Attendance

Dionne Webster
Director of Family Engagement and Student Supports and Elementary Leadership
dwebster@usd116.org

Dr. Jeniece Mitchell
District Family Liaison
jdmitchell@usd116.org

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Every Minute Counts

Absences add up! Students who miss TWO DAYS of school a month…

  • Will miss 20 days per year
  • Will miss 30 hours of math
  • Will miss 60 hours of reading and writing
  • Will miss more than an entire year of school by high school graduation

Strong attendance has a proven impact on student success. Help us by making sure your student is in school EVERY DAY, in order to achieve academic success. Please let us know how we can support you.  

We know that some absences are unavoidable. We understand kids get sick and occasionally need to stay home. The important thing is to get your student to school as often as possible. We are here to support you and assist in removing barriers that interfere with your student’s attendance. 

Chronic absence means missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason -excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspension. Absences can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school.

VALID CAUSES OF ABSENCES

The acceptable reasons for excused absences according to Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are: “Valid cause” for absence shall be illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, student mental health day, civic event per Public Act (PA) 102-981.”

When it is necessary for a student to be absent, the parents/guardians are required to call the attendance office on the first day of absence. Students who are out of school because of illness may be requested to present a medical excuse upon their return to school.

All absences, except absences due to personal illness or death in the immediate family as defined in the policy, are to be recorded and treated as unexcused unless approval for the absence is obtained prior to its occurrence. Procedures for requesting that an absence be classified as excused are outlined below.

REPORTING AN ABSENCE

When a student is absent because of illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, or an emergency in the immediate family, as defined in the district policy, these procedures are to be followed:

  • The parent or guardian is to call the school attendance office (main office in schools other than the middle school and high school) on the morning of the first day of the absence.
  • The parent is to indicate the reason for the absence and the estimated duration of the absence.
  • When a student is absent for personal or family illness for an extended time or is frequent, the school may request reasons in writing from the parent and/or a statement from a physician.
  • All absences not reported by phone, regardless of reason, will be recorded as unexcused. Telephone calls must be made between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the day of the absence, or the absence will be considered unexcused.

EXCESSIVE ABSENCES

The maximum number of excused absences allowed in a school year is eight (8). Parents may request that an absence be excused for the following reasons: personal illness, family illness, medical/dental appointments, religious holidays, and funerals. Once a student has accumulated eight absences per year, any additional absence will be considered unexcused and handled as an unexcused absence. Excluded from this policy shall be absences that are verified by a doctor’s statement. The doctor’s statement must be an original copy signed by a licensed medical professional. It must include the date(s) of the student’s relevant absence(s).

MENTAL HEALTH ABSENCES

The Illinois State Board of Education recognizes that supporting our educators’ and students’ mental and emotional well-being is vitally important to achieving our vision, mission, and goals.

Public Act 102-0321 (Senate Bill 1577) amends the compulsory attendance article of the School Code by allowing students to take up to five mental or behavioral health days per year. Students are not required to provide a medical note and must be given the opportunity to make up any schoolwork missed during such absences.  Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. It is essential to know that mental health is more than just the absence of a mental disorder or disability. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

TRUANCY

Truancy is defined as unexcused absence for any school day or a portion of the school day. Habitual or chronic truancy is defined as unexcused absences totaling 5 percent or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days; approximately nine unexcused absences. Parents will be notified by their school before a student’s absences reaches five percent. Schools will utilize supportive services and other school resources in an attempt to correct the truant behavior of students who are approaching a chronic truancy classification.

MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that works to ensure educational stability for homeless youth. The McKinney-Vento act allows homeless students to enroll in school and receive transportation without delay.

Urbana School District 116 is committed to educating students who meet the guidelines under McKinney-Vento. If you have questions or need assistance regarding homelessness, please contact one of the District’s Homeless Liaisons:

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