Attendance

Track student attendance with SimpleGrader's flexible attendance system. Record who's present, tardy, or absent, and use custom absence codes to categorize the reason.

Overview of Attendance Tracking

SimpleGrader's attendance system includes:

• Daily attendance records per classroom
• Section-based tracking for different class periods
• Presence codes: Present, Tardy, Absent
• Absence codes: Categorize reasons (excused, unexcused, etc.)
• Attendance statistics per student and classroom
• Exportable reports for administration

Configuring Absence Codes

Before taking attendance, set up your absence codes:

1. Go to Settings > Attendance
2. Find the Absence Codes section
3. Add codes like:
   • Excused Absence
   • Unexcused Absence
   • Medical
   • Family Emergency
   • School Activity
4. Mark codes as Excused or Unexcused
5. Set a Default code for quick entry

Absence codes help you track why students are absent and generate accurate reports.

Taking Attendance

To record attendance:

1. Open a classroom
2. Go to the Attendance tab
3. Click Take Attendance
4. Select the Section (auto-selected based on current time)
5. Select the Date (defaults to today)
6. For each student, mark:
   • Present - in class
   • Tardy - late arrival
   • Absent - not present
7. For absent students, select an Absence Code
8. Optionally add Notes for individual students
9. Click Save

Marking Students Present, Tardy, or Absent

Present: The student is in class. This is typically the default state.

Tardy: The student arrived late but is now present. Tardies are tracked separately from absences.

Absent: The student is not in class. Select an absence code to categorize the reason:

• Excused absences (medical, family)
• Unexcused absences (no reason given)

Adding Comments to Attendance

Add context to attendance records using comments:

1. While taking or editing attendance, click the comment icon next to a student
2. Post a comment and check Share with family if guardians should see it
3. Save attendance as usual — comments stay attached to that student's record

Shared comments appear on the student profile, guardian portal, and family activity feed.

Viewing Attendance Statistics

Per Student

View individual attendance history:

1. Open a student's profile
2. View attendance summary:
   • Total present, tardy, absent counts
   • Attendance by classroom
   • Breakdown by absence code

Per Classroom

View classroom attendance trends:

1. Open the classroom
2. Go to the Attendance tab
3. View the attendance list with:
   • Date and section
   • Tardy count
   • Absent count
   • Who recorded attendance

Click on any attendance record to see or edit the details.

Editing Past Attendance

To correct attendance records:

1. Open the classroom's Attendance tab
2. Find the attendance record to edit
3. Click to open it
4. Make corrections
5. Save changes

Attendance Reports by Classroom

Generate attendance reports:

1. Open the classroom
2. Go to Attendance
3. Use filters to select:
   • Date range
   • Section
   • Specific students
4. Export the report

Reports show:

• Daily attendance records
• Student-by-student statistics
• Absence patterns
• Tardy trends

Exporting Attendance Data

Export attendance for external reporting:

1. Open the classroom's Attendance tab
2. Click Export
3. Select date range
4. Choose format (CSV)
5. Download the file

The export includes:

• Student names
• Dates
• Presence status
• Absence codes
• Notes

Understanding Sections and Attendance

Sections help organize attendance for schools with multiple class periods:

Example sections:

• Period 1: 8:00 - 8:50 AM
• Period 2: 9:00 - 9:50 AM
• Period 3: 10:00 - 10:50 AM

When you take attendance:

1. SimpleGrader checks the current time
2. Suggests the active section based on your schedule
3. Falls back to sections with existing attendance today
4. Or suggests the section closest to the current time

Configure sections in Settings > Attendance.