Student Services
ATTENDANCE/LEAVERS
State Compulsory School Attendance Law requires that:
Children between the ages of six (6) and eighteen (19) must attend school;
Children enrolled in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten are required to follow the same state attendance law;
Children enrolled in school must attend all day, everyday, for the entireschool year.
The following suggestions are being provided to you by MISD Attendance Officers to assist in resolving your child's attendance problems.
I. ATTENDING SCHOOL THE ENTIRE DAY
Value the entire school day. Schedule appointments after school or on weekends. If you must keep an appointment during the school day, return the child to school unless the doctor recommends immediate home rest. Be sure to provide a doctor's note to the school when your child returns.
II. TARDINESS/EARLY REMOVAL
Being on time and attending all day are important habits to develop.
Arriving late or leaving early disrupts the class and reduces valuable learning time for everyone.
Being late to school or leaving early from school is counted as a partial-day absence, which is a violation of the Compulsory Attendance Law.
III. ILLNESSES
If your child complains of being ill, screen him/her for symptoms. Look for obvious signs of illness such as fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. Parents can treat minor complaints with over-the-counter medication. Children should be encouraged to attend school unless they show visible signs of illness. Healthy children should not stay home just because another family member is ill. Parents could be watchful for the development of regular absence pattern. It is a good idea to mark a calendar on days your child is absent.
If your child's symptoms continue for more than two days, contact a medical professional.
IT IS THE PARENTS' LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILD ATTENDS SCHOOL REGULARLY AND ON TIME.
OFFICE OF SAFE SCHOOLS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ARE THE ONLY MISD PERSONNEL PERMITTED TO SUBMIT A REQUEST TO THE COURT THAT A CASE BE DISMISSED.