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Attendance
Attendance
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Being in school is an important first step to learning and academic success. We understand that illness and personal circumstances occasionally prevent attendance. Parents are encouraged to work with students to develop habits and strategies at home to promote regular, timely attendance. In accordance with the Department of Education, the Berks Initiative for School Attendance and the Pennsylvania state attendance code, the following guidelines will be used to record school attendance. See Board Policy 204 and 24 P.S. §§ 13-1326 – 1354.
Excused & Unexcused Absences - Related: Attendance Information
Excused Absences:
- A student absence for which the parent has provided a written excuse within three school days for one of the following reasons:
- Student Illness
- Death in the Family
- Religious Holiday (Advance Request Only)
- Educational Tour or Trip (Advance Request Only)
- College Visits (Advance Requests Only)
Unexcused Absences:
- A student absence for which an approved explanation has not been submitted within three school days.
Medical Verification Requirement
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 physician.
A student having three or more school days of unexcused absence within the school year is considered truant. A three day letter will be issued after three days of unexcused absences. A six day letter will be issued after six unexcused absences. After six unexcused absences a Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) conference will be held with your child’s administrator. After six unexcused absences a Service Access Management (SAM) truancy referral will be made if your child is seventeen years of age or younger. When a student violates compulsory attendance laws, the school files a citation to the District Magistrate. The Judge determines the consequences, not the school. A citation should be issued once a student has been out of school for ten or more days and a SAIP has been held.
A student with 10 or more unexcused absences may be ineligible to participate in other school extracurricular activities. Reinstatement of those privileges may be outlined in the student’s School Attendance Improvement Plan.
Students are expected to be in their class at 7:30AM. Students who accumulate three incidences of tardiness may receive a detention. They will continue to receive additional detentions for every three incidences of tardiness.
When your child is absent from school, please report that by email (jhsattendance@exetersd.org), by responding to the ParentSquare absence notification, or calling the attendance office at 610-779-3320, option 2. If calling, a written note must also be submitted to the attendance office as well. Details about submitting notes by email, hard copy or fax can be found on the attendance website. Notes must be received within three school days. Please include your child’s full name, date of absence, reason for absence, and parent/guardian full name and signature. Absences that have not been excused by a parent note will be considered unexcused/unlawful.
It is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher(s) on the day he/she returns from the absence to make arrangements to make up any missed assignments and/or assessments. All missed assignments and/or assessments must be completed within three school days from the day the student returns from the absence.
Late Arrivals & Early Dismissals
Students who arrive late to school or must leave early are to sign in/out through the main office. It is necessary to have parent permission to leave school early. Parents should call the main office for urgent or unplanned events requiring their child’s dismissal.
- Late arrival: Sign-in with the attendance secretary upon arrival. Students with a note from a parent describing an acceptable reason for being late will be excused. Students without a parent note will be recorded as an unexcused tardy.
- Early dismissal: Bring a parent note for early dismissal to the attendance secretary before 7:30AM. Students will be issued a pass to be excused from class. At the time of dismissal, students should sign out in the main office. Students who leave school to go to a medical appointment are requested to bring a note from the doctor upon return.
Additional Attendance Procedural Note
Students arriving after 10:42AM will be marked as being absent for a half-day. Students arriving after 10:42AM are not permitted to participate in after-school extracurricular activities on that day.
Educational trip requests should be submitted as early as possible and at least five school days prior to departure to allow for approval and gathering of student assignments. No student may spend more than a total of five school days on approved educational trips in any given school year; exceptions require Superintendent approval. Educational trip forms are available on the district website or may be picked up in the Main Office. Students will be responsible for all work missed during their absences. Students in grades 7-12 are responsible for collecting their work to take on the trip. Counselors are available to support the students with collection of materials. All requests are subject to approval of the Administration based on the student’s attendance records and academic standing. Families are discouraged from taking trips during critical periods of the school year (i.e. the start and end of semesters, testing windows, etc.).
Any student who changes residence during the school year must report the change at once and will need to provide two proofs of residency of their new address to the Registrar’s Office in the Junior High School. If a student moves out of Exeter Township at any time during the school year, s/he may no longer attend Exeter Township School District. The district has the right to investigate any residency situation that is suspected of being untruthful. Please consult the district website and Policy 200 and Policy 202 for residency requirements.
Under the Pennsylvania Education for Homeless Children and Youth State Plan, homeless children are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The McKinney-Vento Act states that it is the policy of Congress that state educational agencies shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education--including a public preschool education--as provided to other children and youths. If you meet the above criteria in the McKinney-Vento Act or if you are at risk of becoming homeless in the immediate future, please contact the Pupil Services Department at 610-779-0700 or email the School Social Worker, Ashley Rinehart for assistance. Please refer to Policy 251 for additional information.
ETSD Homeless Student Procedures
- A student is identified by a staff member and appears to meet the McKinney-Vento criteria as a homeless status student.
- A staff member contacts the student's school counselor to inform them.
- The school counselor will contact the homeless point of contact to have them conduct an intake with the student/parent/guardian.
- The ECYEH intake form will be submitted to the District Homeless Liaison for approval. Re-determination will occur each school year.
- The student will then be entered into the ECYEH site and updated on Skyward. The family will be offered services, resources and transportation.