Report an Excused Absence

CPS recognizes six reasons for an absence to be considered excused:

1. Student illness, including mental or behavioral health (As of January 1, 2022, absences can be attributed to mental or behavioral health for up to five days. Learn more: [ ENGLISH | SPANISH ])
2. Observance of a religious holiday (absence note required)
3. Death in the immediate family
4. Family emergency
5. Sounding taps at a military funeral for a deceased veteran
6. Parent or legal guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone

Additional considerations:

• Circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for their child's safety or health (must be approved by the principal)
• Other situations beyond the control of the student (as determined by the principal)

• Students/families should inform their school if a physician diagnoses their child with a contagious or infectious disease, such as chicken pox or measles.
• Keep up-to-date on all your child's health examinations and immunizations so your student does not miss school.

CPS offers a variety of resources for students in need of mental health support.

• Hazel Health offers access to free, high-quality online therapy and counseling. This helps students feel better faster, miss less school, and get care even if their family can’t easily visit a clinic. It’s a simple way to keep students healthy and ready to learn.

Visit our Mental Health page to learn more about the different mental wellness options provided to your student!

If you have more than one student, you can submit E-Absence requests for multiple students. To do this, you must navigate to each student within Parent Portal.

Yes, you can cancel your E-Absence request, or the Attendance Coordinator/Clerk can cancel the request. To do this, you must use the full site view of Parent Portal at aspen.cps.edu and navigate to the front page.

The current school will receive the E-Absence request. The absence requests before the transfer must be submitted via paper or phone.

You do not receive a CPS robocall after you submit your E-Absence request if your request is approved. However, you receive a CPS robocall if your E-Absence request is denied or canceled.

Yes, you can submit an attachment using the full site view of the Parent Portal at aspnn.cps.edu.

You can submit a request from the beginning of the current school year until a date fifteen (15) days in the future.

You receive an email once you submit your request to confirm that the Attendance Coordinator/Clerk received your request. You will receive another email once the Attendance Coordinator/ Clerk approves or denies your request.

If the Attendance Coordinator/Clerk denies your request, you can submit another request for the same date(s) that the Attendance Coordinator/Clerk may approve.

Please allow 24 hours for the Attendance Coordinator/Clerk to review and approve or deny your request.

Yes, you can submit a request for a period using the full site view of the Parent Portal at aspen.cps.edu.