Reporting Student Absences: 

If your child is absent from school, please take the following steps:

1. Submit your child’s absence via Skyward. 
   1. Sign into My Minnetonka single sign-on by clicking on the "My SSO" button
   2. Once signed in, select the "Skyward" app
   3. Click on "Attendance"
   4. Click on "Absence Requests" and then "Add a request"
   5. Enter dates, reason, and comment then click "Save"
2. OR email the attendance office at she.attendance@minnetonkaschools.org, prior to the start of school. Report the child's name, grade, teacher's name, and the reason for the absence. You may also call the attendance line at 952-401-5404. Your cooperation helps us ensure the safety and whereabouts of each child. 
3. If we do not hear from you and your child is absent, you will receive messages from the district automated system regarding your student’s unexcused absence.
4. If you are planning a family activity and/or vacation, please complete this form to the principal prior to the event, in order to have up to a yearly total of 5 days accepted as an excused absence. Vacation Request Form
5. If a short-term family emergency arises and you cannot arrange for prior approval, the absence is unexcused but should not cause a truancy report provided the child attends school regularly.
6. If a student comes to school after 8:40am, the student is marked tardy for the morning and should stop at the office to receive a pass to class.

Attendance Policies:

• Schools are required to keep daily attendance for all students. This data is submitted to the state as part of the Compulsory Instruction law.
• Excused Absences are as follows:
  1. To be considered an excused absence, the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian may be asked to verify, in writing, the reason for the student’s absence from school. 
  2. A note from a physician or a licensed mental health professional stating the student cannot attend school may be a valid excuse. 
  3. Personal illness, family emergency or death in the family, medical or dental treatment including telehealth appointments. 
  4. Prearranged college visits. 
  5. Religious instructions not to exceed three hours any week and major religious holidays in accordance with Minn. Stat. 120A.22. 
  6. Legal matters including court appearances. 
  7. Active duty in the military. 
  8. Other activities as approved by the school, including prearranged family vacations. 
  9. Suspensions will be considered an excused absence and students will be permitted to make-up work.
• Schools are required to make reports of child neglect and/or truancy to government agencies for students with 9 or more unexcused absences per year. It is our intention to work cooperatively with families to document the reasons for a student’s absence. We know that families value other reasons beyond illness and emergencies, including vacations and celebrations. To that end, we established a process to allow up to a total of five days of family activities/vacations to be documented as an excused absence provided the parent/guardian completes a school form requesting prior approval from the principal for such absences.