Skip To Main Content

Attendance

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Students who have good attendance generally achieve higher grades, enjoy school more, and are more employable after leaving school. According to the Colorado Compulsory Attendance Law, it is the obligation of every parent/guardian to ensure that every child under his or her care and supervision receives adequate education and training and, if of compulsory attendance age, attends school.  It is the obligation of every parent/guardian to notify school officials of changes in phone numbers, addresses, and contact information as soon as possible. 

One criterion of a student's success in school is regular and punctual attendance. Frequent absences and chronic absenteeism may lead to poor academic work, lack of social development, and possible academic failure. Regular attendance is of the utmost importance for school interest, social adjustment, and scholastic achievement. No single factor may interfere with a student's progress more quickly than frequent tardiness or absence.   Continuity in the learning process and social adaptation is seriously disrupted by excessive absences. In most situations, the work missed cannot be made up adequately.

C.R.S. 22-33-104 states: (1) (a) ...every child who has attained the age of six years on or before August 1 of each year and is under the age of seventeen years, except as provided by this section, shall attend public school for at least the following number of hours during each school year: (I) One thousand fifty-six hours if a secondary school pupil; (II) Nine hundred sixty-eight hours if an elementary school pupil in a grade other than kindergarten; (III) Nine hundred hours if a full-day kindergarten pupil; or (IV) Four hundred fifty hours if a half-day kindergarten pupil.

 

D11 Attendance and Truancy Policies:

Link to:  JH

Student Absences and Excuses (Except for Truant, Suspended and/or Expelled Students)

Link to:  JH-R-1

Student Absences and Excuses (Except for Truant, Suspended and/or Expelled Students) (Regulation)

Link to:  JHB

Truancy

 

Colorado Department of Education Website Definitions: 

Truancy: Defined as an unexcused absence.

  • The rate is calculated by dividing the reported Total Student Days Unexcused Absences by the Total Student Days Possible.

Habitually Truant: (CCR - 301-78 Uses the calendar month (I.e., “January,” “September” etc.) to define month

Student is counted as habitually truant if they meet the below criteria:

  • 4 unexcused absences in one month (one “calendar” month)
  • 10 unexcused absences in one school year - but never had 4 or more in one month
  • Both - 4 in a month and 10 in a school year

Once a student meets the Colorado definition of being Habitually Truant, schools may initiate judicial proceedings to compel students to attend school through The 4th Judicial Truancy Court.

Chronically Absent:

  • Absent 10% or more of the days enrolled during the school year.
  • A student is absent if they are not physically on school grounds and are not participating in instruction or instruction–related activities at an approved off–ground location for the school day.
  • All absences are included for any reason – unexcused, excused, suspension, etc. regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused. (e.g., illness, suspension, the need to care for a family member etc.)

 

Attendance Resources:

Colorado Department of Education CDE:

 

Family and Community Resources: