Attendance

If your child is going to be absent or late for school, you have the following options to excuse your child:

• Email our attendance clerk at RAHS-Attendance@isd623.org - must give a reason in email
• Call our attendance line at 651-604-1465 - must give a reason in voicemail
• Requesting a full day absence through ParentVue - see below for more info

The following are legally valid reasons to excuse a student from school: 

• Sickness: The student is too ill to attend school. For excessive absences, a doctor's note may be required.
• Medical/Dental Appointments: Appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours.
• Extreme Family Emergencies: Situations such as a death in the family or a house fire.
• Religious Holidays: Days of religious observance.
• Pre-approved Activities: Absences for authorized school activities like field trips, music performances, or college visits.

Other pre-approved absences: Exceptional circumstances with prior approval from the school attendance team.

There is a new, convenient way for families to request a full day absence through their ParentVue.

Entering a full day absence request is quick and easy, and can be done using your desktop computer or the ParentVue app on your mobile device. Follow these simple steps:

• Log in to your ParentVue account on your desktop or mobile app
• Select the blue 🔔 report an absence button
• Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the full day absence.
• Submit your request.

For more detailed information on setting up a ParentVue account click here

Our staff will be notified of the absence. While you may continue to request absences by calling your school’s attendance line, requesting absences via the ParentVue is an easy way to process the request from your phone, computer, or tablet. 

Please note that only full day absences may be submitted via ParentVue. Appointments and partial day absences must be reported via phone or email. Though an absence can be requested via the ParentVue, it does not mean that the absence is excused until it has been reviewed by school staff.

At RAHS, we value our partnership with families. When students begin to show a pattern of unexcused absences, our goal is to work together early to understand what’s getting in the way and to support improved attendance.

Consistent communication helps prevent students from being identified as chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school) or being referred for truancy support through the county.

How Families Can Help Prevent Chronic Absenteeism

You can take steps to help us support your child by:

• Contacting us every time your child is absent
  (See Reporting an Absence for details.)
   
• Responding to outreach from teachers or student support staff when we contact you by phone, email, or messaging about your child’s attendance.
   
• Reaching out to RAHS Student Support Staff early if you notice changes in your child’s attendance, engagement, or well-being.
   

We understand that absences happen for many different reasons—family needs, transportation challenges, illness, mental health, or students not feeling connected at school.

What Happens if My Child Becomes Chronically Absent?

If your child reaches 20 unexcused period absences, the state requires us to begin the truancy support process through the county where you reside.
This process is designed to identify barriers, connect families to support, and improve student attendance, not to punish.

Here’s what you can expect:

1. Notification Letter

RAHS will send a letter through the mail once your child has accumulated 20 unexcused period absences.

2. Student Support Outreach

A member of our Student Support Staff will contact you to discuss your child’s attendance patterns and explore what might be contributing to the absences.

3. Attendance Improvement Plan

Together, we’ll create a personalized plan that focuses on solutions—such as academic support, connection-building strategies, mental health resources, transportation problem-solving, or other services.

4. Monitoring and Support

We will continue to check in and monitor progress. If unexcused absences continue despite school-based support, students are referred to their home county for additional assistance.

The Purpose of the County Truancy & Attendance Process

The goal of the county process is to:

• Understand the causes of ongoing attendance challenges
• Connect students and families with community and school supports
• Reduce barriers that make attending school difficult

It is a collaborative process—not a disciplinary one. The aim is always to help students attend more consistently so they can succeed academically and feel connected at school.

• Ramsey County School Attendance Matters Program
• Hennepin County Be at School Program
• Washington County Attendance Intervention

Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success, positive relationships at school, and on-time graduation. Because we have a 5-period day, absences are counted per class period, not by full day.

To help families understand attendance patterns, we use three attendance bands:

• On Track - 5 or fewer full day absences per trimester (Less than 10% of class time missed) 

  • Students in this range are attending consistently. Thank you for supporting positive routines and staying in communication with us.

• Emerging Concern - 5-10 full day absences per trimester (10–20% of class time missed)

  • Missing this much instructional time can make it harder for students to stay connected, keep up with coursework, and feel confident in class. This is a good time to check in with your student about what might be getting in the way of attendance. If you’d like support, your student’s counselor is available to help.

• Critical Concern - More than 10 full day absences per trimester (More than 20% of class time missed) 

  • Students in this range are missing a significant amount of learning time. We know absences happen for many different reasons—illness, transportation challenges, family responsibilities, or students feeling disconnected. We are here to help problem-solve and support your students.

We encourage you to reach out to your student’s counselor so we can partner together and identify the supports that best meet your family’s needs.

Why Attendance Matters

Students who attend regularly are more likely to:

• Feel connected to peers and teachers
• Develop strong academic habits
• Avoid falling behind in coursework
• Graduate on time
  Even a few class-period absences each week can add up quickly.

What You Can Do at Home

• Encourage routines that support sleep, meals, and getting out the door on time
• Schedule appointments outside of school hours when possible
• Talk with your student about how they feel about school
• Let us know early if something is making attendance difficult

We’re Here to Help

If your child is in the Emerging or Critical range, or if you just have questions, please reach out. We want to understand what’s getting in the way and connect your child with resources, academic help, or additional support.

Find your student support contact information here