Attendance Policy
At Maize USD 266, we’re committed to supporting families with clear, helpful guidance on student attendance. We believe consistent attendance is a key part of helping students grow, learn, and stay connected to their school community. Research has proven that when students are consistently present at school, they’re more likely to succeed—both academically and socially. Whether you're navigating illness, appointments, or other absences, our goal is to make the process easier to understand and manage throughout the school year.
When is an absence excused?
Each student has seven excused absences to use without a note from a medical provider. For these, a parent simply calls their child’s school office to report them ill. Click here to access our contact directory. After seven absences, any additional absences will need a medical note to be excused.
Contact Us
Have questions about attendance or need help navigating a specific situation?
Our staff is here to support you. You can find contact information for your child’s teacher, counselor, or principal in our district-wide directory.
Tips for Navigating the Attendance Policy
- If your child has a standing appointment, your provider can send one note to cover the entire series. For example, if your child has physical therapy every Thursday for 12 weeks, one medical note stating the timeframe can excuse all those absences.
- You can submit a medical note for illness or appointments at any time during the school year—no need to wait until your child has reached seven absences. Bringing a note from the provider when you’re already there will ensure that absence doesn’t count toward the seven allowed without a note.
- After a student has used seven excused absences (reported by parent call), any additional absences require a medical note. If one isn’t provided, the absence is marked unexcused.
- Parents will receive an automated email notification after five of the seven excused absences have been used. These are intended as helpful reminders. If you receive one, you may still be able to submit a medical note for a previously excused day—just contact your school office.
- If you notice any errors in your child’s attendance record or have questions about exemptions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s school. We’re happy to work with you to ensure accuracy.
You can find the full definition of excused absences in our District Student Handbook.
We're Here to Help
If your child is facing challenges that affect their ability to attend school, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their teacher, counselor, or principal. Our team of educators, nurses, counselors, and administrators is here to support your family every step of the way.
Let’s work together to keep students healthy, engaged, and learning. Thank you for partnering with us to make every school day count!