ABSENCE

Student absence and tardiness will be tracked on an individual student basis and addressed by the school’s administration, social workers and counselors with individual students and families as needed.

It is expected that parents will notify the school of a student's absence. If the school is not notified that a student will be absent, the district will call to ensure that your child is in the care of a parent/guardian. Please note that the Pennsylvania Department of Education considers all student absences from school, whether excused or unexcused, when measuring school attendance. The PA Department of Education uses this attendance data to calculate state subsidies, tuition rates, and other vital measurements for each school district. Therefore, it is crucial that students attend school each and every day and that parents/guardians consistently communicate with school administrators when a student will be absent.

The school district is responsible for monitoring records of the attendance of students. All absences shall be considered unlawful/unexcused until a written excuse explaining the reasons for the absences have been presented to school personnel. Parents/Guardians must submit such excuses within three calendar days of the student’s absence. Failure to do so within the specified time frame may result in that absence being permanently counted as unlawful. For the 2021-22 school year, we are requesting that parents and guardians submit absence notes electronically. You can do that by following this link HERE and choosing your child’s school. If you have a child at more than one school, you will need to submit the excusal notice to all schools affected.Absences will only be considered excused when a note is turned into the school. An official doctor’s note (may be faxed, emailed or turned directly into the main office) is required after 3 consecutive days absent.

Please note that the following protocols apply to the total number of absences, both excused and unexcused:

• 3 days unexcused absence – letter to parent/guardian mailed home
  
  
• 5 days excused or unexcused- letter to parent/guardian mailed home
  
  
• 6 days unexcused absence – letter to parent/guardian mailed home, phone call to parent & student will meet with building Administration
  
  
• 10 days excused or unexcused – student & parent meet with the SAIP team
  
  
• 15 days absent- student & parent meet with the Superintendent and District SAIP Team
  
  
  Additional absences could result in a Truancy Court Citation

LATENESS

It is very important in setting life patterns both in school, and eventually on the job, that proper attention is paid to promptness. It is extremely important that students attend their classes on a regular basis and start their day off on a positive note. Students are expected to be in homerooms by 8:15 AM. Students late to school must report directly to the school office and sign-in. Cumulative lateness will be calculated as of 8:20 AM.

We are very concerned with students that chronically arrive late to school. Chronic lateness will not be tolerated and may be subject to legal penalties and fines.  If your child’s lateness becomes chronic, you will be in violation of Pennsylvania School Code and the Interboro School District’s Attendance Policy. Please note that failure to sign-in when late to school may result in 30 minutes of time automatically added to the student’s cumulative time. 

The school district will give notification to parents at 30 minutes of cumulative lateness or 6 days late. When a student reaches 60 minutes of cumulative lateness or 12 days late, they will be considered chronically late which may result in a school attendance improvement plan. Our goal is not to punish, but to educate. However, it is essential that our students maintain prompt, regular attendance in order to receive the most from their educational experience.  The following conditions constitute reasonable causes for lateness to school:

• Illness with doctor’s or dentist’s visit with a doctor's note
• Required court attendance (note/documentation as proof).
• Unless absences and latenesses are caused by these conditions, or any such condition that is approved by the school/district administrator, students will be considered truant.  Due to the distressing and serious consequences related to truancy, your child’s school has implemented this plan to deter students from missing school.  We understand that there may be times when absences and latenesses are unavoidable but following the proper procedures for identifying these times is essential and in the best educational interests of our students…and your children. 

Parents are encouraged to contact the building principal if there are extenuating circumstances that directly affect your child’s attendance.

PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OF ABSENCE AND LATENESS CONSEQUENCES

Lateness

• 30 cumulative minutes or 6 days late – courtesy letter with the offer of a School
  Attendance Improvement Conference (in person, through Zoom or over the phone) 
  
  
• 60 cumulative minutes or 12 days late – a scheduled School Attendance Improvement
  Conference will take place at the school
  
  Additional minutes can result in further action taken by the District

TRUANCY ELIMINATION PLAN/SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IMPROVEMENT PLAN (SAIP)

A plan developed by the school that provides steps to improve student attendance at school. This plan is presented to parents/ guardians for input. This plan may include but is not limited to recommendations to an out of district agency or district court.    

VACATION EXCUSAL

As noted above, the Pennsylvania Department of Education considers all student absences from school, whether excused or unexcused, when measuring school attendance. The PA Department of Education uses this attendance data to calculate state subsidies, tuition rates, and other vital measurements for each school district. Therefore, it is crucial that students attend school each and every day; please make every attempt to schedule family vacations during holiday breaks or summer recess.

Per the Interboro School District Policy 204, all non- educational field trips are considered unexcused regardless of the activities involved in the trip. The District is not in the position of overseeing family vacations or evaluating the educational nature of a family trip.
Assignments will be provided if parents/guardians make such a request. The parent/guardian or student should contact each of the teachers to arrange for the completion of assignments.

LEAVING SCHOOL WITHOUT PERMISSIONS

Parents send their children to school to receive an appropriate education and expect the school to be responsible for their child.  For the school to exercise its charge, it must be able to account for each student during the school day.  It is the responsibility of the school to notify parents when students leave the building without permission.  These absences count toward truancy.  Students must have a note, get approval from the principal and be signed out by a parent in the school office in order to leave school. Any students that leaves the premises without permission will be disciplined accordingly. 

EARLY DISMISSAL

For a child to be dismissed early from school, a note signed by the parent must be presented to the student's teacher.  It is the principal's responsibility to make decisions on such requests.  No student in grades K - 8 is to leave the building unescorted. Students are not permitted to use personal devices to request early dismissal from school. Such action is subject to disciplinary action consequences.  IT IS THE PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO SIGN OUT THE STUDENT IN THE MAIN OFFICE.  *Students being transported by an adult other than the custodial adult must give prior written notice to the principal.  (Example:  CCD classes) Person picking up a child should be prepared to show I.D. to ensure the safety of the child.