Attendance Overview and Policies

The Riverside Academy staff believes that regular attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunity for important communication among students and teachers, and establishes regular habits of dependability important to future success. The following attendance policy recognizes that class attendance is a joint responsibility of the student, parent/guardian, teacher and administrator.

Attendance Policy

Students should be in school every day; a missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn. The primary rationale for student attendance is the relationship between student attendance and student achievement. The general policy of the school district on Student Attendance is Policy 503.

A child under the age of 16 is considered “habitually truant” if they are absent from school without a lawful excuse for one or more periods on seven (7) school days. Parental notification is required by Minnesota statute and Child in Need of Protection services through the county attorney may intervene.

The school attendance line is 763-552-6250. Absences may also be reported via Skyward Family Access on the Attendance tab.

School District 911 Policies and Procedures

Minnesota State Statute requires that children attend school. For students under the age of 12, it is presumed that it is a parental responsibility to ensure the child’s attendance. Between the ages of 12 through the 17th year, it is primarily the student’s responsibility to get to school on a daily basis. A student is required to attend school each and every day and each and every class period. If a student misses a school day or part of a day, for legitimate reasons, a parent or guardian must notify the school.

Examples of excused absences include:

• Illness
• Medical or mental health appointments
• Religious holidays
• Family emergencies
• Dental appointments
• Vacations
• Suspensions
• School sponsored activities

Unexcused absences are any other reason than listed above are also considered an unexcused absence if the school is not notified of the reason for a student’s absence.

Examples of unexcused absences include:

• Missed the bus
• Overslept
• Bus suspension

If a student is absent without lawful excuse on three or more days, or any part of the school day, they are considered truant. Truancy is a violation of Minnesota State Law.

The parents, school, and community are all partners in working towards the goal of school attendance and educational success. The Law is “designed to provide a continuum of intervention and services to support families and children in school and combating truancy and educational neglect.”

When a student has had three unexcused absences, the school will begin the initial interventions. The school is legally required to notify the parent or guardian that the child is a “continuing truant” under the law after three unexcused absences. A letter will be sent outlining potential legal consequences as well as recommended action for the parent. At this point, parents are strongly encouraged to attend a school conference with their child. If the student has seven unexcused absences, he/she is considered “habitually truant”. The school is required to report to Isanti County Family Services or Isanti County Court Services that the student is in violation of the compulsory attendance laws.

Attendance Intervention Meeting (AIM)

Students with 3 or more unexcused absences may be referred to the Attendance Intervention Meeting (AIM) with Isanti County. Attendance Intervention Meetings provide families the opportunity to prevent the student/child from becoming involved in the Juvenile Court System. The meetings last approximately one hour, and there is time allowed for questions. Attendance intervention meetings must be attended by both the parent/guardian and the child. Failure to appear for these meetings may result in the filing of a truancy child protection petition in the juvenile court. AIM is an attempt to provide guidance on the impact of truancy and prevent further court action.If a child’s absences reach 10 or more days for any reason the school reserves the right to require a note from a physician specifically stating that the child is too ill to attend school for that day.