Students are expected to attend school every day except when excused according to Minnesota State compulsory attendance laws. The school is required to report excessive absences / tardies to the appropriate agencies.
The burden of a child being excused from school is placed on the parent / guardian of the child. A school has the right to accept or deny a reason for an absence. The Truancy Intervention Program (TIP) and the FamilyTruancy Intervention Program (FTIP) are programs of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with local neighborhood support agencies and the St. Paul Public Schools. They focus on excessive unexcused student absence or tardiness and compliance with the Minnesota attendance laws. If a student has five unexcused absences, a referral to a TIP meeting with the Ramsey County Attorney is made.
Acceptable Reasons for Being Absent
Sickness (Doctor verification may be requested)
Doctor / Dental appointments
Extreme family emergencies
Religious Holidays
Prior Approved Travel / Vacation (Travel forms are available on the website.)
Unacceptable / Unlawful Reasons for Being Absent
Staying home to baby-sit
Overslept
Missed Bus
Too Cold
Needed at home
Work
Travel / Vacation that does not have
prior approval from the school
Please call 651-325-2500 to report an absence. The office is staffed beginning at 7:00 a.m., but a message may be left at any time. If we do not receive a phone call, we assume your child should be in school. Beginning at 9:00 a.m., we will call the homes of any absent child who has not been accounted for by a phone call.
District policy states that all children absent from school for illness or other reasons must present a written excuse from a parent or guardian before being readmitted to classes.
Students tardy to school
In order for students to achieve at their highest level, it is imperative for them to arrive on time. Valid excuses for tardiness are medical or dental treatment or late school bus as verified by district officials. After a total of 5 days of unexcused tardies, the school shall send a letter to the parents informing them of the dates and times the student was tardy, the start time of the school, and the possibility of being referred to the TIP/FTIP if the tardies continue.
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