If My Child Will Be Absent…  

If your child will be absent from school please notify the school in advance if at all possible. Please reach out to your child's teachers to get school work that your student may miss. If your child is going to be absent for an extended period of time you must notify the office and complete a Pre-Authorization Absence form.   If your student is absent, excused or unexcused for 10 consecutive days, they will be withdrawn from school and will have to re-enroll when they return.

How Missing Just 2 Days of School Every Month Directly Affects Your Child

• Absenteeism affects student performance & reduces the opportunity for success & graduation.  

• Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year.

• Missing as little as 2 days of school a month equals to your child being Chronically absent

• Children’s Absence patterns are established as early as kindergarten.

• According to the research, poor school attendance results in third graders that can’t read. Sixth graders that fail courses, and ninth graders that drop out of high school.                                                                                       

Excused Absences ORS 339.065

• Personal illness or Mental health HB 2191

• Illness of an immediate  family member when the students presence at home is necessary 

• Military dependent up to 7 days

• Medical or health care appointment

• Death of a loved one or family member

• Emergency situations that require the students absence

• School-Sponsored activities

• Court appearance

Examples of Unexcused Absences

• Truancies or leaving school/classroom at any time without permission

• Appointments non medically related 

• Vacation, family trip, camping, or hunting

• Missing the bus/transportation problems/oversleeping

• Staying home to babysit

• Work or rest because of work

• Lack of required immunizations

• Any unexcused tardiness which results in a student missing more than 15 minutes of the period will be reported by the teacher to the main office as unexcused absence 

Notification Regarding Attendance

We call...In the event your child is absent and we have not been notified by a parent or guardian, a pre-recorded message and a personal safety call will be made to the primary phone numbers listed in ParentVue to confirm your child is safe with you. If your child has missed 2 or more days without notification from the parent or guardian, we may call emergency contacts listed on ParentVue to ensure your child's safety.  

We email letters...In addition to our safety calls, you may also receive an email informing you of your child's absences regardless if the absences are excused or unexcused. 

We request a conference...At 10 or more days of cumulative absences (excused or unexcused) or a student's attendance falls below the 92% attendance expectation (ORS 339.065), a parent meeting with the attendance team may be requested to make an attendance improvement plan.

Parents We Need Your Help…
Please schedule appointments/vacations before, after school or during school breaks. Only let your child stay home if he/she is truly sick. We are here to support you and your family so that your child/children can be successful learners. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for help with attendance or tardiness. 

Compulsory School Attendance Laws

EPSD9 follows the compulsory school attendance laws established by the state of Oregon. 

• All students age 5 - 18 are required to attend school on a full time regular basis once you enroll in a public school. It is the responsibility of the legal guardian to encourage their student’s attendance.  A legal guardian who is not supervising their student by requiring school attendance may be in violation of Oregon Revised Statute 163.577.  

• 10 Day Drop: Oregon State Law requires that we withdraw students who miss ten consecutive days of school. 
  
  

Consequences for Unverified and/or Unexcused Absences: Students with unverified or unexcused absences or excessive unexcused tardies may incur one or more of the following consequences. 

• Lunch detention

• After school detention

• In-School suspension

• May not be eligible to participate in school activities

• Attendance conference with student and parent(s)/guardian(s) 

• Referral to Jackson County Municipal Court

• Referral to Oregon Department of Human Services

• Change of placement

What Is Truancy: Truancy is when a student leaves the school and/or classroom at any time without permission