School Attendance Matters

Regular school attendance for all students is important, it matters, and will help set students up for success and prepare them for what is next, whether that is the next grade level or college and career, there is no better way to ensure students are on the right track than regularly attending school.

D49 has many board policies related to attendance and truancy. Below, we have linked the full policies regarding school absences and excuses.

All of our schools are required, by Colorado Law, to track attendance of all students. When students meet absence thresholds, the school is required, by Law, to follow a process with a goal of informing families of the issue and providing accountability if attendance concerns are not remedied.

The following criteria will require the associated district response:

• 4 “days”: 1st Letter of Concern is issued.
• 6 “days”: 2nd Letter of concern is issued and an Attendance Contract is completed by the Building Administrator or Designee. A meeting is requested with the Guardian and the school will complete the Attendance contract.
• 8 “days”: Notice of Non-Compliance is issued; this is requested by the Building Administrator or Designee along with a completed Truancy Individualized Program checklist.
• 10 “days”: A Truancy Petition is filed with the court and Building Administrator or Designee completes a Truancy Intervention Summary; in accordance with terms of Notice of Non- Compliance

The set number of absences varies according to the level of the school (i.e. elementary, middle and high school). However, the procedures set forth are aligned with the same number of “days” regardless of the school level.

For example, due to the block schedule at a high school, a student may miss sixteen (16) periods (i.e. four (4 days) with unexcused absences before their parents receive a letter, yet an elementary student may miss eight (8) half-days (i.e. 4 days) of unexcused absences before their parents receive a letter.

No school administrator wants to initiate court proceedings, however all administrators have a professional responsibility and are required to follow Colorado School Attendance Law requirements. Please understand, when schools follow the process above they are doing what the Law requires and what they are accountable to do.

The processes above are followed for any student age 6-17. No matter the age of the student, they are expected to be in school and parent(s) bear the ultimate responsibility to ensure their student is attending school regularly.

Hopefully, this explains the process and expectations all of our school must follow. If you ever receive a letter, or are involved with any other part of the process as described please understand the school is following Colorado Law.