August 11, 2025

Dear Families:

The Easton-Redding-Region 9 school districts recognize the vital importance of having all of our students on time and present for school every day.  The research is clear about the impact that frequent absences have on a student’s growth and development.  Attendance Works, an organization committed to addressing chronic absenteeism, has shared the following insights and information.  

“Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.”  ~Attendance Works

DID YOU KNOW? 

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful, and on track to graduation.

• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores. 

• Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student’s academic success

We recognize that illness and life events may cause an absence from time to time.  We have instituted new updates for this coming school year regarding the reporting of an absence and the tracking of absence data. These updates are designed to provide a more precise understanding of student attendance and support both families and staff in maintaining accountability for instructional time. Please note that regular attendance remains a critical component of student success, and we appreciate your support in ensuring your child attends school consistently and on time.

HOW TO REPORT AN ABSENCE:

New Feature in the Parent Portal: Report an Absence

We have added a new feature to the Parent Portal that allows families to report a student absence directly online. To view step-by-step directions, please click this link: Parent Reporting Absences. Parents/guardians can also continue to use the school-level methods they have in the past if they so choose. 

SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS:

Throughout the year, as students receive four or more absences and for every month thereafter when students are absent beyond nine days, parents will be notified via email of the number of absences to date from the following email address: 

Notification from ER9 School Districts <notification@target1100.brightarrow.com> 

*Please check your spam folder as the initial email may go directly to spam and not your inbox.*

The following attendance codes are used to reflect students’ attendance for partial school days circumstances:

• Tardy-Absent: Indicates that a student arrived late and was not present for at least half of the school day.

• Tardy-Present: Indicates that a student arrived late but was present for half the school day or more.

• Early Dismissal-Absent: Indicates that a student left early and was not present for at least half of the school day.

• Early Dismissal-Present: Indicates that a student left early but was present for half the school day or more.

Schools in our district utilize a simple calculation to determine what constitutes half the school day. If a student is present for at least 50% of the total instructional time on a given day, they will be marked as “Present” under these special circumstances.

At Joel Barlow High School, the “8 drop 2” schedule requires students to attend three full periods of instruction for students to be “Present” for that school day. To ensure a student is present for the day they should be in school by 10:30 or not dismissed until after 10:45 am. This allows for the main office to check a student in or out, for accountability purposes. These times will adjust on days with Activity/Advisory, delays and early dismissal. 

As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure clear communication and accurate record-keeping, we include an explanation below defining each attendance code to help you better interpret the information within PowerSchool and in the notification letters.  

The following attendance codes are used to reflect students’ absences: 

Absence - any day during which a student is not considered “in attendance” as defined in these regulations.  

Excused absence - a student is considered excused from school if the school has received written documentation describing the reason for the absence within ten (10) school days of the student’s return to school, or if the student has been excluded from school in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-210 (regarding communicable diseases), and the following criteria are met:

• a. Any absence before the student’s tenth (10th) absence is considered excused when the student’s parent/guardian approves such absence and submits appropriate written documentation in accordance with this regulation. 

• b. For the student’s tenth (10th) absence and all absences thereafter, a student’s absences from school are, with appropriate documentation in accordance with this regulation, considered excused only for the following reasons: 

  i. student illness (verified by an appropriately licensed medical professional);

  ii. religious holidays;

  iii. mandated court appearances (documentation required);

  iv. funeral or death in the family, or other emergency beyond the control of the student’s family;

  v. extraordinary educational opportunities pre-approved by the District administrators and in accordance with Connecticut State Department of Education (“State Department of Education”) guidance and this regulation; or

  vi. lack of transportation that is normally provided by a school district other than the one the student attends.

MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS DAYS:

Mental Health Wellness Day - a school day during which a student attends to such student’s emotional and psychological well-being in lieu of attending school. Any student enrolled in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, shall be permitted to take two mental health wellness days during the school year, during which such student shall not be required to attend school. No student shall take mental health wellness days during consecutive school days.  Mental health wellness days shall be excused when permission by the student’s parent/guardian is documented by the student’s school, regardless of the number of absences a student has accrued in the school year. Mental health wellness days will not be included in reporting or referrals related to truancy. Mental health wellness day will count as an “absence” for determining chronic absenteeism.

The academic and personal growth of each child is our top priority.  Their presence at school is vital for this to occur.  We are a team and appreciate all of your efforts in supporting your child’s regular school attendance and on-time arrival each day.  

If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to the main office.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child's education.

Sincerely,

Mario J. Almeida, Ed.D.

Assistant Superintendent/Head of School