Early Dismissal Notes: What Parents Need to Know With Templates
When a student needs to leave school early, schools typically require an early dismissal note from a parent or guardian. But oftentimes, guidelines surrounding what exactly the note should say or specific format are vague.
This guide covers everything you need to know about early dismissal notes, including free templates you can copy and paste and examples for different situations.
What is an early dismissal note?
An early dismissal note (also called an early pickup note or early release letter) is a written message or release form from a parent or legal guardian requesting permission for a student to leave school before the official dismissal time.
Schools mandate these notes for a variety of reasons:
- Student Safety: Ensuring the child leaves with an authorized adult.
- Record-Keeping: Accurately tracking attendance and partial absences.
- Authorization: Verifying the request comes from a legal guardian.
Schools will typically accept them through the forms of a handwritten note, email, or official request form, but it will vary based on school or district policy.
Note: Some schools require a reason for early dismissal, but it usually does not need to be detailed. Additionally, some schools may require a form rather than a note. If that is the case, check with the school office for a template. Always double-check with your school front desk if you are unsure of the specific policy.
How do I write an early dismissal note?
A proper early dismissal note is simple, clear, and factual. It should include:
- Student’s full name
- Grade and/or homeroom teacher (if applicable)
- Date of early dismissal
- Time the student will be picked up
- Brief reason for early pickup
- Parent or guardian name
- Signature (for paper notes) or Contact info
Example early dismissal note
01/05/2026
To the School Office,
Please excuse my child, Jane Doe, from school on Tuesday, January 6th. They will
need to be dismissed early at 12:30 PM due to a dentist's appointment.
Please let me know if any additional information is required. Thank you for your
assistance.
Sincerely,
John Doe
555-555-2368
Early dismissal note template
You can copy and paste this template and fill in your details:
[Date]
To the School Office,
Please excuse my child, [Student Name], from school on [date]. They will need to be
dismissed early at [time] due to [reason].
Please let me know if any additional information is required. Thank you for your
assistance.
Sincerely,
[Parent/Guardian Name]
[Phone number or email]
Who Can Write the Note?
Only a parent or legal guardian may authorize early dismissal unless the school has prior written permission on file.
Can Someone Else Pick Up the Student?
Someone else may pick up the student, but usually only if they are explicitly listed as an authorized pickup person and mentioned in the note (if required by the school). For more details on this policy, please see our Pickup Authorization For Parents 101 Blog.
How Carpool.School Makes Early Dismissals Easier
Managing early dismissals often means writing notes, calling the front desk, and following up when plans change.
Carpool.School digitizes this process. Parents can submit early dismissal requests directly from their phone, while schools get a centralized view of pickup requests, authorized adults, and dismissal timing without paper notes or back-and-forth emails.
For schools, this means clearer visibility, fewer interruptions during the day, and a consistent audit trail. For families, it reduces friction and uncertainty around pickup.
Early dismissal is just one part of the platform, and it integrates naturally with carpool coordination and authorized pickups when schools choose to use it.
Learn more about dismissal management with Carpool.School or request a demo for your school today.
Making school dismissals safer, simpler, and more efficient for everyone.
