Attendance, Promotion & Graduation

Attendance

Illinois law requires that whoever has custody or control of any child between six (by September 1st) and seventeen years of age shall assure that the child attends school in the district in which he or she resides, during the entire time school is in session (unless the child has already graduated from high school). Illinois law also requires that whoever has custody or control of a child who is enrolled in the school, regardless of the child’s age, shall assure that the child attends school during the entire time school is in session.

Student Absences

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.

For students who are required to attend school, there are two types of absences: excused and unexcused. Excused absences include: illness (including up to 5 days per school year for 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 or event, death in the immediate family, family emergency, situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the school board, circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or safety, attending a military honors funeral to sound TAPS, attend a civic event, or other reason as approved by the building principal. For students who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence, an excused absence includes the fulfillment of a parenting responsibility and addressing circumstances resulting from domestic or sexual violence. Students eligible to vote are also excused for up to two hours to vote in a primary, special, or general election.

Additionally, a student will be excused for up to 5 days in cases where the student’s 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. The Board of Education, in its discretion, may excuse a student for additional days relative to such leave or deployment. A student and the student’s parent/guardian are responsible for obtaining assignments from the student’s teachers prior to any excused absences and for ensuring that such assignments are completed by the student prior to his or her return to school.

Students who are excused from school will be given a reasonable timeframe to make up missed homework and classwork assignments.

All other absences are considered unexcused. Pre-arranged excused absences must be approved by the building principal.

The school may require documentation explaining the reason for the student’s absence.

In the event of any absence, the student’s parent/guardian is required to call the school office before 8:00 a.m. to explain the reason for the absence. If a call has not been made to the school by 10:00 a.m. on the day of a student’s absence, a school official will call the home to inquire why the student is not at school. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the student will be required to submit a signed note from the parent/guardian explaining the reason for the absence. Failure to do so shall result in an unexcused absence. Upon request of the parent/guardian, the reason for an absence will be kept confidential.

Diagnostic Procedures for Identifying Student Absences and Support Services to Truant or Chronically Truant Students

State law requires every school district to collect and review its chronic absence data and determine what systems of support and resources are needed to engage chronically absent students and their families to encourage the habit of daily attendance and promote success. This review must include an analysis of chronic absence data from each attendance center.

Furthermore, State law provides that school districts are encouraged to provide a system of support to students who are at risk of reaching or exceeding chronic absence levels with strategies and are also encouraged to make resources available to families such as those available through the State Board of Education's Family Engagement Framework to support and engage students and their families to encourage heightened school engagement and improved daily school attendance.

"Chronic absence" means absences that total 10% or more of school days of the most recent academic school year, including absences with and without valid cause, and out-of-school suspensions.

The School and District use the following diagnostic procedures for identifying the causes of unexcused student absences: Interviews with the student, his or her parent/guardian and any school officials who may have information about the reasons for the student’s attendance problems.

Supportive services to truant or chronically truant students include: parent conferences, student counseling, family counseling, and information about existing community services.

Student attendance is critical to academic success. Parents are encouraged to schedule student absences when school is not in session. A parent requesting release time for their child shall communicate, in writing, with the school office. This communication shall include the dates the child will be absent from school as well as the reason for the absence.

Vacations during the school year are discouraged. If students miss school due to vacation, please do not ask the teacher to prepare homework ahead of time for the child to complete on vacation. Teachers base homework assignments on the needs presented by the class, and these often cannot be predicted before the fact. Students who miss school due to vacation will be given a reasonable time to make up the work that the teacher feels is important.

If you need to take your student out of school, this form (Student Absence Request), completed and signed, must be returned to the principal's office five (5) school attendance days before the planned absence.

Students are not allowed to leave the school grounds during the school day except for those children who go home for lunch. At times, it may be necessary for your child to be excused early from school for dental appointments, family emergencies, etc. Such requests should be directed to the teacher or principal for approval.

Release Time for Religious Instruction and Observance

A student will be released from school, as an excused absence, to observe a religious holiday or for religious instruction. The student’s parent/guardian must give written notice to the building principal at least 5 calendar days before the student’s anticipated absence(s).

Students excused for religious reasons will be given an opportunity to make up all missed work, including homework and tests, for equivalent academic credit.

Make-Up Work

If a student’s absence is excused or if a student is suspended from school, he/she will be permitted to make up all missed work, including homework and tests, for equivalent academic credit. Students who are unexcused from school will not be allowed to make up missed work.

Truancy

Student attendance is critical to the learning process. Truancy is therefore a serious issue and will be dealt with in a serious manner by the school and district.

Students who miss more than 1% but less than 5% of the prior 180 regular school days without valid cause (a recognized excuse) are truant. Students who miss 5% or more of the prior 180 regular school days without valid cause are chronic truants. Students who are chronic truants will be offered support services and resources aimed at correcting the truancy issue.

If chronic truancy persists after support services and other resources are made available, the school and district will take further action, including:

• Referral to the truancy officer
• Reporting to officials under the Juvenile Court Act
• Referral to the State’s Attorney
• Appropriate school discipline

A student who misses 15 consecutive days of school without valid cause and who cannot be located or, after exhausting all available support services, cannot be compelled to return to school is subject to expulsion from school.

A parent or guardian who knowingly and willfully permits a child to be truant is in violation of State law.

Exemption from PE Requirement

In order to be excused from participation in physical education, a student must present an appropriate excuse from his or her parent/guardian or from a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act. The excuse may be based on medical or religious prohibitions. An excuse because of medical reasons must include a signed statement from a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act that corroborates the medical reason for the request. An excuse based on religious reasons must include a signed statement from a member of the clergy that corroborates the religious reason for the request. Upon written notice from a student’s parent/guardian, a student will be excused from engaging in the physical activity components of physical education during a period of religious fasting.

A student in grades 7-8 may submit a written request to the building principal requesting to be excused from physical education courses because of the student’s ongoing participation in an interscholastic or extracurricular athletic program. The building principal will evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis.

Students with an Individualized Education Program may also be excused from physical education courses for reasons stated in Handbook Procedure 10.301.

Special activities in physical education will be provided for a student whose physical or emotional condition, as determined by a person licensed under the Medical Practices Act, prevents his or her participation in the physical education course.

State law prohibits the School District from honoring parental excuses based upon a student’s participation in athletic training, activities, or competitions conducted outside the auspices of the School District.

Students who have been excused from physical education shall return to the course as soon as practical. The following considerations will be used to determine when a student shall return to a physical education course:2

• The time of year when the student’s participation ceases; and
• The student’s class schedule.

Activity Restrictions in Physical Education (PE) and Recess due to Injury

If your child needs to limit physical activity due to an injury, please follow these guidelines:

• Short-Term Restrictions (Up to 3 Days): A letter from a parent or guardian is required to excuse your child from PE and recess due to an injury.
• Long-Term Restrictions (Beyond 3 Days): A letter from a healthcare provider (MD, DO, APN, or PA) is required and must include:
  • Details regarding the specific health concern.
  • Clearly state the extent of the activity restriction.
  • Provide the date your child can safely resume full physical activity.
• Recess Restrictions: Students with a healthcare provider's restriction from PE will not be allowed to participate in recess. The student will remain in a designated safe area on the playground or indoors with an adult during recess. 
• Sports / Extracurricular Physical Activities: Students restricted from PE due to injury cannot participate in school sports or other physical activities until written clearance from the healthcare provider is provided.
• Orthopedic Devices / Mobility Aids: Students with casts, splints, sutures, boots, crutches, or wheelchairs, etc., may not participate in PE, recess, or school-sponsored physical activities until written clearance from the healthcare provider is provided. If your child uses crutches, scooter, or a wheelchair, please provide a letter from the healthcare provider outlining the parameters for their use.
• Preventative Devices: Students wearing soft splints or braces for preventative purposes may participate in PE with written permission from their healthcare provider.

Requests for Recess Exemption

Fresh air and exercise are vital for your child's health and learning. Our supervised playground offers a safe space for outdoor activity. Students are expected to go outside for recess, weather permitting, as determined by the school using Child Care Weather Watch Guidelines. 

• Short-Term Exemption (1 Day): If the student is recovering from a non-infectious illness, a parent may send a letter or email to the school nurse to excuse the student from recess for one day.
• Long-Term Exemption (Beyond 1 Day): For exemptions longer than one day, a doctor's note is required and must include:
  • Details regarding the specific health concern
  • Length of the exemption, and 
  • Specific minimum temperature for indoor stay (if applicable)

Home & Hospital Instruction

A student who is absent from school, or whose physician, physician assistant or licensed advance practice registered nurse anticipates his or her absence from school, because of a medical condition may be eligible for instruction in the student’s home or hospital.

Appropriate educational services from qualified staff will begin no later than five school days after receiving a written statement from a physician, physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse. Instructional or related services for a student receiving special education services will be determined by the student’s individualized education program.

A student who is unable to attend school because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, the fulfillment of parenting obligations related to the health of the child, or health and safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence will be provided home instruction under the following circumstances:

1. Before the birth of the child when the student’s physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse indicates, in writing, that she is medically unable to attend regular classroom instruction.

2. For up to three months after the child’s birth or a miscarriage.

3. When a student must care for his or her ill child if:

a. The child's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse informs the school, in writing, that the child has a serious health condition that would require the student to be absent from school for two or more consecutive weeks; and

b. The student or the student's parent/guardian informs the school, in writing, that the student needs to care for the child during this period.

4. The student must treat physical or mental health complications or address safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence when a health care provider or an employee of the student's domestic or sexual violence organization informs the school in writing that the care is needed by the student and will cause the student's absence from school for two or more consecutive weeks.
The school may reassess home instruction provided to a student under No. 3 or No. 4 every two months to determine the student's continuing need for home instruction.

Periodic conferences will be held between appropriate school personnel, parent(s)/guardian(s), and hospital staff to coordinate course work and facilitate a student’s return to school.

For information on home or hospital instruction, contact the building principal.

Grading & Promotion

The decision to promote a student to the next grade level is based on successful completion of the curriculum, attendance, performance on standardized tests, and other testing. A student will not be promoted based upon age or any other social reason not related to academic performance. For questions regarding grades, please contact the classroom teacher.

Homework

Homework is used as a way for students to practice what they have learned in the classroom. The time requirements and the frequency of homework will vary depending on a student’s teacher, ability, and grade level.

Students who are absent from school for a valid cause (an excused absence) may make up missed homework in a reasonable timeframe.

Curriculum

District 63 offers a rigorous curriculum based on the Common Core State Standards and Illinois Learning Standards from the Illinois State Board of Education. These standards define what all students should know and be able to do as a result of their schooling.

District 63 staff continually evaluates curriculum, instruction, and assessment to ensure maximum effectiveness. Decisions are based on current research and best practices in teaching and learning.

All students receive instruction in the fundamental learning areas of literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and physical development/health. Elementary students receive weekly instruction in art, music, and library/STEM. In addition to instruction in the fundamental learning areas shared above, sixth--, seventh--, and eighth-grade students also choose elective classes covering a variety of topics (e.g., art, choir, photography, etc.).

Students in grades 4 through 8 also have the opportunity to participate in band and orchestra.

Technology is used throughout the curriculum as a tool to support student learning. Students at East Maine in grades 3-8 are part of a 1:1 initiative, with each student receiving a Chromebook for use at both home and school. Students in kindergarten through grade 2 have access to Chromebooks at school.

There is comprehensive health instruction for students in grades 5 – 8 that incorporates sex education. Family life courses are designed to promote a wholesome and comprehensive understanding of the emotional, psychological, physiological, hygienic, and social responsibility aspects of family life, and the prevention of AIDS.

During registration parents/guardians have the opportunity to receive additional information regarding sex education. They also have the opportunity to decide on student participation. A sample of the District’s instructional materials and course outline for the classes will be available from the classroom teacher for parent/guardian inspection.

According to State law, no student is required to take or participate in these classes. There is no penalty for refusing to participate in the program. If you do not want your child to participate in these classes, you may complete a class attendance waiver statement and return it to your child’s classroom teacher.

Complaints About Curriculum, Instructional Materials, and Programs; Ability to Opt-Out of Certain Course Content and Programs

Parents or guardians have the right to inspect all instructional materials used as a part of their child’s education. If you believe that curriculum, instructional materials, or programs violate rights guaranteed by any law or Board policy, you may file a complaint under the District’s uniform grievance policy.

Parents or guardians of impacted students with other suggestions or complaints about curriculum, instructional materials, or programs should complete a Curriculum Objection Form, which is available from the school principal. A parent or guardian may also request that their child be exempt from using a particular instructional material or participating in certain course content or programs by completing a Curriculum Objection Form.

Exempting a child from using instructional material or refusing to allow a child from taking or participating in course content or a program that allows parents or guardians to object in writing and/or opt their child out of participation shall not be reason for disciplinary action or academic penalty to the student.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

District 63 uses a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to improve academic and behavioral outcomes for all students. MTSS is a decision-making framework that supports quality core Instruction through data collection and data analysis for all children. MTSS consists of three components.

• Data Monitoring and Analysis
  • All students in grades K-8 are screened three times each year in literacy and math.
  • All students K-8 are screened for internalizing and externalizing behavior risks three times per year as well.
  • Grade-level teams review data from these screening instruments to determine instructional needs.
  • Evidence-based curriculum and instruction are provided for all students.
  • Interventions are provided for identified students for both academic and behavioral needs.
  • Progress monitoring data is collected to guide academic and behavioral instructional decisions.
• Systematic Problem Solving 
  • Observations of student academic and behavioral concerns are examined to determine the root cause.
  • Decisions are made based on academic and behavioral data.
  • Plans are developed, implemented, and monitored.
• Tiered System of Support 
  • Multiple supports within the general education classroom support differentiated and accelerated learning
  • Supports are provided in academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning.

Accelerated Placement

The District provides an Accelerated Placement Program (APP) for qualified students. It provides students with an educational setting with curriculum options that are usually reserved for students who are older or in higher grades than the student. Accelerated placement includes but may not be limited to early entrance to kindergarten or first grade, accelerating a student in a single subject, and grade acceleration. Participation is open to all students who demonstrate high ability and may benefit from the accelerated placement. It is not limited to students identified as gifted or talented. Please contact the building principal for additional information.