Attendance

Please Note:  Absences older than one week cannot be excused.

To excuse your student’s absence, please email Highland.Attendance@slcschools.org.  Include your student’s name, student number and the exact dates/class periods to be excused.  Be aware that the sender’s email must match the parent email in PowerSchool exactly.  If it does not, the request will not be processed, and a notice will be sent to the parent email on file.

This email may not be used to check student’s out of school.  Students are required by law to attend all classes, every day. Any student who needs to leave during the day must be checked out of school through the Attendance Office. Students who leave class without being properly checked out may be considered truant and marked as such.

Utah State Law designated the following reason for valid school excusal:

• Physical or mental illness.
• A medical appointment.
• A family event/death.
• Observance of a religious holiday.
• Approved school activity.

Reasons such as a substitute, parental awareness, etc. are NOT valid grounds for an excusal.

If a student is going to miss 8 or more consecutive days of school, they must fill out the Extended Absence Form before leaving to ensure they are not unenrolled.

If you believe your student was marked absent in error, reach out to your student’s teacher directly.  The Attendance office will not change an absent to a present without written confirmation from the teacher.

Any request received after 2:30 will be processed the next school day.

In order to increase the likelihood of academic success, it is expected that every student attend class, on time, every day. Parents and their student(s) are jointly responsible for ensuring the student’s regular attendance at school. See SLCSD Board Policy S-4 for more information. 

SLCSD Board 'Student Policy' S-4: Administrative Procedures Student Attendance and Exemption From School
Section VI. Truancy Notification and Peer Court Referral Process

A. In accordance with state law, a school administrator, his or her designee, or a truancy specialist (hereafter collectively referred to as “school administrator”) may issue a truancy notification to a student and the student’s parent for chronic unexcused absences.

B. A school/district administrator may impose administrative penalties on a school-age child who is:

1. in grade 7 or above, unless the child is less than 12 years old; and
2. truant.

C. The school administrator may issue a First Truancy Notification to students in grades 7 and above, who are at least 12 years old, and who have been truant at least five times during the school year.

1. Weekly attendance reviews through PowerSchool and PowerBI will identify students who have accumulated five unexcused absences.
2. The list should be reviewed to verify the accuracy of the information regarding student absences, and to determine whether a First Truancy Notification should be sent.
3. Student attendance will be monitored for students who receive a truancy notification and the school administrator will implement interventions as designated in the school plan.

D. The school administrator will issue a Second Truancy Notification to students who have 10 or more days of unexcused absences.

1. The school administrator will implement at least three interventions (see, section III.B.) as designated in the school plan.
2. School student services council meetings and peer court may be utilized if this intervention is deemed appropriate for the student and family.

E. The school administrator will issue a Third Truancy Notification to students who have 15 or more days of unexcused absences. This notification will be sent by certified mail or verification of personal delivery.

1. School administration will meet with parent and student to develop an attendance plan and monitor for 14 school days.

a. School administration will contact the district family school collaboration coordinator to review interventions and determine next steps if the final intervention was unsuccessful.

2. School administration and/or counselors will attempt at least one home visit prior to a court referral or a 10 day withdrawal.

3. If a student under the age of 18 continues to be absent after meeting with the school administrator, a court referral may be filed with assistance from the district family and school collaboration coordinator.