Attendance Policy

EXCUSED ABSENCES

1. Excused and/or Lawful Absences: Permissible excused absences from District Schools include: (1) personal illness, (2) medical or dental appointments, (3) District approved tutorial programs not offered by the District, (4) quarantine, (5) death in the immediate family, (6) traditionally-recognized religious holidays, (7) religious instruction as defined below, (8) approved school activities and educational travel, (9) approved 4-H/FFA/FHA participation in authorized Pennsylvania agricultural fairs, (10) required court appearances or attendance, (11) other urgent reasons as approved by the District, and (12) suspension from school.

A maximum of ten (10) days of cumulative lawful and/or excused absences verified by parental notification shall be permitted during a school year.  Any absence beyond ten (10) cumulative days may require an excuse from a licensed medical practitioner.

PRE-APPROVED ABSENCES

Click here for the on-line pre-approved absence form.

Family trips and vacations are recognized as excused absences provided a completed Pre-approved Absence Form is submitted to the Attendance Office prior to the trip.

Only FIVE (5) days of absence may be Pre-Approved per student per year. An educational objective should be the basis for such an absence. Family Trips and vacations are strongly discouraged during standardized testing dates.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Any reason not outlined above under Excused Absences is considered UNLAWFUL.

TARDINESS

Students arriving at 8:01 AM and after are considered tardy to school. Understanding that emergencies occur, 3 unexcused tardies are permitted per semester before penalty is enforced. For EACH additional unexcused tardy, a detention is assigned. Failure to serve detention may result in further disciplinary action. The same reasons listed above for excused/unexcused absences apply to tardiness.

EARLY DISMISSAL

Early dismissals will be granted for the same reason as a valid excuse for absence or tardiness. Parents/guardians are encouraged to schedule appointments before or after school hours. If the appointment cannot be made at those times, it should be made as early or as late in the school day as possible.

When an early dismissal is necessary,parents should submit an online absence form on Dashboard as soon as they know the early dismissal will occur.

Upon arrival to school on the day of the early dismissal, the student should obtain an Early Dismissal pass from the attendance office. At dismissal time, the student will show a copy of the form to the classroom teacher and then take it to the Attendance Office before leaving school. The student should obtain a Readmittance Form from the Attendance Office if returning to class the same day.

Parents and guardians may meet their children outside the building. If you choose to come into the building, you are required to report directly to the Attendance Office to pick up your child. This request is made as a safety precaution. Because of security, as well as the level of disruption to the class, we request that parents do not go to their child’s classroom, but rather meet them in the office. In an emergency, we will call students to the office upon request.