Absence Support

Illinois law requires students ages 6–17 to attend school regularly. At Marseilles Elementary School, families are expected to ensure their child attends school daily and arrives on time unless an absence is unavoidable.

Parents/guardians must notify the school the same day a student is absent. Absences that are not reported are recorded as unexcused and may contribute to chronic absenteeism or truancy concerns.

• Chronic Absenteeism: Missing 10% or more of school days for any reason

• Chronic Truancy: Missing 5% or more of school days without a valid excuse

When attendance concerns arise, the school will contact families to offer support and work together to improve attendance. Early communication helps prevent concerns from escalating.

When a pattern of absences develops, the school will take the following steps:

• Contact families to discuss concerns and offer support

• Schedule meetings to review attendance and identify solutions

• Provide written notices regarding attendance status

• Refer the matter to the Regional Office of Education if required

• Initiate formal truancy procedures in accordance with Illinois law

Our goal is always to intervene early, support families, and keep students connected to learning. Open communication and timely call-offs help prevent attendance issues from escalating.

Excused Absences
An absence may be considered excused when the school receives appropriate notification or documentation for reasons such as:

• Student illness or medical appointments

• Mental or behavioral health days (as permitted by state guidelines)

• Family emergencies

• Religious observances

• School-approved activities

• Other reasons approved by school administration

Documentation, such as a doctor’s note, may be required.

Unexcused Absences
An absence may be considered unexcused when:

• The school is not notified of the absence

• The reason does not meet excused criteria

• Required documentation is not provided

• Absences are due to vacations, transportation issues, oversleeping, or personal errands

Why This Matters
Both excused and unexcused absences count toward total days missed. Repeated unexcused absences may result in additional school contact and required interventions.

If you are unsure whether an absence will be excused, families are encouraged to contact the school in advance or reach out for guidance.

Attendance Review Process

Marseilles Elementary School uses an Attendance Review process to identify students who may need additional support in maintaining regular school attendance. The purpose of this review is to partner with families early, address barriers, and prevent attendance concerns from escalating.

An Attendance Review may be triggered when one or more of the following occurs:

• A student meets Illinois state thresholds for:

  • Chronic Absenteeism (missing 10% or more of school days for any reason)

  • Chronic Truancy (missing 5% or more of school days without a valid excuse)

• Three (3) consecutive unexcused absences

• Five (5) or more unexcused absences at any point during the school year

• A developing pattern of absences that raises concern, even if state thresholds have not yet been met

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What Happens During an Attendance Review?

When an Attendance Review is initiated, the school will take the following steps to support improved attendance:

• Contact with the family to discuss attendance concerns and gather additional information

• A parent/guardian meeting will be scheduled to review attendance expectations and outline an attendance contract focused on improvement and support

• Ongoing follow-up will occur if absences continue to accrue

• Potential referral to the Regional Office of Education for LaSalle County for truancy intervention, if required under Illinois law

The purpose of the Attendance Review process is to work collaboratively with families, identify barriers to attendance, and prevent concerns from escalating whenever possible.

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Documentation & Follow-Up

In some cases, additional documentation (such as medical notes) may be requested if absences continue or if a medical concern is impacting attendance. 

Marseilles Elementary School is committed to working with families to address attendance concerns early and support student success.

Tyler Amm, Student Services Liaison and Family Resource Specialist, is available to help families navigate challenges that may be impacting attendance. With extensive experience supporting families and serving as a former LaSalle County Truancy Coordinator, Tyler works to identify barriers and connect families with solutions.

He can assist with:

• School refusal or avoidance

• Anxiety or emotional concerns

• Family crises or life transitions

• Transportation or housing challenges

• Understanding attendance expectations and requirements

Families are encouraged to reach out early or pre-emptively if concerns arise. Early support can prevent attendance issues from becoming more serious.

If your child is absent due to illness, please be sure to call them off the same day. If you are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend school, Kenzie Frank, School Nurse, is available to help guide families.

The school nurse can:

• Help determine if symptoms require your child to stay home

• Review illness and exclusion guidelines

• Support students with chronic or ongoing medical conditions

• Answer questions about health-related absences

Doctor’s Notes & Medical Documentation

Medical documentation may be requested in certain situations, such as frequent or extended absences. Accepted documentation includes:

• Doctor or clinic notes

• Hospital or urgent care paperwork

• Medical provider letters for ongoing conditions

If you are unsure whether documentation is needed, families are encouraged to contact the school nurse or main office for guidance.

ATTENDANCE

School Schedule

School will begin and end at the same time for students in K-8. Students arriving late are to report to the front office for a permit to enter class.

• Schedule A: 8:25 am – 3:00 pm

• Schedule B: 8:25 am – 2:00 pm (Tuesday Schedule)

• Schedule C: 8:25 am – 11:30 am (School Improvement Day)

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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.

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ABSENCES

It is the parent’s responsibility for the student to be in attendance the entire time school is in session. If the student is not going to be attending for a day or any part thereof, the parent/guardian must notify the school with a specific reason for the absence. School officials, not parents/guardians, will determine if an absence is excused or unexcused. The office does not accept notes from parents. The parent must call the office within the first hour of school and explain the reason for the student’s absence or it will be considered unexcused.

For your convenience, there is a voicemail system set up to accept messages before and after school hours by calling 815-554-4338. Administration, or their designee, reserves the right to call and confirm with any parent and/or guardian the reason for a student’s absence. After three consecutive absences, a doctor’s note may be required.

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A. Anticipated Absences

If you must take your son or daughter out of school for any reason, please notify the school office at least three days in advance. Such notice should also be given in writing to the classroom teacher at least three days in advance if makeup or homework is requested. If work is not able to be provided ahead of time, the student will have the number of days absent to complete and return missed assignments.

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B. Excused Absences

Marseilles Elementary School District #150 will follow the attendance policies established by the State of Illinois in reference to excused/unexcused absences. A student’s absence will be considered excused for the following reasons:

1. Illness/Injury – Students returning to the school after a doctor or dentist appointment must have a doctor’s note confirming the time frame that the student was seen by a medical professional. Students should remain at home until they have had no episodes of vomiting/diarrhea and have been fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours.
   Below are the general guidelines of appropriate reasons for a student’s absence:

   • Temperature greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit within the last 24 hours

   • vomiting/diarrhea within the last 24 hours

   • Severe headache, stomachache, earache, sore throat, chills, or allergic reaction

   • Excessive coughing

   • Rash of unknown origin

   • Head lice and scabies (first 36 hours)

   • Communicable diseases (we follow IDPH guidance per disease)

2. Death in the family

3. Family emergency

4. Observance of religious holidays – The parent/guardian of a student who is absent to observe a religious holiday or for religious instruction must provide written notice to the building principal at least five (5) calendar days before the anticipated absence(s). This written notice shall satisfy the notice requirement referenced above. The district provides each student who is absent from school due to the observance of a religious holiday an equal opportunity to make up any school work requirements including exams that are missed due to the absence.

5. Anticipated absence WHEN approved by school administration

6. Court appearance – Students returning to the school after a court appearance must have documentation confirming the time frame that the student was in court.

7. Administrative suspensions of students

8. Mental health days

9. Civic Events (This allows a school board to provide at least one day-long excused absence per school year for any middle school or high school student to engage in a civic event. Civic is defined as “an event sponsored by a non-profit organization or governmental entity that is open to the public.”) Prior notice of absence and documentation of participation is required.

10. Other situations beyond the student’s control

11. Other reasons as approved by the superintendent or designee

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C. Unexcused Absences

In order to comply with the School Code, the school reserves the right to determine if an absence is unexcused. If the main office has not received a phone call from the student’s parent or guardian within the first hour of school on the day of the absence, the student will be considered unexcused.

Unexcused absences are defined as those absences which are not authorized and/or school related. Unexcused absences may result in zero credit for any classes missed, with no opportunity to make up missed work unless the work could have a major impact on the student’s grade (e.g. major test, paper, etc.), provided the student makes proper arrangements.

The school considers the following reasons examples of absences without valid cause, thereby resulting in an unexcused status. The list is to be used for illustrative purposes only and includes, but is not limited to:

1. Oversleeping

2. Car trouble

3. Missing the bus

4. Giving rides to the airport

5. Babysitting

6. Shopping

7. Traffic

8. Vacations (family or otherwise). The district believes that students should take family trips during scheduled school breaks and should be in school when school is in session. We actively discourage the practice of students being taken out of school for family trips as vacations are recorded as unexcused absences.

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D. Sign In/Out Policy for Students

Any absence which results from a student signing into the building late or signing out of the building early will be considered excused or unexcused based on the criteria for excused and unexcused absences.

A student must sign in with the main office secretary anytime they arrive after the official start of the school day and must sign out with the main office secretary anytime they leave prior to the official end of the school day. Parents must meet their students at the office to sign them both in and out of the building. Only parents or legally appointed guardians may give permission for a student to sign in/out of school. Students being signed out due to illness or injury will be deemed excused or unexcused by the school nurse.

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E. Excessive Absences

Marseilles Elementary School District #150 believes that in order for a student to obtain the most from the educational opportunities provided, it is important that the student strive to work together with parents and/or guardians to keep student absences to a minimum.

We will consistently monitor our attendance and send informational letters to families to keep them abreast of their student’s attendance pattern. Please be aware that whether a student is excused or unexcused, excessive absences will have a negative impact on student learning and success.

The following procedures are in place to ensure that there is communication between the schools, parents, and students regarding absences:

• A letter to parents regarding attendance

• A letter to parents requiring them to provide medical documentation if absences continue

• Administrators may call a parent and request a meeting to discuss attendance patterns

• A referral will be sent to the County Attendance Caseworker (Truant Officer)

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F. Truancy

Chronic or habitual truancy is defined as a student who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.

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G. Home and Hospital Instruction

A student who is absent from school, or whose physician, physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse anticipates his or her absence from school, because of a medical condition, may be eligible for instruction in the student’s home or hospital.

A student who is unable to attend school because of pregnancy will be provided home instruction, correspondence courses, or other courses of instruction before (1) the birth of the child when the student’s physician, physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice nurse indicates, in writing, that she is medically unable to attend regular classroom instruction, and (2) for up to 3 months after the child’s birth or a miscarriage.

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H. Extenuating Circumstances

Students will not be penalized for absences that result from documented disabilities and/or extenuating circumstances, including but not limited to medical conditions, temporary injuries, hospitalizations, mental health needs, car accidents, or other serious personal events.

These absences will be considered excused for attendance reporting and participation requirements when the following conditions are met:

• The student provides appropriate documentation supporting the reason for the absence

• The student makes up all missed work within a reasonable timeframe

• The student maintains a grade of "C" or above in their coursework

School staff will work collaboratively with students and families to support academic progress during and after periods of absence. Individual cases will be reviewed by administration to ensure fair and consistent application of this policy.

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TRUANCY

A truant is a student absent without valid cause for a school day or portion thereof as defined in Section 26-2a of the Illinois School Code. The school may ask the County caseworker to make an informal contact with a student who has had one or more occurrences of unreasonable and/or invalid absences. A student with 10 or more occurrences will be referred to the LaSalle County Truancy Officer. The city of Marseilles has a Truancy Ordinance #1292, the Marseilles Elementary School works with the city to enforce this ordinance.

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Guidelines for TRUANCY PROGRAM in LaSalle Co.

A written excuse or phone call from a parent/guardian is required for all absences, whether they be for a full day or a portion of a day. Valid causes for absences include illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, a family emergency, or such other circumstance that causes reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student.

If a parent/guardian has not notified the school about the absence, that absence shall be considered an unexcused absence. Upon the accumulation of 10 absences, the school may notify the LaSalle County Truancy Officer and may turn the matter over to that office. Thereafter, the school will be obligated to inform the truancy caseworker of further absences. The school may, at any time, informally contact and consult with the truancy caseworker in the development of the most effective services for the student.

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TARDY

It is the student’s responsibility to be on time to both school and class. A student who is tardy to school at the beginning of the school day must report to the office before going to class. Any K-8 student who is tardy after 8:45 and considered 1/2 day absence. Any student absent for more than (4) hours is considered absent for a full day.

The school reserves the right to call or contact parents/guardians and express its concern over absences/tardies of a student.