9- ABSENCES & TARDINESS POLICIES

9.1        COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW
​In accordance with the Compulsory Attendance Law of PA Department of Education, the school board shall issue notice to parents/guardians who fail to comply with the law, and report to appropriate authorities, infractions of the law regarding the attendance of students below the age of seventeen (17). For more information, go to: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/resources/policies-acts-and-laws/basic-education-circulars-becs/purdons-statutes/compulsory-school-attendance-unlawful-absences-and-school-attendance-improvement-conferences.html 

9.2        REPORTING ABSENCE
Prompt and regular attendance is important. We do, of course, understand that absences are sometimes necessary. According to the compulsory attendance laws of Pennsylvania, a written excuse is required for all absences. Parents/ guardians should report their child’s absence by filing the “Student Absence Form” available online on school webpage and upload the excuse form within three (3) days of his/her return to school. If the school does not receive a written excuse within three days of the absence, the absence shall be recorded as unexcused.
The written excuse must contain:

• Student's first and last name

• Date(s) of absence or tardiness

• Reason for absence or tardiness (if ill, please provide as much detail as you are comfortable with)

• Name and signature of parent/guardian

• A phone number to reach you in the event that the school nurse needs to follow-up.

9.3        LAWFUL/ EXCUSED ABSENCES
A maximum of ten (10) days of cumulative lawful absences verified by parental notification shall be permitted during a school year. All absences beyond ten (10) cumulative days shall require an excuse from a licensed physician. Students with absences beyond the allowable legal limit may be asked to withdraw from school.
The only excused absences according to the Pennsylvania School Code are:

• Injury/Illness of student

• Death in the immediate family

• Court Appearance

• Educational Trip with prior principal approval (Maximum of five days per school year). Parents must submit an online request by filling the online form “Request for Excused Absence for Educational Trip”, available on school webpage, at least 2 weeks in advance.

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• Family Travel Policy:

  • Students should not be absent from school due to family travel within the country or overseas for more than 10 school days. If the travel requires an absence exceeding 10 days, parents must submit a detailed medical report from a licensed physician. The report should explain the urgent need for travel, the student’s health condition, and the duration of the medical care required.

• Travel  to Visit Immediate Family Members

  • Travel to visit immediate family members who are seriously ill should not exceed 10 school days. If the absence exceeds this duration, parents must submit a medical report from a licensed physician indicating the seriousness of the family member's health condition and explaining the importance of the student visiting the family member for such duration. If the report is in a language other than English, parents are required to provide a certified translation into English.

9.4        TARDINESS
Arriving to school late (after 8:15 a.m.) means that the child will miss out on valuable instruction. This may put the child behind in his or her schoolwork.

• If a student arrives after 8:15 a.m., a parent must accompany the student to the office and complete the online “Early Dismissal/ Tardy Form”.

• Tardiness is “excused” in the following cases: medical or dental appointments, family emergencies, or other considerations that have been cleared through the school office.

• Six (6) tardy incidents are equivalent to 1 unexcused absence. Students with more than 6 tardy incidents in a given grading period will be subject to a disciplinary action.

• A written warning will be sent to the parents, requesting a meeting with the principal to discuss the reasons for the tardiness.

• If tardiness continues excessively, the student will lose the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities and field trips.

 
9.5        UNEXCUSED AND EXCESSIVE ABSENCES
​A student is subject to the PA Compulsory Attendance Law if he/she accumulates 10 or more excused absences or six or more unexcused absences or its equivalence. The following consequences may apply:

• Intervention plan meeting with the principal.

• Reducing academic grades, a letter each for all subject areas on the following report card.

• Suspension may be applied.

• Retention of the student in the same grade level.

• A citation filing with the magistrate, and notifying community social service agencies.

• If an unexcused absence exceeds 10 school days within the academic year, the school will send a warning to the parents. If the attendance policy is not complied with and the student continues to be absent without excuse, the school reserves the right to withdraw the student.