Parent or guardian excused absences are authorized by state law and yet are also limited to no more than ten (10) days per school year. These absences include all family vacations, college visits, and family emergency needs. Parent excused absences are counted in 1⁄2 day increments. Beyond the 10 days, the following list also constitutes what is recognized by the Board as an excused absence:

1. Evidence that the student is not in proper physical or psychological condition to attend school or an educational program. The parent/guardian shall obtain a written statement from a physician or licensed practitioner as proof of the physical or psychological condition of the student. The excuse shall be in writing and state the period of time which it is valid, not to exceed 30 days.
2. Medical, dental, chiropractic, optometric, or other-valid professional appointments accompanied by appropriate documentation (such as appointment cards or written statements). Parents or guardians are encouraged to make appointments during non-school hours.
3. Legal proceedings that require the student’s presence
4. To enable the student to obtain religious instruction outside the school during the required school period. 

Unexcused absences/truancies demonstrate a deliberate disregard for the educational program and are considered a serious matter that can lead to a truancy citation from law enforcement. 

A student will be considered truant if s/he is absent part or all of one (1) or more days from school during which the School Attendance Officer or principal has not been notified of the legal cause of such absence by the parent or guardian of the absent student. Wisconsin Statue 118.16 (1) (c). A student who is absent intermittently for the purpose of defeating the intent of the Wisconsin Compulsory Attendance Statute Sec. 118.15, Wis. Stats., will also be considered truant. 

Students who are absent from school with or without the consent of their parent or guardian and whose absence does not fall under parent excused absences above, shall be considered unexcused absent/truant. Examples of unexcused absence/truancy include but are not limited to: missing the bus, oversleeping, babysitting, gainful employment, leaving school without permission, shopping, errands, and hair or tanning appointments. 

Absences extending beyond the 10 parent excused absences or those not approved as excused as noted above will be documented as an unexcused absence. Absences documented as unexcused by school administration can be requested for parent review. Any absence that has not been acknowledged by a parent or referenced by other accepted documentation within a period of one week will be recognized as an unexcused absence. 

The School Attendance Officer shall notify a truant student's parent or guardian of the student's truancy and direct the parent or guardian to return the student to school no later than the next day on which school is in session or to provide an excuse for the absence. 

A student will be considered a habitual truant if s/he is absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five (5) or more days on which school is held during a school semester. 

Penalties/Consequences for Truancy:   If a student is truant for 1 or 2 class periods, he or she may be assigned one detention for each period that the student is truant. For truancy violations exceeding 2 periods, the following penalties may be imposed: 

• 1st & 2nd offense: In-school suspension
• 3rd offense: and thereafter: Penalties/consequences will be determined by the high school principal
• 4th offense, law enforcement will be contacted for a conference.
• 5th offense of each semester, law enforcement will be contacted and a possible truancy citation may occur.