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Board considers changing attendance language and adding FAFSA policy tied to state grant
Summary
District leaders proposed revising attendance policy language (switching 'excused' to 'verified' absences) and presented a state FAFSA challenge grant that would ask seniors to complete the FAFSA, sign a waiver, or show documented good-faith outreach; trustees discussed wording and potential operational impacts.
District leaders presented two policy items Jan. 19 meant to support student attendance and postsecondary access.
Under the proposed attendance-policy language, the district would add an introductory paragraph that emphasizes the importance of daily attendance and change the label currently called "excused absences" to "verified absences," district staff said. Administrators said the revision stems from professional development and an attendance task force that wants to stress that verification does not make missing school desirable; the board discussed messaging for families about when a child is too sick to attend school.
Separately, the district described details of a state FAFSA challenge grant. The draft policy language — taken from a Michigan Department of Education sample — would ask the class of 2026 seniors to complete one of the following: submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), sign a waiver indicating they understand options and decline to complete the FAFSA, or allow the district to document good-faith efforts to assist and record the outcome. Administrators noted that about 42% of current seniors had already completed the FAFSA before program rollout and that the district plans family support events (the high school's "future fair" is tentatively planned for March).
Board members raised concerns about making FAFSA completion a strict graduation requirement. Several trustees suggested language such as "expect" or "encourage" rather than "require," and emphasized that the district should not create punitive barriers to graduation; administrators said they would check whether grant acceptance obligates the district to use the term "require." One trustee recommended adding explicit wording that the listed options apply to students and families.
District staff said they will refine the policy language, confirm grant conditions with the grant administrator, and return to the board for formal consideration before the state's June deadlines.
