Submit an Absence for Elementary Schools

The following reasons shall be sufficient to constitute excused absences:

1. Illness
2. Serious illness in the student’s immediate family
3. A death or funeral in the student’s immediate family or of a close friend or relative
4. Medical, dental, or orthodontic treatment, or counseling appointment
5. Court appearances occasioned by family or personal action
6. Religious instruction not to exceed three hours in any week
7. Physical emergency conditions such as fire, flood, storm, etc.
8. Official school field trip or other school-sponsored outing
9. Removal of a student pursuant to a suspension.
10. Religious observance
11. Family vacation (limited to 5 days per year) handled as excused absences and students will be permitted to complete make-up work
12. Family emergencies
13. A student’s condition that requires ongoing treatment for a diagnosis

In order for an absence to be excused, a parent needs to call the school attendance line prior to, or the day of the absence. The parent needs to state when the child will be absent and explain the reason for the absence. Students whose absences are excused are required to make up assignments missed or to complete alternative assignments as deemed appropriate by the classroom teacher. Students who accumulate excessive absences, even when excused, will work with the school staff and parents to develop a plan to assure attendance at school daily.

Eden Prairie students arriving late or leaving early must have parents call the attendance line. The message should include the parent/guardian’s name, student name, and reason for absence. Excused reasons for being late or leaving early will follow the same listing as excused absences. Students who are late due to oversleeping or missing the bus are considered unexcused and may be counted as tardy or in some cases, as an unexcused absence.. 

Students are expected to be in their assigned area at the start of school or the start of a class. Failure to do so constitutes tardiness.

Procedures for Reporting Tardiness: Students tardy at the start of school must report to the school office to be signed in. Tardiness between class periods will be handled by the teacher.

Valid excuses for tardiness are:

1. Illness
2. Serious illness in the student’s immediate family.
3. A death or funeral in the student’s immediate family.
4. Medical, dental, orthodontic, or mental health treatment.
5. Court appearances occasioned by family or personal action.
6. Physical emergency conditions such as fire, flood, storm, etc.
7. Any tardiness for which the student has been excused in writing by an administrator or faculty member.

An unexcused tardiness is failing to be in an assigned area at the designated time class period commences without a valid excuse.

• School district staff will work with the parent, student and the Hennepin County Attorney’s office be@school program and follow the three-day notification and six-day Parent Group Meeting process.
• If unexcused absences continue after following be@school process, the Hennepin County Attorney's office will follow with necessary legal action to ensure attendance at school.
• Absences resulting from official suspension will be handled in accordance with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, Minn. Stat. 121A.40-121A.56.
• Days during which a student is suspended from school shall not be counted in a student’s total accumulated unexcused absences.
• Along with following the Hennepin County Attorney’s be@school programs, the student or his or her parent or guardian may, within a reasonable time, request a conference with school officials regarding the student’s absences and the prescribed discipline. The notification will state that the school strongly urges the student’s parent or guardian to request such a conference.