Attendance

It is important that you contact your child’s school if your child is absent from school. 

Parents/Guardians must notify the attendance line within 48 hours of a student’s absence.  If not reported within 48 hours, the absence will not be excused.  Extended absences of three or more days must be cleared with administration or attendance specialist at least one week prior to the scheduled absences. 

Absences that are not excused may result in disciplinary action. 

All absences are considered unexcused, until the school receives a call, note or email documenting a valid reason for the absence.  If the reason isn’t valid, the absence is still considered unexcused. If the note isn’t received within 48 hours, the absence is considered unexcused. If a note is received within 2 days, the absence may be reclassified as excused. Unexcused absences are considered “unlawful absences” if the student is of compulsory school age.

Pinnacle Charter School recognizes that there may be legitimate reasons for absences, such as illness, family emergencies, or religious observances. Parents/guardians are required to provide documentation to excuse absences. Documentation must be submitted within 48 hours after the absence occurs. 

Parents/Guardians may excuse up to five absences per semester without documentation.  Absences beyond five days will be considered unexcused unless proper documentation is provided. 

A student absence is considered excused under the following circumstances:

• Illness, injury, physical, mental, and/or emotional disability 
• Family emergency, such as a severe illness or death of a family member
• Medical or dental appointment
• Bona Fide religious holiday
• Court hearing
• Dismissed from school by a school nurse or administrator
• Care provided by a licensed health care or therapy practitioner

Students who miss a significant number of school days, regardless of the reason, are considered chronically absent and may face academic and social challenges.  In Colorado, chronic absenteeism means a student has been absent for 10% or more of the days they are enrolled in school, regardless of the reason for the absence. All absences count—including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions.

Chronic Absenteeism vs. Truancy

These terms are often confused, but they are different:

• Chronic Absenteeism = Missing 10% or more of enrolled school days for any reason (excused, unexcused, or suspension). This is used to identify students who may need support before attendance problems become more serious.
• Habitual Truancy = A legal definition based only on unexcused absences. In Colorado, a student is considered habitually truant after 4 unexcused absences in one month or 10 unexcused absences during one school year.

At Pinnacle Charter School, we believe that every day of learning matters. Regular attendance is one of the greatest predictors of a student's academic success, confidence, and connection to school.

Colorado law requires that children between the ages of 6 and 17 attend school regularly. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring their child attends school consistently and arrives on time each day.  

Students who develop a pattern of excessive absences or unexcused absences may be referred to the school's attendance intervention process. Our goal is to work together with families to identify barriers, provide support, and improve attendance. If attendance does not improve after these interventions, the school may be required to follow Colorado's compulsory attendance laws, which can include filing a truancy case through the appropriate legal process.  Click the link below for more information regarding Colorado’s compulsory attendance laws. 

Colorado Department of Education