Attendance Protocols

In the email that is auto generated at the end of each day, at the very bottom, there is a breakdown of periods in which your student may have been marked absent. If your student was absent for a single period, or even two, they will need to speak to their teachers regarding these absences. The Attendance Office does NOT take attendance for teachers, we only correct absences after we receive written verification from the teacher.

If your student was absent for a few periods, the instructions outlined above will apply.

An email will also go home if your student is absent unexcused for the day, or half the day. The only way this does not happen is if you email in a note with an excused reason for the absence before the start of the day. If your student returns after an absence with a note, we update the system at that time.

Keep in mind that even with a note, the absence can remain unexcused. 

Every effort should be made to provide a written note to the Attendance Office prior to first period. All students must sign out in the Attendance Office. If a student is returning to school, they must sign back in.

Things happen. If you or your student forgot a note that morning, you can email khsattendance. This email will also suffice as a written note, as long as it includes an excusable absence reason as listed in the policy and rules. Keep in mind that we get many, many emails a day, and last-minute emails can get missed while we are performing other duties. It is always best to send these emails prior to the start of the day.

Parents can also come to the security desk and write a note there. However, we ask that you are aware and understanding of the constraints of last minute notification.

There is over 1800 students at KHS, and at least double that of parents/guardians. There are two attendance employees and two front desk employees. Both are tasked with answering phones, emails, and dealing with students and staff, on top of their regular duties. We are also contractually not allowed to call into classrooms until the last three minutes of class. This is excused during an emergency only. However, there is also the added constraints of locating students who are at lunch, gym, or between periods. Sometimes this takes time, and your patience is appreciated. While most parents are in contact with their students, this does not excuse students from leaving class, or the building, without the Attendance Office.

If your child is sick, doesn't feel well, has cramps, or any other medical-related situation, they should ask for a pass to the nurse's office. The nurse's office will determine the next options, and will contact the parents as needed.

Students should not make arrangements to leave, and then report to the medical office.

Excusals through the medical office do not require a note upon their return for that day, and students do not have to sign out in the attendance office if given a purple pass from the nurses' office.

If your child is late for school, they need to sign in through the Attendance Office, or in the hallway outside the Attendance Office if it is between 7:46 AM and 8:00 AM. Notes can be written or emailed prior to students’ late arrivals, but they must include a valid reason in order to be entered as excused. Otherwise, these late arrivals are entered as unexcused tardies.

Absences for illness, medical/dental appointments, funerals, and vacations that are approved are a few examples of excused absences. 

All absences should be followed up with a note and/or email within 48 hours of the absence, or before a planned absence. 

Any absence which is not explained by note/email will be considered unexcused.

Some examples of unexcused absences are personal, car issues, hair or nail appointments, and job interviews.

When students return from their absence, they must stop in the Attendance Office with their note. It is updated in the system and teachers can see it there. 

If you have a situation that requires your student to ride a different bus, you must put that in writing, and it must be brought to the administrator for your child.

That information is available on each grade page, listed at the top of the website. This does NOT come to the Attendance Office.

1st-3rd occurrence=verbal warning

4th-6th occurrence=possible 9th period detention

7th occurrence=referral, 1 day of ISS and parent notification

10th occurrence=referral, consequences as per the Code of Conduct plus parent meeting. May result in Principal's Credit Appeal meeting, PINS, or CPS reporting.

Please refer to Attendance Rules for more information.

There are only nine allowed absences per semester course and 18 for a full-year course.

If your child exceeds nine absences for a half-year course, or 18 for a full-year course, they are eligible to have a credit appeal meeting. This allows them to make a plan with the teacher and school to make up the absences and earn credit.

Contact information for the Attendance Office is listed at the top right of this page.