Illinois law requires that whoever has custody or control of any child between six (by September 1st) and seventeen years of age shall assure that the child attends school in the district in which he or she resides, during the entire time school is in session (unless the child has already graduated from high school). Illinois law also requires that whoever has custody or control of a child who is enrolled in the school, regardless of the child’s age, shall assure that the child attends school during the entire time school is in session.

There are certain exceptions to the attendance requirement for children who: attend private school, are physically or mentally unable to attend school (including a pregnant student suffering medical complications as certified by her physician), are lawfully and necessarily employed, are between the ages of 12 and 14 while in confirmation classes, have a religious reason requiring absence, or are 16 or older and employed and enrolled in a graduation incentive program.

Regular attendance at school is a very important part of a good education for every student.  Extensive planning and preparation by each teacher is disrupted and partially destroyed when student absenteeism is high.  Only those students who attend every class every hour are able to receive full value from the instruction. When a student must be absent from school, he/she must have his/her parent/guardian call and notify the school regarding the reason for the absence.  If possible, absences should be excused by the parent/guardian on the day of the absence.  If this is not possible, absences then must be excused by 8:00 a.m. on the following day.   Unless there are extenuating circumstances, no absences will be excused after that time.  Calls may be made to 892-2151, number 1 in the directory, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The maximum number of excused absences allowed in a semester is five (5).  Students with five (5) absences in a semester may be excused for additional absences only upon a written statement from a licensed physician explaining the reason for the absence.  Students exceeding five (5) unexcused absences may be reported to the Regional Superintendent as chronically truant for further action and follow-up by the State’s Attorney.  Parents may request an absence to be excused only for the following reasons: personal illness, family illness, medical/dental appointments, funerals, and to attend a military honors funeral to sound TAPS.  Absences for any other reason will be excused only upon the approval of the administrative staff.  Oversleeping, bad weather, child care, missing the bus or lack of transportation are examples of unexcused absences.  Absences due to school-sponsored activities (field trips, participation in RTHS sporting events, etc.) are not counted in the allowed number of excused absences.  Students with excessive absences may be subject to being placed on an intensive behavior monitoring contract.

It is the student’s responsibility to check in and out of the attendance office properly when leaving and returning to school.  Failure to check out of school is not an excusable infraction.  Failure to follow the proper procedure may result in disciplinary action.  Upon returning to class following an absence, students are strongly encouraged to confer with their teacher(s) regarding make-up assignments.  It is the student’s responsibility to acquire make-up work after an absence.  Students will have a reasonable amount of time to complete make up work.  The teacher will determine the amount of time.

There are two types of absences: excused and unexcused. Excused absences include: illness, observance of a religious holiday or event, death in the immediate family, family emergency, situations beyond the control of the student, circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or safety, attending a military honors funeral to sound TAPS, or other reason as approved by the building principal.

Additionally, a student will be excused for up to 5 days in cases where the student’s parent/guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat-support postings. The Board of Education, in its discretion, may excuse a student for additional days relative to such leave or deployment. A student and the student’s parent/guardian are responsible for obtaining assignments from the student’s teachers prior to any excused absences and for ensuring that such assignments are completed by the student prior to his or her return to school.

All other absences are considered unexcused.  Pre-arranged excused absences must be approved by the building principal.

The school may require documentation explaining the reason for the student’s absence. 

In the event of any absence, the student’s parent/guardian is required to call the school at 217-892-6000 before 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 will be required to submit a signed note from the parent/guardian explaining the reason for the absence.  Failure to do so shall result in an unexcused absence. Upon request of the parent/guardian, the reason for an absence will be kept confidential.

Student attendance is critical to the learning process. Truancy is therefore a serious issue and will be dealt with in a serious manner by the school and district.

Students who miss more than 1% but less than 5% of the prior 180 regular school days without valid cause (a recognized excuse) are truant.  Students who miss 5% or more of the prior 180 regular school days without valid cause are chronic truants.  Students who are chronic truants will be offered support services and resources aimed at correcting the truancy issue.

If chronic truancy persists after support services and other resources are made available, the school and district will take further action, including:

• Referral to the truancy officer
• Reporting to officials under the Juvenile Court Act
• Referral to the State’s Attorney
• Appropriate school discipline

A student who misses 15 consecutive days of school without valid cause and who cannot be located or, after exhausting all available support services, cannot be compelled to return to school is subject to expulsion from school.

A parent or guardian who knowingly and willfully permits a child to be truant is in violation of State law.

The administration must approve all planned absences no less than one week before the absence. When a student knows ahead of time that he/she will be absent, he/she should secure advance assignments from each classroom teacher.

Notification after the fact will constitute an unexcused absence for each day the student is gone.

College visitation days are allowed up to two days per semester only with prior approval for juniors and seniors only.  In order for a college visit day not to count as an absence, the student must return a form signed by a college admissions official verifying the visit not later than the day the student returns to school.