According to Minnesota State law, children must attend school regularly. If your child will not be present for any portion of the school day; each absence must be reported by a parent or legal guardian to Minnetonka High School.

Families must submit all attendance requests online through Skyward Family Access. Requests may be completed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week via the “My SSO” portal.

Report Full or Partial Day Absences

1. Begin at our District Home page: www.minnetonkaschools.org
2. Login to your parent account by clicking My SSO (top banner).
3. Use your parent email address on record with the District and the password you set when you claimed your parent account.
4. Your parent applications will appear after you login. Click on Skyward.
5. On the left side of your Skyward Parent Access window, you will see a list of tabs. Click Attendance to report an absence.
    

Step-by-Step Visual Guide

Where can I find my login and password?

If you are new to Minnetonka, this information was emailed to you after you enrolled. You must claim your account before you can login.

If you don't remember your information, please email the family helpdesk to update your login and password at family.helpdesk@minnetonkaschools.org .Include your student's name, date of birth and the name of the school they attend in your message. 

The Attendance Policy recognizes that school attendance is the responsibility of the student and parent/guardian, supported by the teachers and administration. Therefore, the purpose of this policy is to encourage regular school attendance and punctuality so that learning can take place. It is intended to be positive and not punitive, and all measures taken will be in the students’ best interest. This policy will assist families and school personnel in making attendance decisions.

For details, please review Policy 502 - Attendance.

Please review the following expectations for students, parents and guardians: 

• On time arrival; Minnetonka values students being on time, present in class engaged in the learning throughout their scheduled days. If a student is tardy to class beyond 7 minutes, they will be marked unexcused absent.
• Students may not be excused from a scheduled class to complete any assignments or assessments for another scheduled class. If a student is in the building, they must attend all scheduled classes. When a student is in the building, any absences from scheduled classes will be considered unexcused.
• Valid excused absences are based on the list of school approved excused absences. Absences for reasons other than those with school approved valid causes will be reviewed by administration and may not be considered excused.
• If the school makes an error in attendance, the student needs to work with their assigned assistant principal (AP) or counselor to resolve the error the following school day. The AP or counselor will work with the student and teacher to verify the student’s attendance. Parents/Guardians should NOT submit an absence request through Skyward to excuse students in these classes.
• Students who are excused for partial day absences, must sign in and sign out through either the West entrance or the Main entrance. Parents/Guardians should submit an absence request at least 12 hours prior to the partial day absence to ensure students are permitted to leave campus at the scheduled time and their attendance updated for teachers and other staff.
• If students become ill during the school day, they must visit the health office. If they are sent home due to illness from the health office, their attendance will be marked out by the health office personnel. Students must sign out through either the West entrance or the Main entrance.
• MHS is a closed campus. Students may only leave with a live, valid HUB pass for classes held outside of the main building. Seniors may only leave out of the West entrance with a live, valid HUB pass for their assigned lunch period or an assigned open hour at the end of their scheduled day.

It is the responsibility of the Minnetonka Public Schools to the community that all school members will work to challenge and support students in the pursuit of their highest levels of academic and personal achievement. It is essential that Minnetonka High School students and their families take responsibility for knowing and following the Attendance Policy.

It is the student’s and parent’s responsibility to:

• Ensure student attends all assigned classes and other instructional activities on time each day that school is in session
• Be aware of and follow the correct procedures when student is absent from an assigned class or other instructional activity
• Inform the school of student absences
• Request any missed assignments due to an absence and ensure assigned work is completed due to an absence
• Work cooperatively with the school and the student to resolve any attendance issues that may arise

It is the teacher's responsibility to:

• Take regular attendance and maintain accurate attendance records in each assigned class and other instructional activities
• Be familiar with all procedures governing attendance and apply them uniformly
• Provide a student who has been absent with missed assignments upon request
• Work cooperatively with the student and parent/guardian to resolve any attendance issues that may arise
• Work cooperatively with the student’s parent or guardian when the student’s attendance record impacts academic performance

It is the administrator's responsibility to:

• Require students to attend all assigned classes and other instructional activities
• Be familiar with statutes, policies and procedures governing attendance and apply them uniformly
• Ensure that teachers properly account for student attendance in a timely manner
• Maintain accurate student attendance records and prepare a list of the previous day's absences

Excused Absences

An excused absence is one that is reported by a parent/guardian through Skyward Family Access and meets the criteria for an excused absence. Examples include illness, appointment, or family emergency. The full list of excused absence reasons can be found in the Student and Parent Handbook.

Only requests in Skyward Family Access from parents/guardians will be recognized; this includes for students who are 18 years of age or older. Students are not permitted to submit absence requests through Skyward Family access using their parents’/guardians’ login credentials and may be subject to disciplinary measures if they do according to our Minnetonka Student Code of Conduct.

Students with excessive excused absences can anticipate that they will meet with an assistant principal, or designee, to discuss attendance issues and its impact on their academic performance. Students absent 10 class periods from a course during one semester will no longer be able to have absences excused without medical documentation.

The following excused absences count toward 10 Excused absence policy:

• College visits (on/off campus)
• Driver’s license examination – not the permit test - permit test is considered an unexcused absence
• Family emergency
• Illness
• Visit to the nurse’s office
• Pre-arranged excused absences for student participation in non-school competition and performance activities - must be submitted and approved by Administration through Conditionally Approved Absence
• Pre-arranged family vacations
• Professional appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of the school day
• Spectators at state/regional competitions: student spectators must have parent/guardian approval and follow all attendance policies

Unexcused Absences

An unexcused absence counts toward the 4/7/10 attendance policy and includes any absence that does not meet the criteria for an excused absence or school-authorized absence. Examples include oversleeping, skipping class, missing class to study or work on other school work, being stuck in the drop off line prior to the school day, etc..

Students are expected to be present in all scheduled classes each day. Each unexcused absences will result in:

• Automated phone call home and electronic notification informing parent(s)/guardian(s).
• Potential loss of student privileges (hall passes, parking permit, lunch pass, activities, etc.)
• An attendance intervention meeting may be held to determine what supports the student needs in order to attend classes.
  • Led by Assistant Principal, Achievement Specialist, counselor, case manager, academic support specialist, psychologist, or other staff member.

If a pattern of unexcused absences begins to emerge, your student’s assistant principal and/or counselor will communicate with the family to determine appropriate supportive measures and any necessary disciplinary measures.

The following excused absences count toward the 4/7/10 Unexcused Absence Policy

• Any absence in which a student and/or parent fails to comply with MHS reporting attendance procedures
• Work at home
• Work at a business (except a school-sponsored work release program)
• Non-prearranged family vacations
• Missed bus
• Overslept
• Truancy/Skipping school
• If students arrive to class more than 7 minutes late, leave class without permission, or leave class early, they will be marked unexcused.
• Missing class to *study or work on homework, a test, or any other schoolwork, whether in school or out. *This includes studying for AP and IB testing.
• Other non-school authorized excuses

School Authorized Absences

The following excused absences DO NO count toward 10 Excused Absence Policy

• Chronic Illness, with medical documentation - must be submitted and approved by health office
• Court-ordered appearances, with documentation
• Death in the student’s immediate family or of a close friend or relative
• Field trips
• Interscholastic meets and events
• School sponsored musical or athletic competitions
• Religious holidays and/or instruction (up to three hours per week)
• Illness in student’s immediate family (documentation required by medical personnel)
• Suspension
• Student government and related activities
• Verified meeting conducted with school personnel (Counselor meeting, etc.)
• School sponsored testing (AP, IB, STAMP, etc.)

 

Unexcused Absences
4 Watch	7 Warning	10 Drop
AFTER 4 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: Meeting with an assistant principal or designee and student to discuss their chronic absences and establish an understanding that upon the 10th unexcused absence the student will be withdrawn from the class and receive a “W-A” for the course.  Communication sent home informing parent/ guardian(s).	AFTER 7 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: Meeting/phone call with an assistant principal or designee, parent/guardian(s), and student to discuss their chronic absences and reaffirm an understanding that upon the 10th unexcused absence the student will be withdrawn from the class and receive a “W-A” for the course. Communication sent home restating and acknowledging expectations to parent/ guardian(s).	AFTER 10 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: Student will be dropped from the course and will receive a “W-A” for the course. Students may be assigned to a mandatory study hall period or enrolled in a credit recovery option - determined through meeting with the counselor.
RESULT Reflection document completed Potential loss of student privileges (hall passes, parking, lunch pass, activities, etc.)	RESULT Detention (2 days) Loss of student privileges (hall passes, parking, lunch pass, activities, etc.)	RESULT Loss of credit and possible additional loss of student privileges (hall passes, parking, lunch pass, activities, etc.) Students will meet with activities Director and coach/advisor to determine if ineligible for Activities/Athletics until 1 week without an Unexcused absence.
Each UNEXCUSED ABSENCE Automated phone call home and electronic notification informing parent(s). Potential loss of student privileges (hall passes, parking, lunch pass, activities, etc.) An attendance intervention meeting may be held to determine what supports the student needs in order to attend classes led by Assistant Principal, Achievement Specialist, counselor, case manager, social worker, psychologist, or other staff member.
excused Absences
Students with excessive excused absences can anticipate that they will meet with an assistant principal, or designee, to discuss attendance issues and its impact on their academic performance. Students absent 10 class periods from a credit course during one semester will no longer be able to have absences excused without medical documentation.

 

Daily attendance in class provides students access to authentic learning and engagement. Examples of classroom engagement that provide authentic learning opportunities include but are not limited to: classroom discussions, live presentations of content material by teachers/outside experts/students, content area labs, experiential learning, language acquisition skills and practice, collaborative learning, application models of content.

Failure to attend and complete formative and summative assessments and assignments in a timely manner diminishes student learning and growth, impedes the feedback loop between teachers and students, hinders the development of developmental relationships for students, disrupts the learning process for students, and compromises the integrity of the curriculum and the ability to provide an accurate grade within the class.

If your absence was excused:

Students who are excused absent for illness on an in-class assessment day (i.e. test) have up to two weeks to complete the assessment. Any additional time beyond two weeks needs teacher approval.

If a student misses an assessment due to any other type of excused absence (vacation, personal/family, school activity, etc.), should be prepared to complete the test upon return. All formative and summative assignments due while excused absent, should be submitted either upon return or in accordance with the extension determined by the teacher.

If your absence was unexcused: 

If a student misses an in class assessment due to an unexcused absence, they should be prepared to complete the test upon return.

All formative and summative assignments that were due on the day of the unexcused absence should be turned in upon return and may be subject to any late work penalties as designated in the course syllabus.

Absence Due to Illness

Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases to other people. People who have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever of 100 degrees or higher, should stay home.

If students feel sick, they should stay home and away from others until both of the following are true (BOTH of these must be true before returning to school/work).

• 24 hours fever free (without fever-reducing medication) AND
• 24 hours of improved symptoms

Illness During the School Day

Students or staff who come to school with symptoms of illness or develop symptoms while at school may be sent home and encouraged to be evaluated by their health care provider.

If a student should become injured or ill during the school day, they must obtain a HUB pass from their scheduled classroom teacher to the Health Office. Health Office staff will assist the student and/or determine if they need to go home. If they are sent home due to illness from the health office, their attendance will be marked out by the health office personnel. Students must sign out through either the West entrance or the Main entrance.

Extended Absence due to Hospitalization or Chronic Illness

Students who are experiencing hospitalization during the school year should work with the Minnetonka High School Health Office to provide the medical documentation that explains the length of the absence and any supportive measures that the student may require upon return to school.

Students experiencing a chronic condition that impacts their attendance must be approved for excessive absences due to the condition. Families who are seeking exception to the Excused Absences policy can work with the Minnetonka High School Health Office. Minnetonka’s Health Services Director will have final approval of chronic condition exception status.

Contact information for MHS Health office: Amy.Antilla@minnetonkaschools.org.

Pre-Planned Absence

In the event of a planned absence from school, the parent/guardian must submit an absence request through Skyward Family Access. If this planned absence exceeds the number of excused absences permitted in the semester, families will need to meet with their assigned assistant principal to discuss the implications of the attendance limits being reached.

The student must contact all teachers to obtain any assignments/learning that will be missed. Students will be responsible for completing all assessments (formative and summative) either prior to this pre-planned absence or immediately upon return - as directed by all teachers.

Conditionally Approved Absence

Students who may exceed the 10 excused absences threshold in a given semester due to participation in a significant contest, performance, or competitions requiring intensive and long-term commitment by the student may seek approval for conditionally approved absences. This approval is not for vacations. This agreement will require prior notice of dates that the student will be absent and communication with all teachers to complete work prior to or in a timely manner after the absence.

Families seeking conditional approval must meet with an assistant principal and provide documentation from the organization that the student is playing for/working with/etc. This documentation should include any dates that the student may be missing school due to the extraordinary circumstances of this opportunity.

Habitually Truant

A habitually truant student is a child under the age of 16 years old who is absent from attendance at school without lawful excuse for seven school days or for one or more class periods on seven school days. A school district attendance officer shall refer a habitual truant child and the child's parent(s) or legal guardian to appropriate services and procedures, under Minnesota Statute §260A.03.

APs will work with the appropriate county based on student residence if a student is truant. Our first notification to families will be a warning letter that outlines the absences that have been accumulated by the student. This first letter is between the school and the family and does not involve the county. Our primary goal is to work with the student and family to understand the circumstances around the absences and best support the student in making it to school, on time, and engaging in the learning environment.

15 Day Drop - State Statute

According to Minnesota State Statute 126C.05, “a pupil, regardless of age, who has been absent from school for 15 consecutive school days during the regular school year…without receiving instruction in the home or hospital shall be dropped from the roll and classified as withdrawn.”

Students at Minnetonka High School who have reached 15 consecutive days of absence, regardless of type of absence unless prior notice and approval has been granted by school Administration, will be withdrawn from enrollment in Minnetonka High School.

Students are expected to be in their assigned areas at designated times.

• Students who arrive to class after the tone sounds are considered tardy.
• Students arriving after seven (7) minutes will be considered absent (unexcused).
• Students who are tardy to school, will be required to sign in using the raptor system at either the Main entrance or the West entrance upon arrival.
• If students continue to be tardy to their first period class, there may be additional consequences and families may be part of intervention meetings with the student and administration.
• Tardies will be recorded and handled by the teacher, with the exception of first hour tardies which are monitored as part of the overall attendance monitoring system. 
• Students who accumulate 5 tardies will meet with an assistant principal who will determine appropriate disciplinary measures and communicate with families.
• Excessive tardies will result in a disciplinary referral and additional consequences.