Forest Area School District
Elementary Handbook
GENERAL STATEMENT
The Forest Area School District follows the provisions of the school laws of the State of Pennsylvania in regard to compulsory attendance. Briefly stated, all children must be enrolled in school no later than age 8 and until age 17. Exceptions will be regulated by the school laws of Pennsylvania. Students who have been absent must present a written excuse signed by the parent or guardian stating the reason for the absence. If the absence is legally excused, students are permitted to make up the work missed.
WRITTEN EXPLANATION OF ABSENCE
Parents shall furnish a written explanation for the absence of a child. The written explanation for the absence of a child shall be furnished to the District when the student returns to school or within five (5) days from the first day of student absence, which event first occurs. A legal excuse is the parent’s only protection from truancy action. In the case of truancy action, the burden of proof is upon the parent to show that the child was properly excused. In cases of chronic irregular absence, school authorities may request a physician’s statement showing such absence to be justifiable. All excuses shall contain the date, child’s name, date or dates of absences and reason for absence, and parent’s or guardian’s signature. The mere fact that a parent has sent a written explanation to the school does not necessarily mean that the absence is legally excused.
Excused absence refers to the absence for any one of a number of legal reasons: sickness of a pupil, impassable roads, quarantine, death in the immediate family, weather so inclement as to endanger the health of the child, religious holidays and health services.
Unexcused or illegal absence is the absence of a pupil due to parental neglect. Visiting, away from home, had to go shopping, or overslept are absences clearly due to parents not fully sensing their responsibility and should not be classified as an excused absence. Personal reasons will not be considered as a reason for an excused absence. Reason must be explained clearly or it will be marked unexcused or illegal until an explanation is given.
If a student forgets to turn in an excuse, he/she will be given three school days after returning to present the excuse. Parents of students may verify an excuse over the telephone with the understanding that the written excuse will be brought in within the state-mandated three-day period. Failure to provide a written explanation within the above state time limits shall render all absences illegal.
ENFORCEMENT OF COMPLUSORY ATTENDANCE
A FIRST OFFENSE consists of three or more days of absence of a pupil without a legal excuse. A notice will be served on the parents by the school.
A SECOND OFFENSE is the next session of school missed by a pupil during the same year without a legal reason. Notice for this offense will be served by the District Magistrate, and the parents will be fined plus court cost.
ILLNESS DURING SCHOOL HOURS
If a pupil becomes ill during school hours, he/she must obtain permission from the teacher in charge of the class to go to the school nurse. In the event of the nurse’s absence, the student shall report to the office.
ABSENTEEISM
Absenteeism presents a real problem for education and more so for the individual. Attendance in school is mandated under the Compulsory Attendance laws and is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. The Forest Area School District has established clear guidelines and directions in the cases of chronic unlawful absences as defined in the FASD policy #204. Parents will be cited and taken before the District Magistrate in cases of unlawful absence from school that exceeds three (3) days. Also, the District in conjunction with Juvenile Probation will monitor school attendance.
ELEMENTARY TARDINESS
All students are to report to school at 7:40 A.M. Any student reporting between 7:55 and after 9:30 A.M. will be considered tardy unless the student has a doctor’s excuse. Any student arriving after 9:30 A.M. will be considered absent for one-half day. Students who leave school and return shall be considered absent one-half day if they were gone more than two hours unless this was over a lunch period. Any student leaving school before 1:00 P.M. will be considered absent for one-half day.
UNEXCUSED OR ILLEGAL ABSENCES
Class work missed by a student on the day, or class period, of an unexcused or illegal absence can not be made up. Zeros will be given for all graded work missed.
ATTENDANCE AND ACTIVITIES
Students participating in any extra-curricular activities or sports are encouraged to be in attendance for the full day to participate in that day’s activity. An absence or a tardy that results in disciplinary action will automatically cause the student to forfeit participation in any extra-curricular activities or athletics.
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