.
