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Middletown Public Schools

Middletown Public Schools cultivates the brilliance in each student.

FAQ's: Student Attendance

Frequently Asked Questions about Student Attendance

It is so important for students to be at school each day for the entire day. It is understandable that sometimes students are absent from school for a variety of reasons. Please read the information below. The Connecticut state statutes and our District's Board of Education Policy 5112 set forth the requirements for school attendance.

  • You need to report your child's absence to the school within 10 school days of their return. The district accepts several methods of reporting; you'll only need to report one of the following ways:

    • Written or typed note

    • Phone call

    • Email

    • Message through ParentSquare/district-approved communication app

    • In-person reporting

    The report should be made to the school secretary, school nurse, student's teacher (for elementary students), or student's advisory teacher/counselor/administrator (for middle/high school).

  • Yes, the classification of an absence as either “excused” or “unexcused” is very important.

    • Unexcused absences are counted toward truancy and habitual truancy.

    • Excused absences are not counted toward truancy.

    • All absences are counted towards chronic absenteeism.

  • Excused: A student's first 9 absences in a school year can be excused if the parent/guardian approves the absence and notifies the school within 10 days. After 9 absences, an absence can only be excused (verified) for specific reasons:

    • Student illness (requires medical documentation)

    • Religious observance

    • Death in family/family emergency

    • Mandated court appearances (requires documentation)

    • Lack of district-provided transportation

    • Pre-approved extraordinary educational opportunities

       

    Unexcused: Any absence that doesn't meet the above criteria or isn't properly reported is considered unexcused.

  • Yes. After 9 absences, stricter documentation requirements apply. For example, all illness-related absences must be verified by a licensed medical professional, regardless of length. Other types of absences may require specific documentation as well.

  • No. Truancy only occurs when a student has:

    • 4 unexcused absences in one month OR

    • 10 unexcused absences in a school year

    Once a child is considered truant or habitual truant, our district Truancy Officer may become involved.

  • The school is required to monitor attendance and notify parents about attendance concerns. These letters are part of the school's obligation to track attendance and intervene early when patterns of absence emerge. When a student becomes truant, the school must schedule a meeting with parents within 10 days to discuss the reasons for the truancy and possible solutions.