STUDENT ATTENDANCE

 An incident of truancy is defined as being absent from school without valid cause from such attendance for a full school day.  

A "truant" is defined as a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause for more than 1% but less than 5% of the past 180 school days.

A "chronic or habitual  truant" shall be defined as a child subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular school days.

"Valid cause" for absence shall be illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, and shall include such other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the board of education in each district, or such other circumstances, which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student. 

 An absence is defined as not being present at school with (excused) or without (unexcused) valid cause  from such attendance for a full school day.  

A "chronic absentee" has been defined as a pupil who is absent on 10 percent or more of the 180 school days in the school year and the absence is excused or unexcused.