Data shows that consistent attendance leads to healthier, happier students with better achievement and an improved sense of well-being. We want all of those things for your children, and we are here to help. Please contact your school if you need help ensuring consistent attendance.
Attendance is so important that state law requires school districts to enforce attendance policies to help ensure children go to school.
Here’s what that looks like in the Amphitheater District:
When a child is marked absent, parents/guardians will be notified that day through an automated phone call unless the absence is reported to the attendance office. This is a safety measure to ensure that parents know that their child is not in school. If you know your child will be absent, please notify the school so they can record the information. This will ensure everyone has accurate info -- and help avoid unnecessary calls!
You can report the absence by contacting the school or using the Parent Portal. In the Portal, select "More," then "Absence Requests" and "Create Request." Please note that absences cannot be reported after the day of the absence, so be sure to contact the school or report via the Portal as soon as you know your child will be missing school.
Unexcused Absences
If your child has unexcused absences, you can expect to get a letter to make you aware of the absences. The letters will be issued if an elementary or middle school student accumulates five or seven unexcused absences. High school letters will be issued at five, seven, 10 and 13 unexcused absences.
Please note: Arizona law requires the District to report excessive absences to the Pima County Attorney’s Office. For middle and high school students, excessive absences can also lead to a loss of extracurricular privileges or even loss of credit for high school courses.
Excused Absences
We understand that students may miss school occasionally due to illness or other factors. We urge you to use the District calendar to ensure you schedule vacations and appointments when school is out so that your children don't miss valuable educational and social learning opportunities. Even a few absences can lead to declines in achievement and well-being.
We have created a printable
Attendance Tracker to help you keep track of absences. They can add up quickly!
Again, we are here to help you overcome barriers you may be facing in ensuring your child is at school so that they are in their classrooms where they are safe, they are learning, and they are growing. Please don’t hesitate to talk to your principal if you need help with attendance.