Request for an Absence Investigation – School Absence, Student Perspective & Excel | Word/PDF

Request for an absence investigation at school is a document package for students and guardians who want to draw the principal's attention to repeated or prolonged absence from school. The package helps describe absence patterns, document contacts, present the student's perspective, and follow up on the school's actual decision. Includes Word, searchable PDF, and Excel.

Important: This is preparatory material from the student or guardian – not the school's own statutory absence investigation, medical assessment, or decided action plan. The principal assesses the obligation to investigate based on the actual circumstances and the applicable type of school. No specific absence percentage or number of days automatically triggers the obligation.

When is the template suitable?

For repeated or prolonged absence in preschool, primary school, adapted primary school, special school, Sámi school, upper secondary school, and adapted upper secondary school, when the corresponding provision is applicable. Absence may need to be investigated even when it has been reported as valid, for example in cases of repeated sickness absence. Occasional temporary absence does not always require investigation. It is the school's responsibility to assess whether an investigation is needed.

All files

Excel with nine tabs

The tabs are Overview, Cases, Absence, Contacts, Investigation, Interventions, Consultation, Follow-up, and Read Me. Eight key figures count only registered entries and manually entered statuses. A sent request is not the same as confirmed receipt; an investigation entry is not a school decision; a proposed action is not a verified completed action. Excel does not calculate legal deadlines or threshold values for school absence. No macros or external services are required for local use.

Practical workflow

1. Check school type, the correct principal, and relevant absence information.
2. Describe dates, patterns, and differences between the school's registration and the student's or guardian's information.
3. Document the student's perspective and actual previous contacts, without unnecessary health information.
4. Send the request to the principal and document actual receipt confirmation.
5. Follow up on the school's assessment and consultation in the form that is applicable.
6. Separate the absence investigation from any parallel investigation into special support and save actual decisions separately.

Legal prerequisites

According to Chapter 7, Section 19 a of the Education Act (2010:800), the principal in mandatory school types shall ensure that repeated or prolonged absence is investigated promptly, regardless of whether the absence is valid or invalid, unless it is unnecessary. The investigation shall be carried out in consultation with the student, guardian, and school health services. The principal shall then initiate the investigation and also report this to the school owner as soon as possible. For upper secondary school and adapted upper secondary school, there is a similar obligation to investigate in Chapter 15, Section 16 and Chapter 18, Section 16, but not the same explicit detailed consultation rules. If the circumstances indicate special support, Chapter 3, Section 7 may be considered separately. Read the Swedish National Agency for Education's guidance on absence.

Frequently asked questions

Must a student's absence be invalid to be investigated?

No. The obligation to investigate applies to repeated or prolonged absence regardless of whether the absence is valid or invalid, as long as the investigation is not unnecessary according to the current rule.

How many absence days must the student have?

The Education Act does not specify a general limit in number of days or percentage. The principal must assess the circumstances in the individual case.

Who is responsible for the absence investigation?

The principal is responsible for the school investigating when the conditions are met. The template store's documents are material from the student or guardian, not a completed school investigation.

Must the school health services participate?

In school types covered by Chapter 7, Section 19 a, consultation shall take place with the school health services, the student, and the guardian. The special rules for upper secondary school are not identical, although consultation is often important. The Swedish National Agency for Education describes the role of the school health services.

Is an absence investigation the same as special support?

No. They are different investigation assignments that can be coordinated if necessary. An absence investigation does not automatically mean that an action plan is decided.

Can Excel assess when the investigation is mandatory?

No. Excel is an administrative follow-up, not a legal assessment, a medical tool, or a replacement for the school's attendance register.

Are the PDF files fillable and are the templates translated?

Editing is done in Swedish Word files. PDF are searchable print versions. Only the user guide is in English; the main templates are Swedish and refer to Swedish law.

Sources and version

Education Act (2010:800), especially Chapter 7, Section 19 a, Chapter 15, Section 16 and Chapter 18, Section 16, Swedish National Agency for Education – Absence in School and Swedish National Agency for Education – School Health Services. Document version 1.0. AI-assisted legal source check performed November 1, 2026. No external independent legal review or authority approval has been carried out.