Report an Absence

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How can I submit an absence?

Glenview District 34 parents/guardians can submit absences up to a month in advance via the Parent Portal in PowerSchool, which is available 24 hours a day. Please note that to submit an absence, you need to be using a web browser and not the mobile app. 

Absences that have been accounted for through PowerSchool do not require a written note when the child returns to school. However, if a child has had a communicable disease, a note is required from the doctor indicating that the child may return to school.

Once you’re logged into PowerSchool, you will see the “Attendance Monitor” along the left-hand side, and you can then “Report a New Attendance”. You can follow this step-by-step tutorial to submit your child’s absence in the Parent Portal of PowerSchool. 

Video Tutorials

If a child must be absent from school, parents/guardians should submit their absence through PowerSchool.

Submit an Absence Here

What is the absence policy in District 34?

All children are expected to attend school on time every day. Following District policy and tracking excused and unexcused absences helps our schools determine when your child might need support. Repeated absence from school without a valid reason is considered truancy, at which time the principal will contact parents as a first step to deal with this problem. School resources, such as the nurse, social worker, etc., are available to assist in finding a solution. If the problem is not resolved at the local school, it shall be referred to the Truancy Officer at Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education.

Examples of excused absences include: 

  • Illness (including mental or behavioral health),
  • Medical/dental appointment,
  • Family emergency (including bereavement),
  • Religious holidays or observances
     

Examples of unexcused absences include: 

  • Vacation,
  • Oversleeping,
  • Missing the bus,
  • Sporting events or practices
     

What is District 34's tardy policy?

Students arriving after class time begins miss out on valuable instructional time.  They may miss a set of directions, review items, or an important explanation of a concept or skill; all of which support and enhance the learning process for our students.  

When students are late for school, they start their day rushed and hurried.  This may make them feel a sense of anxiety and is not the calmest or most effective way to begin a day.

Besides the impact on your child’s educational experience, consider, also, that consistently being tardy may contribute to habits that become hard to break and can hinder children in other areas of their lives.  We live in a society that values punctuality as a sign of reliability and dependability, as well as showing courtesy and respect.

Activity Restrictions

If your child is unable to participate in recess or PE due to an injury or illness, a parent/guardian must provide written notice to both the health office and PE teacher. That note is valid for a maximum of 3 days. A student who is unable to participate in outdoor recess or physical education classes for a period of more than three days must provide the school with an activity order from a health care provider licensed under the IL Medical Practice Act (MD, DO, PA, or NP).  
 
A student who arrives at school with a new cast, splint, or orthopedic brace due to a recent injury must provide the school with an activity order from their healthcare provider. 
 
It is also recommended that an activity order from a healthcare provider be provided for students returning to school after surgery or hospitalization. Activity orders should specify the student's injury or medical diagnosis, the dates the student may not participate, and a date to resume activity. Students with an activity restriction are restricted from similar extracurricular and/ or interscholastic activities during the activity restriction time period. 
 
Students may not resume activities until a release from the healthcare provider is provided to the school.

When should students & staff stay home for illness?

Staff and students should stay home if they have:

  • Fever (temperature of 100.4°F or greater)

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Undiagnosed rash

  • Communicable diseases (such as strep throat, influenza, chicken pox, measles, etc.)

  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

  • Head lice infestation (live head lice)

Before a student or staff member may return to school, they must be free of fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea (without fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours. Attending after-school events should be avoided when your child does not attend school due to illness symptoms or is sent home from school with illness symptoms. Best health practices recommends children remain home, in recovery, until they are no longer contagious and free from symptoms for 24 hours.

If an individual has been prescribed antibiotic medication for a rash, communicable diseases and/or pink eye they may return to school after completing 24 hours of prescribed medication. If your child is diagnosed with strep throat, please contact your school nurse for guidance regarding return-to-school criteria.

When the symptoms above occur during school, parents will be contacted to pick the child up from school within the hour. An ill or injured student who is sent home may only be released to the parent/guardian or emergency contact provided by the parent/guardian. In the event of a serious or life-threatening injury or illness, EMS services/911 will be called to provide care. It is important that the school has accurate parent phone numbers and emergency contacts. Please keep the school office up to date with current contact information.

It is required that parents/guardians call school to report their child’s absence. To prevent the spread of illness in the classroom, parents/guardians are encouraged to report symptoms and the student’s diagnosis to the school.

We encourage you to have your child evaluated by a health care provider to determine the cause of their illness. 

Attendance and Truancy

Compulsory Student Attendance

This policy applies to individuals who have custody or control of a child: (a) between the ages of six (on or before September 1) and 17 years (unless the child has graduated from high school), or (b) who is enrolled in any of grades kindergarten through 8 in the public
school regardless of age. Subject to specific requirements in State law, the following children are not required to attend public school: (1) any child attending a private school (including a home school) or parochial school, (2) any child who is physically or mentally unable to attend school (including a pregnant student suffering medical complications as certified by her physician), (3) any child lawfully and necessarily employed, (4) any child over 12 and under 14 years of age while in confirmation classes, (5) any child absent because of religious reasons, including to observe a religious holiday, for religious instruction, or because his or her religion forbids secular activity on a particular day(s) or time of day, and (6) any child 16 years of age or older who is employed and is enrolled in a graduation incentives program.

The parent/guardian of a student who is enrolled must authorize all absences from school and notify the school in advance or at the time of the student’s absence. A valid cause for absence includes illness (including mental or behavioral health of the student), attendance at a verified medical or therapeutic appointment (including a victim services provider), observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, attendance at a civic event, family emergency, other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the Board, other circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or safety, or other reason as approved by the Superintendent or designee. For students who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence, valid cause for absence also includes the fulfillment of a parenting responsibility and addressing circumstances resulting from domestic or sexual violence. Students absent for a valid cause may make up missed homework and classwork assignments in a reasonable timeframe.

Absenteeism and Truancy Program

The Superintendent or designee shall manage an absenteeism and truancy program in accordance with the School Code and Board policy. The program shall include, but not be limited to:

  1. A protocol for excusing a student from attendance who is necessarily and lawfully employed. The Superintendent or designee is authorized to determine when the student’s absence is justified.
  2. A protocol for excusing a student in grades 6 through 8 from attendance to sound Taps at a military honors funeral held in Illinois for a deceased veteran.
  3. A protocol for excusing a student from attendance on a particular day(s) or at a particular time of day when his/her parent/guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat-support postings.
  4. A process to telephone, within two hours after the first class, the parents/guardians of students in grade 8 or below who are absent without prior parent/guardian notification.
  5. A process to identify and track students who are truants, chronic or habitual truants, or truant minors as defined in 105 ILCS 5/26-2a.
  6. A description of diagnostic procedures for identifying the cause(s) of a student’s unexcused absenteeism, including interviews with the student, his or her parent(s)/guardian(s), and staff members or other people who may have information about the reasons for the student’s attendance problem.
  7. The identification of supportive services that may be offered to truant, chronically truant, or chronically absent students, including parent-teacher conferences, student and/or family counseling, and information about available community services
    relevant to such students' needs. See Board policy 6:110, Programs for Students At Risk of Academic Failure and/or Dropping Out of School and Graduation Incentives Program.
  8. A process for the collection and review of chronic absence data and to:
    1. Determine what systems of support and resources are needed to engage chronically absent students and their families, and
    2. Encourage the habit of daily attendance and promote success.
  9. Reasonable efforts to provide ongoing professional development to all school personnel, Board members, and school resource officers on the appropriate and available supportive services for the promotion of student attendance and engagement.
  10. A process to request the assistance and resources of outside agencies, such as, the juvenile officer of the local police department or the truant office of the appropriate Regional Office of Education, if truancy continues after supportive services have been offered.
  11. A protocol for cooperating with non-District agencies including County or municipal authorities, the Regional Superintendent, truant officers, the Community Truancy Review Board, and a comprehensive community-based youth service agency. Any disclosure of school student records must be consistent with Board policy 7:340, Student Records, as well as State and federal law concerning school student records.
  12. An acknowledgement that no punitive action, including out-of-school suspensions,
    expulsions, or court action, shall be taken against a truant minor for his or her truancy unless available supportive services and other school resources have been provided to the student.
  13. The criteria to determine whether a student’s non-attendance is due to extraordinary circumstances shall include economic or medical necessity or family hardship and such other criteria that the Superintendent believes qualifies.
  14. An approval process for students to attend activities allowed under 105 ILCS 5/10-19.05(k), including provisions for making up missed coursework that do not penalize students.

Updating

Pursuant to State law and Board Policy 2:240, Board Policy Development, the Board updates this policy at least once every two years. The Superintendent or designee shall assist the Board with its update.

Legal REF

  • 105 ILCS 5/10-19.05(k), 5/22-92, 5/26-1 through 5/26-3, 5/26-5 through 5/26-16, 5/26-18, and 5/26A.
  • 705 ILCS 405/3-33.5, Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
  • 23 Ill.Admin.Code §§1.242 and 1.290.

Cross REF

  • 5:100 (Staff Development Program), 6:110 (Programs for Students At Risk of Academic Failure and/or Dropping Out of School and Graduation Incentives Program), 6:150 (Home and Hospital Instruction), 7:10 (Equal Educational Opportunities), 7:50 (School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools), 7:60 (Residence), 7:80 (Release Time for Religious Instruction/Observance), 7:190 (Student Behavior (formerly known as Student Discipline)), 7:255 (Students Who are Parents, Expectant Parents, or Victims of Domestic or Sexual Violence), 7:340 (Student Records)

Adopted: May 12, 2024

Revised: March 20, 2017; April 23, 2018; March 18, 2019; May 18, 2020; January 24, 2022; January 17, 2023; December 18, 2023; June 16, 2025; February 17, 2026