ELEMENTARY ABSENCE AMOUNTS GUIDELINES

ELEMENTARY ABSENCE AMOUNTS GUIDELINES

ag5200AAdopted December 5, 2023Revised November 25, 2024

5200A - ELEMENTARY ABSENCE AMOUNTS GUIDELINES

Per DPI, student attendance should be reported to the one-half day. Any percentages outside of this are converted via the following guidance when the data is published to DPI (WISEdata).

  • Students who receive at least 66% of district-supervised educational services for the day have accrued a full day (1.0) of actual attendance for that day.
  • Students who receive at least 33% and less than 66% of district-supervised educational services for the day have accrued a half day (0.5) of actual attendance for that day.
  • Students who receive less than 33% of district-supervised educational services for the day have accrued no attendance for that day.
  • If a school district has decided that a student can be present for one-half day** or less than one-half day (as occurs in certain pre-kindergarten/kindergarten programs) and that student is present, the actual days of attendance should be reported as 0.5.


Source: https://dpi.wi.gov/wise/data-elements/attendance#  

Given this, assessing the Elementary schedule of 8:05 am - 2:55 pm, the following guidelines can be followed: 

Time AbsentCode on PowerSchoolDaily Attendance Percentatge
2 hours 20 minutes or lessLE “left early” in applicable period (AM or PM)100% present / 0% absent

Between 2 hours 21 minutes and 
4 hours 35 minutes

Code based on the reason for absence, should
only be entered in either AM or PM.

50% present / 50% absent
4 hours 36 minutes or more

Code based on the reason for absence, should
only be entered in both AM and PM.

0% present / 100% absent


Example - Mid-day Absence: 

Student leaves at 9:00 am and returns at 1:00 pm for a parent excused reason. Student marked with code LE - left early in the AM period, and enter P - parent excused in the PM period. This will report the student as present for half a day.

  • If the student is absent more than 2 hours and 20 minutes but less than 4 hours and 36 minutes, the student should be marked absent in only one period, the second should have either the LE or T code. 
  • If the mid-day absence exceeds 4 hours 35 minutes, the student should be marked absent both periods.

Example - End-of-day Absence: 

Student leaves at 1:00 pm for an appointment. Enter code LE in the PM period. The student is considered present the full day. 

  • If they leave before 12:40 pm, The appropriate absence code in the PM period will be used. This student will be considered absent for a half day.  
  • If they leave before 10:20 am, The appropriate absence code in both AM and PM periods will be used. This student will be considered absent for the full day.

Example - Late Arrival:

Student arrives at 10:30 am due to a family emergency. This is more than 2 hours and 20 minutes late, so the student will be marked with code P - parent excused for the AM period. This will report the student as present half a day.

  • If they arrive by 10:25 am, the student will be marked with code T - tardy and enter a note with the arrival time. This student will be considered present the full day.

Revised 4/22/24