What do I need to do if my child will be absent from school?

When a student is absent from school, parents/guardians are responsible for notifying the school on the day of the absence by calling the school office or absence reporting line and providing the following information:

• Parent/guardian name
• Student’s name
• Return phone number
• Reason for the absence

What is an excused absence?

FPS recognizes that students will, at times, have legitimate reasons to be absent. These reasons are referred to as excused absences and include the following:

• Student illness or injury
• Death in the family
• Observance of a religious holiday
• Court summons (student’s name must appear on the summons)
• School approved activities
• College visits (documentation required)
• Suspension
• Legal, immigration, military or other similar obligations

What is an unexcused absence?

An absence is considered unexcused when a student misses school for reasons that are not accepted by the school, with or without parent permission. Unexcused absences including the following:

• Attending parent/guardian appointments
• Attending parent/guardian court summons
• Family travel/vacation
• Staying home to take care of or visit family members
• Missing the school bus
• Sleeping late
• Weather-related absences other than when the district has canceled school
• Undocumented illness/injury that exceeds more than three days