7:070-E3 Attendance Letter #3

On District Letterhead

ATTENDANCE LETTER: 3

(Date):

To Parents/Guardians of (Student):

At Batavia Public School District 101 all elementary, middle, and high schools have worked together to develop a systematic approach to ensure that our students maintain consistent attendance patterns throughout the school year.  Research shows there is a direct relationship between regular attendance, punctuality, and school success.  Regular school attendance includes arriving to school on time and attending all classes throughout the day.  There is no substitute for actual classroom instruction.

We realize that your child’s absences may have a valid cause, and communication may have been made to the teachers and the main office or nurse.  However, the Batavia Public School District 101 Parent/Student Handbook states, “Students who are unable to attend classes due to the observance of a religious holiday shall be excused from any examination or any study or work assignment specific to such day (s).  The building principal shall determine the validity of any absence.  Other or unusual reasons for absence can be excused following a conference between the pupil’s parents and the building principal.  Excessive or patterned absences or tardiness may require further verification by school personnel or the intervention of Kane County officials.”  Chronic absenteeism – according to state laws on attendance – is defined as being absent 5% of the previous 180 school days (or 9 days) without valid cause.  

  Our attendance records indicate (student) has accumulated (#) days of absence, which is (X%), during the current school year. This meets and/or  exceeds our Tier III attendance guidelines, of 9+ days.  This letter is to inform you that your child has continued to be absent from school without the appropriate documentation or notification.  A referral has now been made to the Kane County Regional Office of Education Truancy Officer.  You will be contacted by the Regional Office of Education as to the steps that will follow.

If these absences have been the result of illness, injury or hospitalization, you may have contacted the main office and provided documentation. If documentation has already been provided for these absences, no further action is necessary.  If not, please contact the main office or send any medical documentation so that we may add it to our records. If your child’s attendance concerns continue and are due to illness, a doctor’s note may be required to excuse future absences.  You may be asked to sign a consent form allowing the school nurse to contact your child’s physician directly to discuss medical concerns impacting your child’s attendance at school.

MEDICAL ABSENCES:  Due to your child’s continued absences, you will be required to provide a doctor’s note for each additional absence due to illness.  If documentation is not received within 24 hours after returning to school, the absence will be unexcused. The doctor’s excuse should include the following:

• The dates covered by the note, including the date seen by the physician

• The nature of the illness that caused the absence
• Any information in terms of treatment, medication or other medical precautions

NON MEDICAL ABSENCES:  Non-medical absences will require documentation or notification to the building administration. Absences for vacations not on the school calendar are considered unexcused.

School laws are very specific as to the parent’s responsibility to ensure regular school attendance.  For your child to obtain the maximum benefit from his/her educational experience, it must be a joint responsibility between you and your child, and the school.  We look forward to working together with you to help your child succeed in school.  

Thank you, for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Administrator’s Name and Contact Information Here

Date Adopted:   June 23, 2017

Date Amended:  February 7, 2017