*Unexcused Absence- student not in school & no note provided or any non-medical absence beyond 12 days.  MaST Schools are required by law to report all unexcused absences directly to the PA Department of Education.

*Non-Medical Excused- student not in school, parent note provided upon return to school (not to exceed 12 days in one school year).

*Medically Excused- student not in school & a licensed physician note is provided regarding the specified dates of absence.

*Truant- a student subject to compulsory school laws having three (3) or more school days of unexcused absence during the current school year.  Absences are accumulated and do not need to be consecutive.

*Habitually Truant- a student subject to compulsory school laws having six (6) or more school days of unexcused absences during the current school year.  Absences are accumulated and do not need to be consecutive.

ALL  ABSENCES

• An absence note is expected upon return and required within three days of returning to school.

3 CONSECUTIVE ABSENCES

• The Attendance Officer will call home if school has not been notified of the reason for the student absence, via the call out line listed above.
• Attendance Officer may offer parents the opportunity to attend an Attendance Improvement Conference.

3 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

• At three unexcused absences, the PA Department of Education considers the student “truant.”
• A letter will be sent to the student’s home to review the school attendance policy and state laws within 10 school days of the third unexcused absence.  This letter will describe the consequences that will follow if the student becomes habitually truant in the future.
• Attendance Officer may offer parents the opportunity to attend an Attendance Improvement Conference.

4 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

• A second letter will be sent to the student's home to review the school attendance policy and state laws, as well as the possible consequences of continuing to miss school. The number of absences and tardies will be provided to the parent in this letter, with dates.
• The Attendance Officer and grade counselor will hold a Student Attendance Improvement Conference to develop an individualized Attendance Improvement Plan with the parent or guardian.  Students in grades 7-12 will be included in the Attendance Improvement Plan meeting.

6 UNEXCUSED

 ABSENCES OR

 ANY ABSENCES

BEYOND 12 WITHOUT A DOCTOR’S NOTE

• At six unexcused absences, the PA Department of Education considers the student “habitually truant.”
• A home visit may be conducted.
• A second (or third) Student Attendance Improvement Conference, which may include the counselor, teacher(s), and administration, will be held to review and update the student’s Attendance Improvement Plan.
• An IEP meeting will be held for students with an individualized education plan.
• A SAP referral, a DHS referral and/or A Truancy Collaborative Referral may be made.
• Student’s attendance will be reported to the Attendance Committee of the Board of Trustees.
• The parents/guardians and 7-12th grade students will again be notified that all following absences must have a doctor’s note.

11 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

• Parents/guardians and students will meet with the Board of Trustees and Administration.
• The student’s Attendance Improvement Plan will be reviewed.
• A SAP referral, a DHS referral and/or A Truancy Collaborative Referral may be made.

• All absences without a doctor’s note will not be excused; parent notes will not be accepted.
• Students in grades 7-12 may be assigned to Saturday School for each additional unexcused absence.

*Late- students are marked late when they arrive after the official start of the school day and have a note from parents excusing students for an approved lateness as defined in the Family Handbook.

*Tardy- An unexcused lateness is coded as a tardy, and is a lateness that has no supporting note from the approved list of valid reasons for late arrival.

6 Unexcused Tardies

● Letter home to students K-12 and H.S. student meeting with attendance officer

10 Unexcused Tardies

 ● Lateness Improvement Meeting with attendance officer, parents, and 7-12 students

12 Unexcused Tardies

● 7th-12th grade students receive Saturday school

15 Unexcused Tardies

● Lateness Improvement Meeting with attendance officer, administration, parents, and 7-12 students. 7th-12th grade students receive Saturday school.

20 Unexcused Tardies

● Parent and student meeting with the Board of Trustees. For each subsequent tardy, Saturday School and additional consequences may be assigned as determined by the Board and administration.

25+ Unexcused Tardies

• 7th-12th grade students will receive a Saturday school every 5 tardies accumulated from this point forward.  A call home will be made each time a Saturday school is issued.
• K-6th grade students will receive a call home every 5 tardies accumulated from this point forward.