A student shall be excused from school for the following reasons:

A. Physical or Mental Condition: The student is temporarily not in proper physical or mental condition to attend a school program, such as an illness.  Medical verification may be required which would include dates of the illness that the child should not be in school and must include a date the child can return.

B. Emergency or Crisis: An emergency that requires the student to be absent because of familial responsibilities or other appropriate reasons.

C. Attendance at a Funeral

D. Medical Appointments: Appointments with medical professionals. Such appointments are to be made, whenever possible, when school is not in session. When emergencies arise, appointments as early or as late in the school day as possible are recommended. Verification of appointments may be required.

E. Travel with Family: The intent of this statement is to provide opportunity for students to accompany their parent/ guardian on an out of town trip, which cannot be reasonably scheduled when school is not in session. A parent/ guardian shall notify the building principal/ designee prior to leaving on the trip, of the pending absence for the purposes of attendance maintenance and for reviewing the potential impact to the student’s attendance record and academic standing.

F. Obtaining Religious Instruction: To enable the student to obtain religious instruction outside the school during the required school period (see Policy 5223-Release Time for Religious Instruction)

G. Religious Holiday: Students’ sincerely held religious beliefs shall be reasonable accommodated with respect to academic activities, examinations, co-curricular activities, special events (e.g. dances). For observance of a religious holiday consistent with the student’s creed or belief, see Policy 5223.01-Accommodating Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs

H. Permission of Parent or Guardian: The student has been excused by his/her parent or guardian before the absence for any or no reason. A student may not be excused for more than ten (10) days in a school year under this paragraph and must complete any course work missed during the absence

I. Suspension or Expulsion: The student has been suspended or expelled

J. Program or Curriculum Modification: The District has excused the student from regular school attendance to participate in a program or curriculum modification leading to high school graduation or a high school equivalency diploma as provided by State law.

K. High School Equivalency-Secured Facilities: The District has excused a student from regular school attendance to participate in a program leading to a high school equivalency diploma in a secured correctional facility, a secured child caring institution, a secure detention facility, or a juvenile portion of a county jail, and the student and his/her parent or guardian agree that the student will continue to participate in such a program.

L. Child At Risk: The student is a "child at risk" as defined under State law and is participating in a program at a technical college on either a part-time or full-time basis leading to high school graduation, as provided under State law.

M. Quarantine: Quarantine of the student's home by a public health officer.

N. Illness of an Immediate Family Member: The illness of an immediate family member.

Parents are permitted to excuse their child from school for up to 10 days.  This would include minor illnesses, regularly scheduled doctors or dental visits, vacations or other reasons.

Absences considered EXEMPT from the 10 day total would include a medical illness accompanied by a doctor's note indicating the dates  a child should remain out of school and a return date, emergency medical visits or hospitalizations.

School staff will work with families regarding attendance  to create an action plan for special situations related to health and other issues.

MTSD encourages parents to keep their children home if they are sick.  Our guidelines are they should be fever free for 24 hours, or have not vomited or had diarrhea for 48 hours before returning to the classroom. 

We do not expect parents to get a medical note for minor illnesses that keep your child home sick.  Parents can excuse their student for up to 10 days.  If there is an ongoing health issue that affects your students attendance, staff will work with the family to develop a health plan.

A student that has missed more than 10% of attendance days (attendance rate of 89% or below)

A student will be considered truant if he or she is absent part or all of one (1) or more days from school during which the principal or designee has not been notified of the legal cause of such absence by the parent or guardian of the absent student. 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.

A student will be considered a habitual truant if he or she 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.

If habitual truancy occurs, the principal will communicate with the proper authorities under State law, the Board’s policies and procedures, and applicable provisions of State law. The District will review and, if appropriate, revise a Truancy Plan at least once every two (2) years.

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. The notice of truancy shall be given before the end of the second school day after receiving a report of an unexcused absence. Notice shall be made by personal contact or telephone call, if possible, and a written record of this notice shall be kept. If such notice is not effective, notice shall be made by mail. This notice must be given every time a student is truant until the student becomes a habitual truant.

When a student initially becomes a habitual truant, the school attendance officer shall provide a notice to the student's parent or guardian, by registered or certified mail according to state statute.

Truancy cases will be referred to the district attorney as provided in statute. The school attendance officer will ensure that appropriate school personnel have complied with District procedures before referral to the district attorney.

 A child that is considered chronically absent or habitually truant is at risk of losing their open enrollment seat and can be withdrawn from the district.