Attendance Matters

Regular and punctual attendance is an important part of student success. Students who attend school consistently have greater access to instruction, opportunities to build relationships with peers and staff, and the support they need to grow academically and socially.

Colorado Compulsory Attendance Law requires parents and guardians to ensure that children of compulsory school age receive an appropriate education and attend school as required. Families are also responsible for keeping their school informed of changes to phone numbers, addresses, and other contact information.

Consistent attendance helps students stay connected to classroom instruction, school activities, and their school community. Frequent absences, chronic absenteeism, and repeated tardiness can interrupt learning and make it difficult for students to keep pace academically and socially. Because classroom learning often includes discussions, collaboration, hands-on activities, and other experiences that cannot be fully recreated, making up missed assignments may not replace the instruction and learning opportunities missed during an absence.

Our goal is to partner with students, families, schools, and community resources to identify attendance barriers early and provide support that helps every student remain connected to school and learning.

Colorado Compulsory Attendance Requirements

Colorado law establishes minimum school attendance requirements for children of compulsory attendance age.

C.R.S. § 22-33-104 requires children who have reached age six on or before August 1 and are under age seventeen, except as otherwise provided by law, to attend public school for at least:

  • 1,056 hours each school year for secondary school students
  • 968 hours for elementary students in grades other than kindergarten
  • 900 hours for full-day kindergarten students
  • 450 hours for half-day kindergarten students

Families may review the full statute for additional requirements and exceptions.

D11 Attendance and Truancy Policies

District 11 attendance policies and regulations provide guidance regarding student attendance, absences, excuses, and truancy.

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

JH-R-1 – Student Absences and Excuses Regulation
Student Absences and Excuses (Except for Truant, Suspended and/or Expelled Students) – Regulation

JHB – Truancy
District policy regarding student truancy.

Colorado Department of Education Attendance Definitions

Truancy

A truant absence is an unexcused absence.

The truancy rate is calculated by dividing the total number of reported student days of unexcused absences by the total number of student days possible.

Habitually Truant

Under Colorado's definition, a student is considered habitually truant when the student has:

  • Four unexcused absences in one calendar month;
  • Ten unexcused absences during one school year; or
  • Both four unexcused absences in a calendar month and ten unexcused absences during the school year.

Once a student meets the Colorado definition of habitually truant, additional attendance interventions may be implemented. When appropriate, judicial proceedings may also be initiated through the 4th Judicial District Truancy Court to support compliance with compulsory attendance requirements.

CCR 301-78 uses a calendar month—for example, January or September—when defining "month."

Chronic Absenteeism

A student is considered chronically absent when they are absent for 10% or more of the days they are enrolled during the school year or applicable attendance period.

For chronic absenteeism:

  • A student is considered absent when they are not physically present at school and are not participating in instruction or instruction-related activities at an approved off-site location.
  • All absences count toward chronic absenteeism, regardless of the reason.
  • This includes excused and unexcused absences, illness, suspensions, family responsibilities, and other reasons a student may miss school.

Because chronic absenteeism includes all types of absences, families are encouraged to communicate with their school whenever circumstances are affecting a student's ability to attend regularly. Schools and Student Success staff can work with families to identify barriers and connect them with available supports.

Attendance Resources

Colorado Department of Education

Family and Community Resources