Attendance Policy

Hawaii Public Schools' attendance policy is governed by state law and Board Policy 4140: Compulsory School Attendance Policy. It states: "The Department of Education shall make every effort to ensure student school attendance in accordance with the compulsory attendance law." The State of Hawaii's compulsory attendance law (Hawaii Revised Statuses 302A-1132).

Students who are chronic absentees may be referred to Family Court. Pursuant to H.R.S. 571-11(2), Family Court can place a child under jurisdiction for truancy if the child is not attending school or is not receiving the educational services required by law.

A student is considered chronically absent after missing 15 or more days over the course of an entire school year.

Consistent school attendance is an important contributor to a student's academic success and well-being. While we understand that illnesses or emergencies may prevent your child from coming to school, we have implemented the policy below to promote regular school attendance and prevent chronic absenteeism.

• Students who arrive at school after 8:05am will be marked tardy. All tardies are considered unexcused.
• Students who leave school before half of the day is over (i.e. 11:00am) or who arrive at school after half of the day is over will be marked absent for that day.
• While we appreciate parent calls or notes for absences, per our attendance policy, all absences (including trips) are considered unexcused with the following exceptions: family emergencies, absences accompanied by a note from a medical professional, and cases in which your child is sent home from school due to illness or injury.

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Absences/Tardies

Action

10 unexcused absences and/or tardies
15 unexcused absences and/or tardies
20 unexcused absences and/or tardies

Parent letter
Parent letter
​Attendance conference will be scheduled for parents
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• Parents whose children continue to accumulate absences/tardies even after a conference will be subject to the following interventions: phone calls. meetings, and/or home visits with the principal, counselor, and/or complex social worker. Chronic attendance concerns may result in the filing of an Educational Neglect Petition with the Family Court.
• In addition, families whose children are attending Nuuanu School on a Geographical Exception (GE) may have their GE revoked if attendance concerns persist.
• Quarterly perfect attendance awards will be given to students with no tardies and absences (regardless of reason).

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Off Island Trips

It is strongly recommended that a trip be taken during the days and/or months that school is not in session (ie. Spring Break, Winter Recess, Summer Break, and Fall Break). Please remember that these absences could affect your child's academic standing and will be unexcused absences. Teachers are not required to provide homework or make-up work for children on trips. If you have to take a trip during school time, please inform the office or teacher of the trip.