Unless reporting would violate the terms of any memorandum of understanding between the district and the authority to which reports would be made. The building principal shall report students who are inexcusably absent from school to the appropriate authority.
Truancy is defined as any three consecutive unexcused absences, any five unexcused absences in a semester, or seven unexcused absences in a school year, whichever comes first. Truancy shall not apply to students who have attained a high school diploma, a general educational development credential, or a high school equivalency credential or any child who is determined to be an exceptional child, except for an exceptional child who is determined to be a gifted child, under the provisions of the special education for exceptional children act. Exceptions also exist for students attending the Kansas academy of mathematics and science and for students who are part of a recognized church or religious denomination objecting to a regular public high school education under circumstances specified in state law.
For truancy purposes, being enrolled and continuously attending a public school; a private, denominational, or parochial school taught by a competent instructor for a period of time which is substantially equivalent to the period of time public school is maintained in the school district in which the private, denominational, or parochial school is located; or a combination of attendance in both a public school and a private, denominational, or parochial school may satisfy compulsory attendance requirements. School year means the period from July 1 to June 30. Students who are absent without a valid excuse for a significant part of any school day shall be given an unexcused absence for truancy accounting purposes considered truant.
Prior to reporting to either the Department for Children and Families (if the student is under 13) or the county or district attorney (if the student is 13 or more years of age but less than 18 years of age), a letter shall be sent to the student’s parent(s) or guardian notifying them that the student’s failure to attend school without a valid excuse shall result in the student being reported truant.
Waiver of Compulsory Attendance Requirements
Students 16 or 17 years of age may be exempt from compulsory attendance regulations if:
Involvement of Law Enforcement
Law enforcement officers may return truant children to the school where the child is enrolled, to the child’s parent or guardian, or to another location designated by the board to address truancy issues.
Reporting to Parents
If a truant child is returned to school by a law enforcement official, the principal shall notify the parent or guardian.
Dual Enrollment Students
Eligible students who are enrolled in a board-approved dual enrollment program shall not be considered truant for the hours during the school day they attend classes at a Regent’s university, community college, technical college, vocational educational school, or Washburn University.
Adopted: July 11, 2022
PARENT CONSENT AND WAIVER FOR CHILD 16 OR OLDER TO BE EXEMPT FROM COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS.
I, (Name of Parent(s) or Person Acting As Parent), understand that pursuant to Kansas law, (Name of Student) is required to attend school until he/she receives a high school diploma or general educational development (GED) credential or reaches the age of 18, whichever occurs first.
Pursuant to K.S.A. 72-3120, as amended, Unified School District No. 458 encourages ___ (Name of Student) to remain in school or to pursue an education alternative.
The academic skills listed below have not been achieved by ____ (Name of Student)__:
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Based on (Source of Information) the difference in future earning power between a high school graduate and a high school drop out is ________________.
Name of Student) is encouraged to attend one of the following area alternative education programs in order to aid Name of Student in obtaining a high school diploma, a general education development credential, or other certification of completion, such as a career technical education industry certification:
(List any programs that may be available. Contact information for accredited private schools, virtual schools, and virtual programs can be found at http://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Career-Standards-and-Assessment-Services/CSAS-Home/Graduation-and-Schools-of-Choice/Adult-Diploma-Completion/Information-For-Alternative-and-Adult-Learners. The statutory language suggests an "alternative learning plan" could also include extended learning opportunities such as independent study, private instruction, performing groups, internships, community service, apprenticeships, and online coursework.) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I (we), the undersigned, hereby give written consent to allow Name of Student , who is [16] [17] years of age, to be exempt from the Kansas compulsory attendance requirement and state we have attended the final counseling session conducted by USD No. 458 in which the above information was presented to us.
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Signature of Student Signature of Parent(s) or Person Acting as Parent
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Date Date
Form updated: November 12, 2018