The Illinois School Code (Section 26-1) states: "Whoever has custody or control of any child between the ages of 6 and 17 years shall cause such child to attend some school within the district wherein the child resides the entire time it is in session during the regular school year." This same statute further requires that students over the age of 17 who enroll in a public school are to maintain regular attendance.  Per ISBE requirements chronic medical issues may require a doctor’s note to be updated every 30 days. 

The School Code clearly places responsibility for student attendance upon parents or guardians. To assist parents and guardians in complying with this regulation, the Board directs the superintendent to maintain a procedure providing for school-parent contact concerning absence, truancy and tardiness.

In the event of any absence, the student’s parent/guardian is required to call the school by 8:00 a.m. to explain the reason for the absence. If a call has not been made to the school by 10:00 a.m. on the day of a student’s absence, a school official will call the home to inquire why the student is not at school. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the student absence will be considered unexcused until contact can be made. Voicemail will be available to take your message 24 hours a day.

Students who are absent all day or a portion of the day may NOT attend extracurricular activities after school or in the evening.  Students absent on Friday may not attend extracurricular activities on Friday, Saturday or Sunday night, including dances.

All students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time for classes. There is a direct relationship between poor attendance and class failure. Students who have regular attendance generally achieve higher grades. To obtain perfect attendance for the year a student must be in school every period of every day. The following regulations cover absences and tardiness: