Attendance

ATTENDANCE 

Attendance Line - (630)468-4555 

Parents may report absences by calling the attendance line or entering it in Infinite Campus.  Absences must be reported within 24 hours of an absence.  Failure to call within 24 hours of the day of absence will result in an unexcused absence.

Reporting Absences Due to Illness 

Please clearly and slowly state the following:

• Date and time of the call
• Student ID number
• Spell the student's first and last names
• Reason for absence and date of expected return
• Relationship to the student and call-back number

Reporting Absences Other than Illness

Partial Day - Doctor visits, physical therapy, dentist and orthodontist absences can be left on the Attendance Line - (630)468-4555 on the morning of the absence. Your student will then receive a pass for dismissal. Upon return your student may provide a note to the Student Center. For all other partial day absences, please call the number below:

Last Name A - K: (630)468-4225

Last name L - Z: (630)468-4223

If a parent/guardian anticipates being out of town and therefore will be unable to provide official notification of a student absence, the parent/guardian must provide written documentation of the adult designated to approve student absences in their stead. This written documentation must be submitted to the Attendance Office prior to the parent/legal guardian leaving town.

For absences of 3 days or more please complete the Pre-Arranged Absence form on the panel below.

Each high school’s regular school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m. Students are required to attend all scheduled classes prior to and following such special events such as field trips, assemblies, AP exams and any other events that are scheduled within regular school hours. Students must remain on campus through their last scheduled class.

Students will report to class or study hall on time. If they are to be excused in order to go to another classroom or office during a class prior, the teacher or study hall supervisor must authorize it in writing. Students assigned to study hall due to a physical education medical exclusion or athletic exemptions are required to attend study hall on a daily basis. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes on the school day in which they participate in extracurricular activities. Students are expected to attend all special assemblies, programs, and homerooms provided by the school.

Calls to excuse students only for the time of an assembly may not be accepted.

Tardiness is not acceptable because it disrupts class, damages the morale of students who are on time, reflects a negative attitude toward class and creates disruption in the corridors. Fifteen minutes or more of time missed will be considered an absence.

Parents/guardians must notify the Attendance Office if a student will be arriving late to school before the student’s arrival at school.  

The Pre-Arranged Absence form must be completed by the parent/guardian two (2) days before the absence begins in order for it to be excused.

This form must be completed in the following instances:
1.  Student will be absent for 3 or more school days
2.  Student will be absent during final exams
3.  Student will be absent due to a non-school related activity
4.  Student will be absent due to a civic event 

Parents/guardians will need to contact the Attendance Office in order to verify the absence. 

Parents/guardians must:
Fill out the Pre-Arranged Absence form electronically.
Fill out the form with details regarding the reason for the absence and the relevant dates.
Non-school related competitive activity or sport – letter from the coach with dates, schedule, or registration documents.
College visit – turn in documentation of scheduled appointment/tour.

Student should:
Talk to their teachers about all homework that must be completed during that time.
Be prepared to meet deadlines related to coursework completion.
 

Pre-arranged absence form

Pre-Arranged Outside Sport/Event

Pre-Arranged College Visit

Pre-Arranged Religious/Prayer

District 86 calculates attendance based on total minutes. 350 minutes of time absent (during one day or multiple missed periods) equals one day absent.

The district notifies parents and guardians of absences through phone calls, emails and text messages.

The district sends out communication when a student misses a total of 8, 12, 16 and 25 days.

Students are allowed 5 mental health days each year. These are counted as an excused absence.

Chronic Absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% of the school year with or without a valid excuse. This measures total absences, excused and unexcused.

Chronic truancy is defined as a student missing 5% of the school year without a valid excuse.

Examples of excused absences include: 

1. Illness (including mental health or behavioral health of the student) 
2. Observance of a religious holiday 
3. Death in the immediate family
4. Attendance at a civic event (one per school year by following the pre-arranged absence procedures) 
5. Family emergency 
6. Other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the board of education 
7. Voting (see board policy 7:90, Release During School Hours)
8. Circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or safety 
9. Other reason as approved by the superintendent or designee 
   • Hospitalization 
   • Court dates 
   • College visits – when Pre-Arranged Absence Procedures are followed

Examples of unexcused absences are:

1. Oversleeping 
2. Car trouble 
3. Cutting class 
4. Missing the bus 
5. Missing one class to study for another or make up tests and quizzes 
6. Babysitting 
7. Shopping 
8. Extending prom weekend 
9. Resting or preparing for special events or exams 
10. Senior Ditch Day 
11. Vacation (will be coded as Unexcused Parent Call)

A student who is Chronically Absent or Truant may receive the following interventions:

1. Required Doctor’s Note
2. Referral to DuPage County Truancy Task Force
3. Schedule change
4. Loss of class credit
5. Attendance Letter
6. Attendance Contract