Pre-Kindergarten Attendance Policy

MNPS expects registered Pre-Kindergarten students to follow the same attendance requirements as K-12 students. MNPS are in session 176 days a year.  Pre-Kindergarten children are required to attend the same amount of days as students in grades K-12.  A Pre-Kindergarten day is six hours (8:00 am – 2:00 pm).  This is one hour less than grades K-12. The following information contains excerpts from MNPS Attendance Policy (#1735):

Verification of Absences

• All absences must be verified in writing from the parent or guardian within three (3) days.
• All absences for which no written verification is received will be considered unexcused.
• Absences are marked on the student’s record as either excused or unexcused.

Excused Absences

• Personal illness
• Illness in the family requiring student’s temporary help
• Death in the family (not more than 3 days)
• Head lice, up to 3 days per infestation
• Recognized religious holidays regularly observed by persons of the child’s faith
• Court appearance or legal mandates
• Documented college visitations (junior/seniors only, for no more than 3 days per year)
• Upon written request of the parent/guardian, a student’s absence may be excused for the following reasons:
• Unforeseeable emergencies such as car problems
• Employment interview or conference
• Other reasons requested in writing by the parent/guardian and considered legitimate by  the principal or designee
• Serving on Board or Staff appointed committees

Principal Authority
With written documentation in the student’s record and in accordance with this policy, principals may:

• Excused an absence
• Refuse to excuse an absence
• Require an explanation (written or oral) from the parent/guardian explaining the reason for  each absence
• Require other documentation they deem appropriate
• Require a physician’s statement of consent to participate in the regular school program, extracurricular activities, or to validate an extended illness or excessive absences due to illness

Parent Pledge
I understand that if my child is placed in the Metropolitan Nashville Public School Pre-Kindergarten Program, the following conditions must be met:

• My child will attend the required amount of time for Pre-K based on the MNPS calendar.
• My child will be on time (8:00 a.m.) and picked up on time (2:00 p.m.) unless it is an emergency.
• I understand that my child cannot start school in August without appropriate age documentation, physical, immunization record, and social security card or number.
• I also understand that I must have proof (utility bill, lease, or Owner’s Title Policy) that I live in that particular school zone, cluster or Davidson County.
• I understand that failure to meet with these attendance requirements could result in being dropped from the program.