File: JEAA-R – Procedures for Classifying Student Absences
The Board recognizes that absences from school can have an impact on a student’s
academic success. This set of procedures outlines how the district’s schools classify student absences. Other specific details related to attendance — including tardies, early dismissals, and assigning and making up missed work — can be found in school handbooks, as well as by contacting a school’s main office.
Each school absence will be classified by the school administration as excused, unexcused or exempt.
1. Excused Absences
An absence may be excused if it falls under one of the six reasons articulated in Maine state statute (see Policy JEA – Compulsory Attendance). A caregiver must report the absence to the school’s main office within three school days, and give the reason for the absence. A note from a medical provider may be required to excuse extended absences due to illness. For family vacations to be excused, caretakers must complete and submit a planned absence form to the main office at least two weeks in advance.
2. Unexcused Absences
Generally, absences that cannot be classified as excused will be unexcused, and considered toward a truancy determination (see Policy JHB – Truancy). The school will contact caregivers of absent students, giving the opportunity within three school days to provide a valid reason and have the absence excused.
3. Exempted Absences
A student’s absence may be classified as exempt when their participation in school activities happens in a different location than usual (e.g. field trip, approved alternative schedule, in-school suspension, etc.) An exempted absence is used to communicate to a student’s teachers that they are present but not in regular classes, and does not count as a school absence on a student’s official record. Caregivers will not receive an absence notification for exempted absences.
FIRST REVIEW: January 23, 2014
SECOND REVIEW: February 27, 2014
AMENDED: May 22, 2025