Students who miss a significant number of school days, regardless of the reason, are considered chronically absent and may face academic and social challenges. Mountain View School District is committed to working with families to address chronic absenteeism and support student success. We are committed to your child’s success and we are your partner. Together, we can set your student up for success! 

It is important that you contact your child’s school if your child is absent from school. 

On the day of your student’s absence, you will receive a notification via phone call, text, or email even if the absence has been reported via our district system. Contacting parents and guardians of students who are not in class is an important measure undertaken by the District to ensure the safety of all of our students.

Mountain View School District recognizes that there may be legitimate reasons for absences, such as illness, family emergencies, or religious observances. Parents/guardians are required to provide documentation to excuse absences. Documentation must be submitted within 3 of days after the absence occurs. 

A student's absence is considered excused under the following circumstances:

• Illness
• Family emergency
• Death of a family member
• Medical or dental appointment
• Pre-approved educational travel (not to exceed [##] days)
• Pre-approved religious instruction (not to exceed [##] hours/year)
• Bona Fide religious holiday
• Pre-approved tutoring exception (see Policy for details)
• Court hearing
• Dismissed from school by a school nurse or administrator
• Care provided by a licensed health care or therapy practitioner
• Parent deployed for or on leave from combat posting
• “Rare and extraordinary circumstances” approved by the Superintendent (this is very narrowly defined)

Following an absence, a student is required to bring a written excuse from home when returning to school. Illnesses, and doctor and dental appointments are considered excused absences. Absences without a written excuse are recorded as unexcused.

To clear an absence you can:

• Call your child's school
• Use the ParentSquare App
• Stop by the school’s office
• Send a note to the school with your name, your child's name, their grade, and the reason why your child was absent

Children should be encouraged to be prompt as part of developing good habits. They are expected to be at school on time. If a child is late, the child should bring an excuse from home to the school office. A student will be classified as truant if they are tardy or absent for more than a 30 minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year.

It is also important that you know the state only awards funding to school districts for actual attendance. The state does not fund districts for the excused absences listed below. Always review the school calendar and plan activities and vacations during days off. No pupil whose attendance is excused shall have grades or academic credit lost if assignments and tests can be reasonably completed.

Absences that are not excused may result in disciplinary action.  All absences are considered unexcused until the school receives a note or email documenting a valid reason for the absence.  If the reason isn’t valid, the absence is still considered unexcused.

If the note isn’t received within 3 days, the absence is considered unexcused. If a note is received within 3 days, the absence may be reclassified as excused. Unexcused absences are considered “unlawful absences” if the student is of compulsory school age.