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Attendance Procedures

KPS Attendance Procedures

The attendance procedures are designed for all students. Good attendance will help students do well in school, college, and at work. It does not matter if absences are excused or unexcused, they all represent lost time in the classroom and lost opportunity to learn. Too many absent students can impact the whole classroom. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that states report chronic absence data. Chronic absence is missing 10 percent or more school days due to absence for any reason — excused, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Chronic absence not only impacts the absentee students; it disrupts learning for an entire classroom when teachers have to repeat lessons for students returning to class. Families should avoid extended vacations that require your children to miss school. Try to line up vacations with the school’s schedule. The same goes for doctor’s appointments. Above all, set an example for your child. Show your child that attendance matters to you and that you will not allow an absence unless someone is truly sick.

School is students’ first and most important job. They are learning about more than math and reading. They are learning how to show up for school on time every day, so that when they graduate and get a job, they will know how to show up for work on time every day. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate and find good jobs. In fact, a high school graduate makes, on average, a million dollars more than a dropout over a lifetime.

All students aged six to sixteen are required to be in school according to state law. Parents/guardians are required by law to make sure their children attend school on a daily basis. Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) expects all students to attend school. A collaborative approach is used in educating young students, which includes the utilization of family support specialists, staff members and administrators to ensure that students attend school on a daily basis.

When your student has the following number of unexcused absences in a semester, you should expect to receive the following notifications and support.

3 days of unexcused absences in a semester
💻 Letter or email to parent/guardian
📞 Robo text or phone call

5 days of unexcused absences in a semester
💻 Letter or email to parent/guardian
📅 In person, virtual or phone conference

10 days of unexcused absences in a semester
💻 Letter or email to parent/guardian
🏫 School attendance committee creates an individualized plan of support

15 days of unexcused absences in a semester
💻 Letter or email to parent/guardian
🏢 Referral to central office.

The central office attendance team will make further recommendations that may include:

  • wrap around services

  • referrals to community support organizations

  • academic interventions

  • summer school attendance

  • possible recommendations for grade level retention

Contact your child's school if you have any specific questions.

Chronic Absenteeism

The state defines ‘chronic absenteeism’ as attending school less than or equal to 90% of the time. This includes all absences (excused, unexcused, suspensions, etc.). A student who misses more than half the day is considered absent for the day. Chronic absenteeism not only impacts the absent student, it disrupts learning for an entire classroom when teachers have to repeat lessons for students returning to class.

When your student is out of school, for any reason, they are missing valuable instructional time.

Every six weeks, families will receive letters from the school if their child has an attendance rate of less than or equal to 90%.