Board Policies

This Policy is under review.

5008 - Student Attendance

Last Updated Date: 06/16/2025

Adoption Date: 05/21/2018

Revision History: 08/05/2024, 11/15/2021, 07/13/2020

Attendance promotes success and positive outcomes for all learners. Regular attendance by students at school is essential for students to obtain the maximum opportunities from the education program. Parents, guardians, or those responsible for making educational decisions on behalf of the student and students are encouraged to ensure regular and timely attendance at school.

In the event of an absence not reported to the school, attendance calls, text messages and/or emails will be sent to parent/guardian or the person who is responsible for making educational decisions on behalf of the absent student.  Attendance is reported daily and may be monitored through the portal available to parents on the District student information system. 

The District recognizes the following as Excused Absences:

  • School Sponsored Activities - School related activities that take a student out of their scheduled classes, i.e. field trips, competitions, athletic events, school matinees, speakers, testing, etc.
  • Bereavement - Parent/guardian notifies the school the student is attending a funeral.
  • Court/Legal Appearance - Parent/guardian notifies the school the student is required to attend a court or legal proceeding. This is specific to only the student.
  • Illness - Parent/Guardian notifies the school the student is ill.
  • Medically Excused - A medical provider's note is required to verify the absence to include: a medical appointment, hospitalization, or a long term chronic physical or mental illness; or the school nurse is required to send the student home.
  • Military Leave - Parent/guardian notifies the school the student absence is specific to deployment and/or military leave activities.
  • Office - The student is in the school, but has written authorization from a school administrator or nurse identify the reason the student was not in class.
  • Post-Secondary Visit - Parent/guardian notifies the school the student is visiting a post-secondary program.
  • Religious Holiday Observance- Parent/guardian notifies the school of the religious holiday observance.
  • Student Success Center - Student attending the Student Success Center.
  • Suspension - Student absence while on suspension.
  • Bus - The Principal, or designee, provides notice that there has been a delay due to District provided transportation.
  • Interim – The student is in an interim school setting.
  • Senior Release – The student is a 12th grader and not required to attend at the end of the school year – graduation.
  • Technology – The student had technology issue preventing them from participating in remote learning.

    All other absences are Unexcused.

    To improve attendance, the District will take a holistic approach, utilizing school, family, and community resources to identify and address the reasons students are absent from school. When concerns arise about a student’s attendance, the District will work with the person or persons who have legal or actual charge and control of any child or the person who is responsible for making educational decisions on behalf of the child if that person is someone other than the person who has legal or actual charge or control of the child.

    After a student has accumulated TWENTY days of absences or its hourly equivalent, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THOSE ABSENCES ARE EXCUSED OR UNEXCUSED, the District shall render services to address barriers to that student’s attendance. Such services shall include, but not be limited to: 

    1. Written communication by school officials to the person or persons who have legal or actual charge and control of any child or the person who is responsible for making educational decisions on behalf of the child. 
    1. One or more meetings of the Student Attendance Team along with the parent/guardian or the person who is responsible for making educational decisions on behalf of the child, and, when appropriate, the student, to address the barriers to attendance. The result of the meeting or meetings shall be to develop a collaborative plan to reduce barriers identified to improve regular attendance. The plan shall include, if agreed to by the person who is responsible for making educational decisions on behalf of the child, an educational evaluation to determine whether any intellectual, academic, physical, or social-emotional barriers are contributing factors to the lack of attendance. The plan shall also consider, but not be limited to: 
      • The physical, mental, or behavioral health of the child;
      • Educational counseling;
      • Referral to community agencies for economic services;
      • Family or individual counseling;
      • Assisting the family in working with other community services; and
      • Referral to restorative justice practices or services.

    Reporting Excessive Absenteeism to the County Attorney:

    The District MAY report to the county attorney when the District has documented the efforts it has made as required by the collaborative plan noting that they have not been successful in improving regular attendance by a student. The designated school official shall also provide written notice to the parent/guardian or the person who is responsible for making educational decisions on behalf of the child prior to making the referral to the county attorney. A student’s physical or mental illness that makes attendance impossible or impracticable shall NOT be the basis for referral to the county attorney. The District may involve the county attorney at any point in the process of addressing the student's absences without it rising to the level of a referral. 

    Legal Reference:

    Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-201 and 79-209

    Policy References: