Attendance Matters at RPS

Rochester Public Schools is committed to supporting each student individually and working together with families to overcome obstacles. While we encourage all students to maintain an attendance rate of 90% or more, we recognize that each situation is unique, and we are here to help guide and support every student, no matter where they are in their journey.

RPS is one of twelve districts selected to be part of a state-wide initiative through the Minnesota Attendance Pilot Program. This pilot is centered around student attendance and engagement. The goal is to learn more, build better systems, and work together to help fix the problem of students missing too much school.

What is “chronic absenteeism”?

If a student misses 10% of school days, or about 17 days in a year, for any reason, whether the absence is excused or not, a student is considered to be chronically absent. Missing this much school can make it harder for kids to keep up with their learning.

Consistent Attendance Rate

Students who attend 90% or more are consistently attending. Consistent attendance rate—a statewide accountability measure—includes all absences, both excused and unexcused, when calculating the percentage of days a student is present.

Truancy only includes unexcused absences, that includes missing significant instruction (M). These absences determine whether a student meets the legal definition of truancy.

Monthly Attendance Data

This school year, you will receive a text message at the start of each month showing your child’s current attendance rate. Students should aim to have their attendance rate at or above 90%. The monthly text will include your student's attendance rate and their school's attendance rate. We want to keep you informed so we can work together to support your student.

Reporting Absences

TalkingPoints	We are using a new system to report student absences. You can now send a message to your school’s attendance line through TalkingPoints. This allows you to report absences in your preferred language, and via text, making the process easier and faster. At the start of the school year, your school office will message you from TalkingPoints to give you access to your school's attendance line. Make sure to save the contact for future use.
Skyward	You can continue using Skyward to request an absence.
Calling	Your attendance line phone number can be found on your school’s website.
Emailing	You may email your school’s office manager or attendance secretary, but we prefer if you use Skyward or TalkingPoints.

Attendance Practices

Excused

Work missed during an excused absence must be made up for credit to be granted. Excused absences include, but not limited to: illness, serious illness in the immediate family, death of a friend, relative or family member, dental and doctor appointments, court appearances, religious instruction, physical emergency situations, and religious holidays.

Unexcused

All unauthorized absences are unexcused. Work missed during unexcused absences must be made up for credit to be granted. Unexcused absences may result in further school or county intervention.

Tardy and Missing Significant Instruction

Elementary students missing up to 15 minutes of the morning or afternoon will be marked Tardy Excused (Z) or Tardy Unexcused (T). Elementary students unexcused for the entire morning or afternoon will be marked absent. If they are unexcused for more than 15 minutes of the morning or afternoon, the student will be marked as Missed Significant Instruction (M).

At the secondary level, if a student misses up to five minutes of a class, the student will be marked Tardy Excused (Z) or Tardy Unexcused (T). If a student is unexcused for more than five minutes of class, but not the full period, the student will be marked as Missing Significant Instruction (M).

Staff Supervised

Schools will use the Staff Supervised code (S) for when students are absent from class, but with another staff member for a valid reason. For example, if a student is with a counselor or social worker, they will be marked S so we know that they are not in class, but with another staff member. This code indicates the student is considered present and does not count as an absence.

Excessive Excused Absences

After 10 excused absences, any future absences may be marked as unexcused until we receive further verification. Please know that unexcused absences could lead to a referral for truancy intervention or concerns regarding educational neglect, as we want to ensure every student is supported in their learning. We are here to help, so please reach out if you need assistance with any of the documentation or have any questions.

15 Day Drop

In Minnesota, schools are required to drop a student from enrollment and consider the student withdrawn from school if their student misses 15 or more consecutive days of school, whether those absences are excused or unexcused. Please work with your child’s school or the Registration and Records Office to have your child reenrolled.

Our County Partnership

For students ages 11 and younger who have attendance and educational concerns, families may be invited to an Educational Review Team (ERT) meeting where the family and school staff work together to understand attendance barriers and create an improvement plan. If absences have an educational impact, students and families may be referred to the county for supports.

For students ages 12 and older, if there are significant attendance concerns, you may be invited to a Parent Information Meeting (PIM). If attendance does not improve after a PIM, you may be invited to attend a Student Attendance Review Team (SART) meeting. If attendance does not improve following the PIM and SART meetings, the school or the county attorney’s office may file a truancy petition with the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office. These truancy interventions are a continual process and do not reset at the start of a new school year.