If your child is absent or comes to school late, they will be required to submit an excuse regarding their absence within three days of the absence. Each excuse should be submitted through the school's attendance email listed below and include the following miniumum information:

MBJHATTENDANCE@mtnbrook.k12.al.us

• Date the excuse is submitted
• Name of student
• Reason the student was absent
• Date of the absence
• Signature of the parent or guardian

A picture of an excuse with a signature would suffice.

Please see examples of excuses for references:

Acceptable Excuse:

Acceptable Excuse: 

Unacceptable Excuse:

The state recognizes the following five items as excused:

1. Illness
2. Death in the immediate family
3. Weather preventing attendance
4. Legal/Court requirements
5. Religious holidays

The state also gives local schools the ability to provide “Principal’s Permission” for absences which may offer a degree of educational or personal enrichment to the student.  Please see our student handbook or web page for more details on how to obtain “Principal’s Permission”.

Below you will find the revised guidance on Unexcused Absences and Excused Absences in excess of ten (10) days.

Attendance/Truancy

Truancy: Any student who does not provide a written excuse within 3 days of an absence is deemed truant. An unexcused absence will also be awarded if the written excuse does not meet the states guidelines in order for the absence to be excused (see the five items above and the option of “Principal’s Permission”).

First Offense (First absence which is documented as unexcused)

By Alabama law, a letter must be sent to the parent/guardian including a copy of Alabama compulsory school attendance law, including penalties if truancy continues. Local school administration may impose other penalties.

Third Offense in the school year

Recommended conference with parent/guardian/student at the school with a school administrator.

Fifth Offense in the school year

By board policy, mandatory parent/guardian/student conference with school administrator. Letter must be presented to parent/guardian including a copy of Alabama compulsory school attendance law, including penalties if truancy continues. Signature that parent/guardian has received the letter must be collected.

Notify District Attendance Officer that fifth offense and conference has occurred.

Seventh Offense in the school year

The case is turned over to the District Attendance/Truancy Officer. By law and board policy, the system may consider referring the case to juvenile court.

Tenth Offense in the school year

By law and board policy, system will refer the case to juvenile court when appropriate.

Absences for Medical Reasons

Missing more than ten (10) days of school per semester is considered excessive absence. If a student misses more than 10 days for medical per semester, the parent/guardian may be required to provide written medical verification for the subsequent absence from a licensed physician stating that the absence was a medical necessity. If written medical verification is not received, the absence will be unexcused unless the absence is due to an excused reason other than illness.