Attendance Policy

Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors that determine school success.  The habit of attending school every single day begins with the Preschool year(s).  All absences from school must be reported.  Your child’s absence must be reported to the school office before 9:00 am or 1:00 pm on the day of the absence (913-627-6550) or the absence report may be phoned in directly to the child’s teacher.  Please report your child’s name, the teacher’s name and the reason for the absence.  Absence from school interrupts a child’s process of learning: it is important to strive for consistent attendance.

Absences from school can and do have a direct result on student performance and student progress.  Absences are determined to be “excused” or “unexcused”.  Preschool absences are recorded on students’ cumulative records that follow them on to their elementary school.

It is our expectation that students attend school at least 85% of the time.

All absences should be called in to the school (913) 627-6550 prior to the start of the student’s session OR no later than 30 minutes after the session begins.

Excused Absences

An excused absence is defined (and has been classified excused by the Board of Education) as the stated reasons below.

Absences shall be excused for the following reasons:

• Illness of the student or medical appointments
• Urgent need of the child to be at home due to illness in the immediate family
• Death in the family
• Absences for religious observances
• Participation in a district approved or school sponsored activity or event
• At the discretion of the administration, students whose parent or person acting as a parent is an active duty member of the armed forces and is leaving or deploying shortly for military services
• Absence approved by the principal and prearranged by the parent, student, and principal
• Absence approved by the principal and prearranged by the parent, student, and Director of Student Services.

Unexcused Absences

An absence will be classified as unexcused if it does not fit one of the eight Board of Education’s reasons for excusable absences or the District’s attendance procedure is not followed, and fails to comply with the District’s procedures and the State Compulsory Attendance Laws.  

Examples of an unexcused absence:

• Missed Bus
• No Transportation
• Out of Town
• Vacations
• Babysitting

MORSE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER PICK UP POLICY:

All temporary and permanent changes to student pickup routines must be communicated to the office.  This can be done in person or by calling (913) 627-6550.  Calls regarding a change in pick up must be received at least 30 minutes prior to the student’s dismissal.  This allows us ample time to communicate the change to staff.  Transition times require significant planning and communication amongst staff, for this reason changes will not be accepted less than 30 minutes prior to dismissal.

If a student is still at school when buses are loading, that student will be put on the bus.  It is then the responsibility of the parent to meet the bus when it arrives at the designated spot.

AUTHORIZED PICK UP POLICY:

Changes to a student’s list of individuals authorized to pick up from school can only be made by the enrolling parent.  To make changes, please stop by the office or call (913) 627-6550.

For the safety of our students, no child will be released unless a photo ID is presented and that person’s name is also on the student’s authorized pick up list.

BUS STOP PICK UP POLICY:

AM Students- If no authorized adult is available at the bus stop to receive a student, that student will be returned to the school.  Office staff will attempt to make contact with individuals on the authorized pick up list.  If no contact can be made and/or no one has been able to pick up the student after 30 minutes, then the child will be deemed a “child in need of care” and the police will be notified.

PM Students- If no authorized adult is available at the bus stop to receive a student, that student will be returned to the Kansas City Kansas Early Childhood Center located at 1708 N. 55^th Street.  Office staff will attempt to make contact with individuals on the authorized pick up list.  If no contact can be made and/or no one has been able to pick up the student after 30 minutes, then the child will be deemed a “child in need of care” and the police will be notified.