Attendance

 

 

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

The purpose of this policy and its associated guidelines is intended to promote regular school attendance and to facilitate the academic, social, emotional, and physical development of students. 

Compulsory School Attendance Law

The compulsory school attendance law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (24 PS 13-1327) requires every child of compulsory school age to be in school attendance, unless absent for an approved reason, and charges the parents/guardian of the child with the responsibility for the child’s school attendance.  The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Federal law indicates a 94% attendance rate as the benchmark for academic success.  The attendance rate at the elementary and the attendance/graduation rate at the secondary level are used to determine Annual Yearly Progress.  In order to be in compliance with ESSA, any student missing 10 or more unexcused days (independently or combined) will be subject to a citation.  As a result of a magistrate’s ruling, fines could be levied and/or driver’s license suspended.  Attendance is compulsory from the Federal level down to the State level with local districts being held accountable for enforcing attendance policies. 

 

ABSENCES

“Absence” is the failure of a student to attend school on those days, half days, and minutes school is in session.

Excused Absence/Tardy:

Unexcused Absence/Tardy:

§  College Visitation/Junior-Senior Excusal for Interviews (Maximum of 3 days total) §  Court Appearance §  Death in the Immediate Family(parent, grandparent, sibling)(Maximum of 5 days for out of town, up to 3 days for local) §  Delay or Absence of School Bus (MUST notify school) §  Dental and Medical Appointments (with written documentation from doctor) §  Educational Tour/Trip §  Family Vacation (Maximum of 5 days with advance principal approval) §  Homebound Instruction (as determined by medical examination and principal approval) §  Illness/Health Care §  Impassable Roads §  Quarantine §  Religious holidays and Religious instruction

§  Babysitting §  Days identified as “skip days” §  Gainful employment §  Hair Appointment §  Having a vehicle fixed/inspected §  Hunting §  Leaving school without permission §  Missing the school bus §  Non-approved sporting events §  Non-approved trips §  Non-school related activities §  Shopping

* The list is not all-inclusive and does not preclude the classification of other absences as excused or illegal/unexcused as determined by building administration.

Tardiness

A student who is tardy to school after the late bell must report directly to the school office where a tardy slip will be issued to be given to the student’s teacher for admittance to class. 

Tardy minutes to school accumulate.  There are 360 minutes in a school day, and when a student accumulates 360 minutes tardy to school or leaves for an early dismissal, it will count as one (1) unexcused absence.  Notification letters will be sent home when the student has accumulated a total of:

1.    1080 total minutes tardy = 3 days

2.    2520 total minutes tardy = 7 days

3.    3600 total minutes tardy = 10 days

Tardiness vs. Half-Day Absence

	Elementary	Secondary
Tardy	8:25AM – 11:30 AM	7:35 AM – 11:00 AM
Half-Day	11:30 AM – 12:30 PM	11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

 

Early Release From School

Any student who leaves school during the day must have parental permission.  A student is allowed ten (10) early dismissals throughout the school year.  After ten (10) early dismissals, a medical excuse is required from the doctor (within 3 days) in order for the time to be excused.

 

TRUANCY ELIMINATION PROGRAM

1.    Parent/guardian should direct their children to report to school even when it appears that the child may be late for school.  The parent/guardian is urged to call the school office whenever their child will be absent from school.  A written parental excuse must be received by the school office upon return to school.

2.    For students to receive credit for a course, they must meet both academic and attendance requirements established and approved by the Ambridge Area Board of Education.  Student attendance and participation in a class are crucial to the learning process.

3.    A parent can only excuse ten (10) student absences during the school year.  Absences beyond the tenth day require documentation; a parent note must be received by the attendance office within three (3) days of the student’s return to school from an absence.  A letter will be sent home on the 10^th day of parental excuses, after which a medical excuse will be required for additional absences. 

4.    A written notice will be sent home for students following the 3^rd, 7^th, and 10^th unexcused/illegal absences for the school year.  (Keep in mind that any absence that isn’t documented within three days after returning to school is considered unexcused/illegal).  

5.    Upon receiving the third notice (10 school days), the student will also be referred to the District Magistrate.  Additional citations will be issued following continued absences.

6.    To support and prevent patterns of absenteeism, the following may occur:

o   Referral to the AASD Social Worker

o   Referral to Truancy

o   Referral to SAP/Child Study

o   Referral to CYS

o   Referral to Magistrate

o    Referral to Beaver County Behavioral Health.

 

TRUANCY PROCEDURES:

1.  Notice will be sent home for students of compulsory age for unexcused/illegal absences on a weekly basis. (Keep in mind that any absence that isn’t documented within three days after returning to school is considered unexcused/illegal.)

2.  Upon reaching 10 unexcused absences, the student and parent will be required to attend a Truancy Intervention meeting at the school with representatives from the Beaver County CYS TIP program, A truancy elimination plan (TEP) will be created at this meeting. 

3.  For any and all subsequent unexcused/illegal absences, students will be referred to the District Magistrate to pay fine(s)/fee(s) that increase for each subsequent referral.

 

ATTENDANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

1.  Students are responsible for monitoring their rate of attendance and keeping track of their number of absences from each course.

2.  Students must carefully review the reasons for excused absences listed in this policy.

3.  Students are responsible for bringing all documentation for excused absences to the Attendance Office.  State law mandates that all absences wil be considered unexcused unless proper documentation is provided within 3 days.

4.  Students must arrive to each class promptly. Any unexcused tardy to class after 10 minutes is equivalent to 1 period unexcused absence.

5.  Students (including those 18 years and older) are NOT permitted to sign themselves out of school without parental or administrative permission that must be registered with the attendance secretary. Early release minutes and tardy minutes are also tabulated into absentee minutes and applies to the student attendance record.

6.  Students cannot participate in extracurricular activities if they do not attend a minimum of 4 periods in the school day that the extracurricular activity occurs. ATTENDANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES The purpose of this policy and its associated guidelines are intended to promote regular school attendance and to facilitate the academic, social, emotional, and physical development of students.

 

COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAW (HIgh School):

The compulsory school attendance law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (24 PS 13-1327) requires every child of compulsory school age to be in school attendance, unless absent for an approved reason, and charges the parents/guardian of the child with the responsibility for the child’s school attendance.  The Every Child Succeeds Act of 2015 federal law indicates a 94% attendance rate as the benchmark for academic success. The attendance rate at the elementary and the attendance/graduation rate at the secondary level are used to determine Annual Yearly Progress.  In order to be in compliance with the Every Child Succeeds Act of 2015, any student missing 10 or more unexcused days (independently or combined) will be subject to a citation.  As a result of a magistrate’s ruling, fines could be levied and/or driver’s license suspended.  Attendance is compulsory from the federal level down to the state level with local districts being held accountable by enforcing attendance policies.

1. When students arrive in the morning, they are to go straight to their lockers, and then to their period one class for attendance and morning announcements.

2. The tardy bel rings at 7:30 a.m.  Any student not present in period one at that time is either tardy or absent.

3. Late sign-in will be conducted at the front security/scan desk as students enter the building.

4. 7:25-7:30 will be considered homeroom, 7:31 will begin period one (students not in a seat at 7:31 will be marked late to school and late for period one).

5. Keystone Rewards are PM only, unless approved by administrator to use in AM.

6. Students who arrive to school late must sign in at the Security Office. Failure to do so will result in appropriate disciplinary action at the administrator’s discretion. Students who arrive late, but before 11:00 AM will be considered tardy.  

7. Students arriving between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM will be marked half-day absent. Students arriving past 12:00 PM will be considered absent for the full day.  Students must be present a minimum of 4 periods to be considered in attendance for the school day. (Times apply to a regular, full day and will be adjusted for modified days.)

8. No student is to leave the building at any time without authorization from building administration.  Violators will be suspended.

9. The Attendance Office will attempt to call student’s parents if the absence is questionable or call the doctor’s office to verify medical excuses if necessary.  Whenever possible, parents or a legal guardian (not students) should call in the morning when a student will be absent.

10. Every  effort  should  be  made  to  schedule  medical  or  dental  appointments  during  non-school  hours.    If appointments must be made during school hours, the student must present a signed parental note (with phone number of where parents can be reached) prior to being excused.

11. All classes that are missed due to an unexcused tardy or early release are considered unexcused until documentation is given to the attendance secretary.  These unexcused class absences definitely count toward the maximum number of absences as applied to our attendance policy.

12. Students are responsible for all class work missed due to an appointment. If a student is on medical for more than three days, the student will be given extended time to complete assignments equal to the number of days medically excused.  Teachers may excuse work for the time absent and should provide academic information that was addressed during the absence.

13. Any student arriving late or leaving early, who does not sign in or out, respectively, will result in appropriate disciplinary action at the administrators discretion.

14. If not present during the school day (minimum of 4 periods), you are prohibited from participating in any after school activities for that given day.

 

TARDY POLICY PENALTIES (HIgh School) :

Unexcused absences/tardy - The following will be assigned for any unexcused tardy (student lateness that is not accompanied by an excuse):

1-5 Written warning of lateness

6-10 Administrative detention

10-15 2 administrative detentions

15+ ISS, OSS, loss of social privileges (including, but not limited to a student’s inability to participate in: school dances such as homecoming, mistletoe, or prom, clubs and club meetings and trips, field trips, use of a parking pass, approved work permit, Keystone rewards, athletic activities, sports, and other privileges as determined by administration)

Each subsequent offense will result in further discipline, such as an assigned Saturday school detention, potential on going social probation, and other consequences as determined by administrative review.

Failure to serve detentions or consequences assigned for tardiness may result in additionally assigned consequences as determined by the Principal.

In addition to the abovementioned consequences, every accrued 360 minutes of absence due to tardiness or early release will be counted as one day or truancy, which can be combined with attendance to result in consequences at the magisterial level.