Consistent attendance at school is important for students to make academic progress and also provides them with opportunities for social and emotional growth. 

Students should miss no more than nine (9) days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduate. Attendance is an important life skill that can help your child succeed in school and beyond. Our educators work hard to provide meaningful instruction throughout the day, and we expect students to have good attendance so they may fully participate in the learning process.

Thanks for your partnership in ensuring your children are at school and ready to learn!

*Educational trips must receive prior approval from your school's principal through a written application. Approval is based on the educational value of the trip and the student's attendance record. A maximum of five (5) days can be used during a school year with no more than two (2) educational trip requests per year; requests affecting PSSA testing will not be honored.

When your child is absent from school:

• Submit a written excuse from a parent/guardian or a doctor excusing the student for the entire school day. This must be submitted within five (5) school days after the last day of absence.

• If a student is absent for three (3) consecutive days, they must present a doctor's excuse upon returning to school. If your child returns to school without a doctor's excuse, the absence will be marked unlawful.

A maximum of 10 (ten) days excused with a parent note are allowed per year. If you reach the maximum of 10 (ten) days excused with a parent note, you will be required to provide a doctor's excuse for all additional absences; otherwise, those absences will be marked unlawful.

Our licensed Home School Visitors will work with students, parents and staff to address truancy issues. 

The essential functions of our Home and School visitors include: 

• Visit the homes of students who are experiencing challenges in school, such as attendance, academics and discipline.

• Assist parents with finding appropriate community agencies and resources.

• Attend assigned District Justice and Juvenile court proceedings.

• Monitor assigned areas of the city to identify truant students and safety concerns.

• Work with assigned alternative school programs and provide services to students attending those schools.

• Work with school staff to address attendance issues.

Need to report an excused absence? Under state law, excused absences include:

• Illness

• Family emergency

• Death of a family member

• Medical or dental appointments for the student

• Authorized school activities

• Educational travel* (with prior approval from the building principal through a written application), and

• Court hearings as required by a county, youth agency or juvenile probation office

To report an Excused Absence, Parents/Guardians can fill out our Google Form here.

Report an Absence

Each student's report card includes a list of excused, unlawful and tardy days. In addition, phone calls are made at 6 p.m. to inform parents if their child was absent from school that day. Parents could also receive phone calls from the Home and School Visitors or a Parent Outreach Assistant.