Attendance Policy

KONAWAENA MIDDLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY

Revised May 2026

Hawaii Revised Statutes 302A-1132 states that “all children who will have arrived at the age of at least five
years on or before July 31 of the school year, and who will not have arrived at the age of eighteen years, by
January 1 of any school year, shall attend either a public or private school for, and during, the school year, and
any parent, guardian, or other person having the responsibility for, or care of, a child whose attendance at
school is obligatory shall send the child to either a public or private school.”
Board of Education Policy 4140 states: "The Department of Education shall make every effort to ensure
student school attendance in accordance with the compulsory attendance law".
For purposes of reporting Average Daily Attendance (AvgDA), no distinction should be made between
“excused” or “unexcused” absences. For purposes of AvgDA reporting, students are either present or absent.
Individual schools or teachers, though, may maintain records of “excused” and “unexcused” absences for other
purposes.
If a student is absent, follow the procedure listed below:
- Complete this google form before 8:00 am to report the absence. https://bit.ly/KMSabsence
- If you are unable to use the google form, you may call the school office before 8:00 am to report
the absence. If you’re leaving a message, please clearly state your name, student’s name,
grade and reason for absence.

- When returning to school, bring a signed note to the office explaining the reason for absence.
- If a student is absent for 5 or more consecutive school days, a note from a health care provider is
required.
- Parent/Guardian must notify the school in writing as soon as any plans for any extended absences
have been made. The principal has the discretion to decide if the absences will be excused or
unexcused depending if student academics are adversely affected, and/or if prior attendance has been
a concern. Administration will notify the parents/guardian of their decision.
- Teachers are required to provide make-up work for excused absences only.
- A student who is marked absent is responsible for making up work within the quarter marking period.
Konawaena Middle School will mark a student as Absent-Excused when he/she is absent for the following
reasons:
- Death in the immediate family member (parent, sibling, grandparent only).Obituary required.
- Doctor or dentist appointment. Signed note pertaining to student from doctor/dentist office required.
- Court (letter pertaining to student from courthouse required)
- Serious illness after 5 school days also requires a doctor’s note.
When the student has accrued ten absences, either excused or unexcused, the teachers/counselor may call to
arrange a meeting with the parents.
Konawaena Middle School will mark a student as Absent-Unexcused when he/she is absent for the following
reasons:
- Missed the bus and had no transportation
- Had to baby-sit, overslept, entertaining visitors/guests
- Family Vacations, (i.e. on/off island), trips (i.e. extended out of country)
- Parent/guardian reports absence but does have required documentation (ie obituary, doctor/dentist
note, court documentation)
- Personal appointments

Konawaena Middle School uses School Messenger, a calling system to report unverified absences to parents.
If you don’t report a child’s absence, an automated call will go out after 10:00 am to notify that your child has
been marked absent from morning advisory and first periods.

- If you receive the School Messenger attendance call, and your child should be in school, please call
the school immediately.
Tardies
Unexcused absences and tardies affect a student’s academic performance and achievement. Students are
expected to arrive at school before the first bell.
If a student arrives after school has begun, they must report to the office where they will be marked “tardy” and
be given an admit slip to class. If the tardy is due to medical/dental appointment, please bring a verified doctor
or dentist note. The note must pertain to the tardy student.
Early Release
When a student is early released from school, their missed classes will be marked absent-unexcused. If the
early release is for a medical/dental appointment, please bring a verified doctor or dentist note on the next
school day. The note must pertain to the released student.
Suspensions
For absences due to suspension which are 3 days or fewer teachers are not required to provide makeup work.
However, an automatic “F” or “0” shall not be given for assignments that students are not allowed to make up
or for mere physical absence from class. Teachers should provide work for students who are suspended for 4
days or more.
Measures taken for excessive absences:
STEP 1: School Messenger makes calls to parent/guardian for all unverified absences.
STEP 2: (5-10 absences) Advisory Teacher will reach out to the parent/guardian.
STEP 3: (11-15 absences) EveryDay Labs sends mail, text & email nudges
STEP 4: (16-24 absences) Attendance committee implements a Tier 2 intervention and may request a meeting
with the parent/guardian if:
a. The student has D or F grades and/or,
b. The parent/guardian has not been in contact with the school to provide reasons for absences and/or,
c. There are excessive unexcused absences.
STEP 5: (25+ absences) Attendance committee implements another Tier 2 intervention and a Tier 3
intervention and may file a petition to Family Court for non-attendance due to continued unexcused absences
from school.

EARLY STUDENT RELEASE

It is a priority at Konawaena Middle School to maximize classroom contact between teachers and students. As
such, we ask that you seriously consider any request to release your child from school early. Students
who are not in school cannot learn.
Process: If you must pick up your child for an appointment, or any other reason, please do the following:
1. A legal parent/guardian must call the office at least 2 hours before early release, or write a note/
complete an Early Release Request form containing the following:
a. Student’s legal first & last name
b. Early Release date and time
c. Reason
d. Name of person picking up the student (identification may be required.)
2. Instruct your child to bring note/request to the office before school starts. After office staff verifies
note, your child will receive an Early Release pass to leave their class and report to the office at the
assigned time. It is your child’s responsibility to bring the request to the main office.
3. Report to the office and sign your child out. ID will be required. If your child is returning to school,
parent/guardian must sign in student at the main office.
In our effort to minimize classroom disruptions, we will not go the classroom to get the student if you come
earlier than the time stated on your note, or if your child is late in coming to the office.
If you come to the office without prior notice, you’re interrupting the child’s class and learning. Parents or
emergency contacts picking up students from the health room may proceed to the health room to sign the
student out.
When a student is early released from school, their missed classes will be marked absent-unexcused. If the
early release is for a medical/dental appointment, please bring a verified doctor or dentist note on the next
school day for it to be excused. The note must pertain to the released student.
Please make every effort to arrange your child’s appointments on days they’re not scheduled on
campus.
Beginning and End of School Day: Morning supervision is not available before 7:15 am. Afterschool
supervision will be available till 3:30 pm. For their safety, do not drop off students before 7:15 am.
Please pick up students after school by 3:30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On
Wednesdays, students should be picked up by 1:45 pm