What is the difference between an unexcused and an excused absence?<br>
For the purpose of determining whether a student is truant:<br>
• An excused absence is an absence which the school has reviewed and
has determined does meets the following legal requirements for an
excused absence:<br>
o Student illness<br>
o Death in the immediate family<br>
o Family emergency<br>
o Observation of a religious holiday<br>
o Circumstances causing reasonable concern to the parent for the
student’s health or safety<br>
o Other situations beyond the control of the student, as
determined by the principal<br>
• An unexcused absence is an absence which the school has reviewed
and has determined not to meet the legal requirements for an excused
absence. This is considered to be a truant absence.<br><br>


Must I send a note to the school explaining my child’s absence, even if I
called the school?<br><br>
• Yes. The Absenteeism and Truancy Policy (05-0126-PO2) requires that
a parent send a written note which explains the student’s absence each
time a student is absent.<br><br>


My child was ill, had a doctor’s appointment and did not get to school until
about 11:00 a.m. I sent a note explaining this to the teacher, but on the
report card, the teacher said my child had a ˝ day of absence. Should this
absence show on the report card?<br>
• YES! Every absence, whether excused or unexcused, must be recorded
as an absence. Any time that a child is not in school, other than for an
approved field trip, would be recorded as an absence.<br><br>


I received a warning letter from the school stating that because my 6
th
grade
son has 15 unexcused absences, he may have to attend summer school. Is
this true?<br>
• Yes. According to the Chicago Public Schools’ Promotion Policy (05-
1026-PO1), if a student in grades 3, 6 or 8 accumulates 10 days or more of
unexcused absences, the student must attend summer school.<br><br>


My child was absent for a week with the flu, and I contacted the school.
Every day, I received a computerized phone message from the school,
telling me that my daughter was absent on that day. Can’t they stop
sending that very annoying phone call?
• No. Your child’s school is required by law to contact your home each
day that your child is absent from school.
<br><br>


On my job, I usually have an off-summer vacation, during November or
December. Is it permissible for my children to miss school at that time to
go on vacation with me?<br>
• No. The law requires that your children be in attendance at school
whenever your child’s school is open for instruction. The only
approved vacation periods for Chicago Public School students occur
during the late December-early January winter vacation, spring
vacation (March or April) and summer vacation period. Students
receive a copy of the school calendar at the beginning of the school
year. The school calendar is available on the CPS Home Page,
www.cps.k12.il.us.<br><br>


My child arrived tardy to school, was not admitted into the school and was
told to go back home. Shouldn’t he have been allowed to come to school?<br>
• Yes. CPS policy states that tardy students must be admitted to school
and allowed to attend their classes. Under the Uniform Discipline
Code, students may be subject to disciplinary action (but not Out-of-
School suspensions) for persistent tardiness to school or class.<br><br>


My daughter was absent due to strept throat for four days. Because these
days are unexcused absences, will she still get a perfect attendance award at
the end of the school year?<br>
• No. While the illness does indicate that the absences will be noted as
excused absences, legally, the absences must be recorded by the school.<br>
To be recognized for perfect attendance, a student can not have either
excused or unexcused absences recorded in the attendance records.<br><br>


Recently, my principal told me that I am required to have a working phone
number on file with the school. Is this true?<br>
• Yes. In fact, for the purposes of making parent contacts for attendance,
and in the event of an emergency regarding your child, the Illinois
School Code requires that you supply the school with TWO (2)
working phone numbers at which you may be reached.<br><br>

My 16 year-old son has been very dissatisfied with attending school and
has told me that he is planning to drop out of high school. I do not want
him to drop out. Can he drop out without my permission?<br>
• No. Under a new law, the State of Illinois now requires that students
be in attendance up to the age of SEVENTEEN (17) years of age. In
addition, under the rules of the Chicago Public Schools, no student
may withdraw from school without the signed consent of his or her
parent/guardian. In addition, the school is required:<br>
a) to counsel the parent and the student about the consequences of
making the decision to withdraw from school, AND
b) to advise the student of the options and alternatives available to
continue his/her education, should the student withdraw from
school.

<br>
For questions and / or comments, please contact:<br>
Rev. Janette C. Wilson, Director<br>
Office of Instruction & School Management<br>
773-553-2214
jwilson@cps.k12.il.us