ATTENDANCE AUTHORITY/POLICY
Attendance shall be required of all students during the days and hours that school is in session, except that authorized district staff may excuse a student for temporary absences upon receipt of satisfactory evidence of mental, physical, or other urgent reasons that may reasonably cause the student's absence.
The following students shall be excused from the requirements of attendance at the schools of this district:
On certification by a physician or submission of other satisfactory evidence and on approval of the Department of Education, children who are unable to attend school or apply themselves to study for mental, physical or other reasons that preclude regular attendance.
Students enrolled in nonpublic or private schools in which the subjects and activities prescribed by law are taught.
Students attending college who are also enrolled part-time in district schools shall be counted as being in part-time attendance in this district.
Students attending a home education program or private tutoring in accordance with law.
Students fifteen (15) or sixteen (16) years of age whose enrollment in private trade or business schools has been approved.
Students fifteen (15) years of age, and fourteen (14) years of age who have completed the highest elementary grade, who are engaged in farm work or private domestic service under duly issued permits.
Students sixteen (16) years of age regularly employed during the school session and holding a lawfully issued employment certificate.
Excused/Lawful Absence
For purposes of this policy, the following conditions or situations constitute reasonable cause for absence from school:
Illness, including if a student is dismissed by designated district staff during school hours for health-related reasons.
Obtaining professional health care or therapy service rendered by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts in any state, commonwealth or territory
Quarantine.
Family emergency.
Recovery from an accident.
Required court attendance.
Death in the family.
Participation in a project sponsored by a statewide or countywide 4-H, FFA or combined 4- H and FFA group, upon prior written request.
Observance of a religious holiday observed by a bonafide religious group, upon prior written parental request.
Non-school-sponsored educational tours or trips, if the following conditions are met:
The parent/guardian submits a written request for excusal prior to the absence.
The student's participation has been approved by the Superintendent or designee.
The adult directing and supervising the tour or trip is acceptable to the parents/guardians and the Superintendent.
College or postsecondary institution visit, with prior approval.
Other urgent reasons. Urgent reasons shall be strictly construed and do not permit irregular attendance.
The district may limit the number and duration of non-school sponsored educational tours or trips and college or postsecondary institution visits for which excused absences may be granted to a student during the school year.
Temporary dismissal
The following students may be temporarily excused from the requirements of attendance at district schools: Students receiving tutorial instruction in a field not offered in the district's curricula from a properly qualified tutor approved by the Superintendent, when the excusal does not interfere with the student's regular program of studies.
shall identify and describe the instruction, and the dates and hours of instruction.
The student shall not miss more than thirty-six (36) hours per school year in order to attend classes for religious instruction.
Following each absence, the parent/guardian shall submit a statement attesting that the student attended the instruction, and the dates and hours of attendance.
School age children unable to attend school upon recommendation of the school physician and a psychiatrist or school psychologist, or both, and with approval of the Secretary of Education.
Parental Notice of Absence
Absences shall be treated as unlawful until the district receives a written excuse explaining the absence, to be submitted within three (3) days of the absence.
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 practitioner of medicine.
Unexcused/Unlawful Absence
For purposes of this policy, absences which do not meet the criteria indicated above shall be considered an unexcused/unlawful absence. An out-of-school suspension may not be considered an unexcused absence.
Enforcement of Compulsory Attendance Requirements
Student is Truant - When a student has been absent for three (3) days during the current school year without a lawful excuse, district staff shall provide notice to the person in parental relation who resides in the same household as the student within ten (10) school days of the student's third unexcused absence.
The notice shall:
Include a description of the consequences if the student becomes habitually truant; and when transmitted to a person who is not the biological or adoptive parent, may also be provided to the child's biological or adoptive parent, if the parent's mailing address is on file with the school and the parent is not precluded from receiving the information by court order.
The notice may include the offer of a School Attendance Improvement Conference.
If the student incurs additional unexcused absences after issuance of the notice and a School Attendance Improvement Conference was not previously held, district staff shall offer a School Attendance Improvement Conference.
School Attendance Improvement Conference - District staff shall notify the parent/guardian in writing and by telephone of the date and time of the School Attendance Improvement Conference. The purpose of the School Attendance Improvement Conference is to examine the student's absences and reasons for the absences in an effort to improve attendance with or without additional services.
The following individuals shall be invited to the School Attendance Improvement Conference:
The student.
The student's parent/guardian
Other individuals identified by the parent/guardian who may be a resource.
Appropriate school personnel
Recommended service providers
Neither the student nor the person in parental relation shall be required to participate, and the School Attendance Improvement Conference shall occur even if the person in parental relation declines to participate or fails to attend the scheduled conference.
The outcome of the School Attendance Improvement Conference shall be documented in a written School Attendance Improvement Plan. The Plan shall be retained in the student's file. A copy of the Plan shall be provided to the person in parental relation, the student and appropriate district staff.
The district may not take further legal action to address unexcused absences until after the date of the scheduled School Attendance Improvement Conference has passed.
Student is Habitually Truant - When a student under fifteen (15) years of age is habitually truant, district staff:
When a student fifteen (15) years of age or older is habitually truant, district staff shall:
Refer the student to a school-based or community-based attendance improvement program; or
File a citation in the office of the appropriate judge against the student or the person in parental relation who resides in the same household as the student.
District staff may refer a student who is fifteen (15) years of age or older to the local children and youth agency, if the student continues to incur additional unexcused absences after being referred to a school-based or community-based attendance improvement program, or if the student refuses to participate in such program.
Regardless of age, when district staff refer a habitually truant student to the local children and youth agency or file a citation with the appropriate judge, district staff shall provide verification that the school held a School Attendance Improvement Conference.
Filing a Citation - A citation shall be filed in the office of the appropriate judge whose jurisdiction includes the school in which the student is or should be enrolled.
Additional citations for subsequent violations of the compulsory school attendance requirements may only be filed against a student or person in parental relation in accordance with the specific provisions of the law.
Special Needs and Accommodations
If a truant or habitually truant student may qualify as a student with a disability, and require special education services or accommodations, the Director of Special Education or designee shall be notified and shall take action to address the student’s needs in accordance with applicable law, regulations and Board policy.
For students with disabilities who are truant or habitually truant, the appropriate team shall be notified and shall address the student’s needs in accordance with applicable law, regulations and Board policy.
Discipline
The district shall not expel or impose out-of-school suspension, disciplinary reassignment or transfer for truant behavior.
EARLY EXCUSAL
A request for early dismissal to leave school for a medical or dental appointment, court appearance, family emergency or other urgent reason will be considered if a note from the parent/guardian is presented to the principal or designee prior to the appointment.
EDUCATIONAL TOURS/TRIPS
The district strongly discourages student absence from school except when illness or other urgent reasons prevent the student from attending. District officials are aware that it is not always possible to schedule family trips and vacations while school is not in session. In keeping with the district’s guiding philosophy, but also recognizing the importance of the family unit, the Board will approve educational tours or trips not sponsored by the district up to a maximum of five (5) school days per student per year. Exceptions to the five (5) day rule may be considered by the Superintendent if compelling, extenuating circumstances warrants such consideration. The following provisions must be met for approval/conditional approval of an educational tour/trip:
A parental request for excused absence must be submitted on the designated form to the building principal or designee for consideration at least three (3) days prior to the date of the intended trip. The request must include a statement detailing the educational value of the trip and the name of the person responsible for supervision. Questionable requests will be submitted to the Superintendent for final determination.
The building principal will evaluate the request in terms of its educational value, duration, and adequateness of the supervision. If approved, the absence will be considered
excused, subject to the student’s satisfactory completion of the assignments missed. At the secondary level (grades 7-12), students must also present a written report highlighting the educational aspects of the trip. Elementary students (grades K-6) are encouraged to share the trip experience with their class upon return to school. Prior to leaving on the trip, it is the responsibility of the student to seek assignments. It will be the responsibility of the student to make-up all work missed during the absence as per their student handbook requirements. If the class work and/or the written report is not completed and submitted to the building principal or designee, the days will be considered unlawful or unexcused and subject to the compulsory attendance laws, which may result in a fine.
The absence of a student taking a tour or trip which has not received prior approval from the building principal as being educational in nature will be considered unexcused or unlawful and subject to the provisions of the compulsory attendance laws.
A student may be excused from school to accompany his/her family to attend important family functions, such as graduations, weddings, funerals, etc., which are out of town and require lengthy travel. An excuse from school for this reason shall require prior approval from the building principal or designee and satisfactory completion of all work missed during the period of absence.
No educational trip will be excused during end of semester or end of year final exams.
RELEASE OF STUDENTS FROM SCHOOL
Students shall be released from school only to a parent/guardian or person authorized by the parent/guardian.
Students of separated or divorced parents/guardians will be released to either parent/guardian unless a court order excluding one (1) parent/guardian from this right is provided to the principal.
In case of illness, it shall be determined that the parent/guardian or another person authorized by the parent/guardian is available to receive the student.
Students who contact parents/guardians during school hours on personal devices without administrative approval will receive disciplinary action by the Middle School Administration.
Students shall not be dismissed during school hours for non-school activities such as private music lessons, dancing lessons, scouts, etc., except with the approval of the principal.
The Superintendent or designee shall develop administrative regulations for the attendance of students which:
Ensure a school session that conforms to requirements of state law and regulations.
Govern the keeping of attendance records in accordance with law.
Distribute annually to staff, students, and parents/guardians Board policies and school rules and regulations governing student attendance, tardiness, absences and dismissal via student handbooks or other written or electronic publications.
Impose on truant student’s appropriate incremental disciplinary measures for infractions of school rules, but no penalty may have an irredeemably negative effect on the student's record beyond that which naturally follows absence from classroom learning experiences.
Identify the habitual truant, investigate the causes of truant behavior, and consider modification of the student's educational program to meet particular needs and interests.
Ensure that students legally absent have an opportunity to make up work.
Issue written/verbal notice to any parent/guardian who fails to comply with the compulsory attendance law, within three (3) days of any proceeding brought under that law. Such notice shall inform the parent/guardian of the date(s) the absence occurred, that the absence was unexcused and in violation of law, that the parent/guardian is being notified and informed of his/her liability under law for the absence of the student, and that further violation during the school term will be prosecuted without notice.
The School Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania defines absence as the nonattendance of a pupil all those days and half days when school is in session. There are three kinds of absences:
Excused absences include: illness, quarantine, death in the immediate family, approved educational trips, religious obligations, driver’s examination, approved college visitation, approved interviews, jury duty, court appearances, or family emergency.
Unexcused absences are recorded for all other reasons other than those listed above.
Unlawful absence is the unexcused absence for all students under the age of 17. Unlawful absences are always unexcused absences.
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT ATTENDANCE
Regardless how Pottstown School District may deliver virtual instruction (fully virtual for all students or blended with in person instruction), students will be required to log attendance each day they are not in their physical classroom. Attendance may be recorded by attending the session live or students responding to an attendance question if the lesson is asynchronous. Logging on for attendance does not excuse a student from completing work for the day, likewise, completing work for the day does not constitute attendance for the day.
Whether in a virtual environment or in the actual classroom, students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are expected to attend a minimum of 180 days of school for a minimum of 900 hours in grades K-6 and 990 hours in grades 7-12. Failure to meet these minimum requirements can only be excused by a note from a parent/guardian or physician. Please refer to Policy 204 for more details about attendance expectations.