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School Policies and Forms » Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy

Attendance Expectations

Once enrolled in the school, students are expected to attend regularly and student's parents/guardians are expected to communicate regularly and honestly with the Kauffman School regarding the student's absences.

If students are not in class, they are not learning what they need to complete college. Students are expected to attend school every day except in cases of illness or serious emergency.

Parent/guardians should follow these guidelines with regard to attendance:

  • Call the Front Office (816-268-5660) as early as possible before 7:45 a.m. the morning of the absence regardless of the reason
  • Parents/guardians must call the school the day a student is absent in order for the absence to be counted as excused
  • Please schedule doctor, dental, and other appointments during non-school hours to ensure your child’s regular attendance 
  • Vacations are not excused Please schedule personal vacations for school holidays and breaks when school is not in session.

Excused Absence

In order for an absence to be excused, it must be due to illness or injury, death in the immediate family, significant family crisis, or religious holidays.  Additional reasons for excused absences not listed may be allowed based on approval by school administrator. In order for an absence due to an appointment to count as excused, a note must be brought into the front office within 48 hours of the absence.

Celebration of a birthday and “take your child to work day” are not considered excused absences.  A parent/guardian must notify the school within 48 hours after the day of the absence for it to be counted as excused. Illness resulting in three (3) or more consecutive absences requires a doctor’s note.  In the interest of public health and safety, students with contagious or communicable diseases or symptoms should not be brought to school.

Colleges review absences in their evaluation of our students. We strongly encourage students to minimize the number of absences they incur. Ten (10) or more absences of any kind during the school year may result in grade level retention.

Unexcused Absence

All other absences not listed above will be unexcused, unless approved at the discretion of the Principal or the Chief Executive Officer.  Failure by the parent/guardian to notify the school within 48 hours after the day a student is absent means the absence is unexcused. Colleges review absences in their evaluation of our students.  Unexcused absences remove 20 points from a student’s PREP score.

Unexcused absences reflect poorly on student conduct, so we strongly encourage students to minimize the number of unexcused absences they incur. Ten (10) or more absences during the school year may result in grade level retention or other actions as appropriate.

The Kauffman school will attempt to contact a parent or guardian any day a student is absent from the school, but it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to ensure the school is informed of the reason for a student absence the day the student is not in school. The parents/guardians of students with excessive unexcused absences may be required to meet with Kauffman School staff to address the issue. The Kauffman School may have a responsibility to report excessive unexcused absences to the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a student’s nonattendance is due to the educational neglect of the parents/guardians.

All other absences not listed above will be unexcused, unless approved at the discretion of the Principal or the Chief Executive Officer.  Failure by the parent/guardian to notify the school within 48 hours after the day a student is absent means the absence is unexcused. Colleges review absences in their evaluation of our students.  Unexcused absences remove 20 points from a student’s PREP score.

Unexcused absences reflect poorly on student conduct, so we strongly encourage students to minimize the number of unexcused absences they incur. Ten (10) or more absences during the school year may result in grade level retention or other actions as appropriate.

Make-up Assignments for Absences

Students have the opportunity to make up missed work for each day absent.  Students must turn in make-up work within one week of returning from an absence.

Prearranged Absences

If parents/guardians are aware in advance of situations requiring student absences, they should notify the Front Office (816-268-5660) as far ahead of the absence as possible. If reasonable time permits, arrangements will be made to get assignments from teachers. Students should generally avoid these types of absences, particularly during assessments.