To report a student absence or for questions regarding attendance, contact Mrs. Perrotti
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (570) 585-4300
ATTENDANCE
ATTENDANCE
The Pennsylvania School Code lists the following reasons for excused absence from school: illness, quarantine,
death in the immediate family, professional appointment, religious observance, and impassable roads. Exceptions
to the rule may be evaluated individually by a school administrator or designee. The following guidelines, policies,
and procedures will be adhered to at Abington Heights Middle School regarding attendance:
1. Each absence requires a written excuse signed by parents/guardians or a medical professional. When a
student is absent, the parents/guardians must send an email to [email protected] or written
excuse to their homeroom teacher stating the reason and date of the absence. Please include the
student’s full legal name on the excuse. A student must provide an excuse by the third (3
rd) day after the absence. If no excuse is received after the third day, it will be coded as an unexcused absence.
Parents/guardians will be notified when it becomes apparent that absence is an issue.
2. Parents/guardians excuses cannot be accepted after ten (10) total absences. Any student who exhibits a
consistent pattern of absence may be required at any time to present a professional (eg. doctor) excuse
for each continued absence. A professional excuse must include the date and time of the appointment and
clearly state the dates that a student should be considered excused. General statements like “until further
notice” or “the student may be absent on occasion for the illness” cannot be accepted.
3. If a student accrues six(6) unexcused absences, a Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) meeting
may be held to identify any barriers to a student’s attendance. If a student has additional unexcused
absences, a truancy complaint to the district justice may be filed against the student or student’s
parents/guardians. Included in the truancy complaint will be the number of unexcused absences,
unexcused tardiness and unexcused early dismissals.
4. A total of no more than five (5) days may be approved by Abington Heights Middle School
administration for individual or family educational field trips (IFT). Students must submit the completed
IFT request form to administration for approval at least five (5) days in advance of the leave. Approval
forms for these absences are available on our website and in the main office. You are welcome to submit
the form by emailing [email protected] or by handing in to their Homeroom teacher.
Absences beyond five days or any days over 20 total absences will be considered unexcused. IFT requests
during midterm, final exam periods, or other state testing exams will not be approved.
5. An email or note for early dismissal, signed and dated by a parents/guardians with a specific reason for
the request, is expected to be emailed to [email protected] or presented to the homeroom
teacher before the start of the school day in which the student is to be dismissed early.
6. Phone calls by parents/guardians asking for the excusal of their student are not condoned by the school
administration. In cases where there are extenuating circumstances, the school administration will verify
the caller’s identity, but reserves the right to deny permission. If approval is given, the student is expected
to submit a signed excuse from parents/guardians or professionals the next school day the student is in
attendance. If an excuse is not submitted, consequences may be assigned to the student or the temporary
verbal approval will then revert to an unexcused absence.
7. Students who arrive late to school must report to the main office directly upon entering the building.
Attendance Guidelines
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
● Absences from school with proper parents/guardians excuses that are turned in on time are considered
“Excused” absences. The student’s full name should be listed on the excusal form.
● At a total of ten (10) absences from school, regardless if excused/unexcused, a letter will be sent home to
the parents/guardians notifying them that an excuse from a Doctor will be required for every absence
after ten (10) days of missed school.
● A School Attendance Improvement Plan meeting will be set up upon sixth (6th)unexcused absences.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES:
● Students have three (3) school days to turn in an excuse for absence from school.
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● A “First Offense” letter is sent to the parents/guardians on the third (3rd) unexcused absence from school.
The letter notifies parents/guardians of Compulsory Attendance Laws and that a School Attendance
Improvement Plan will be scheduled upon the sixth (6th) unexcused absence.
● Any “Illegal” or “Unexcused” absences from school after the School Attendance Improvement Plan is
created will result in a Compulsory Attendance Citation being filed with the District Magistrate. A truancy
hearing will be scheduled.
● Future Unexcused absences from school will result in Contempt charges being filed against the individual
and a hearing will be scheduled for Family Court.
● Students accumulating ten(10) or more unexcused absences may be prohibited from attending
extracurricular activities.
EXCUSED TARDINESS:
● A student who arrives late to school and has submitted an excuse from a parents/guardians, Doctor, or
legal professional within three days of the tardy will be marked as “Excused Tardy”.
● At a total of 10 days tardy, a letter will be sent home to the parents/guardians notifying them that an
excuse from a Doctor or legal professional will be required for every instance of tardiness after ten (10)
instances have occurred.
UNEXCUSED TARDINESS:
● Students arriving to their homeroom after 7:30 a.m. without a signed email or note from a
parents/guardians or medical professional explaining the lateness will be considered “Unexcused Tardy”.
● Students will receive a “warning” for the first three (3) times they are Unexcused Tardy to school. A letter
will be sent home notifying parents/guardians of the tardiness issue after the third (3rd) tardy.
● Students will receive a detention when the student reaches five (5) unexcused tardies.
● Students will have a Compulsory Attendance Citation filed with the District Magistrate once the time
missed from school as “Unexcused Tardiness” is equivalent to 24 hours, or 4 full school days.