Forest Area School District
High School Handbook
ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS | BELIEFS | BELL SCHEDULES | CALENDAR | COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE POLICIES | COURSES AND CURRICULUM | DEFINITIONS AND LAWS | DISCIPINE CODE |
FOREST AREA PERSONNEL | HEALTH SERVICES | GENERAL INFORMATION |
PUPIL PERSONNEL SERVICES | SCHOOL CLOSING/DELAY/DISMISSAL |
STUDENT ACTIVITIES | STUDENT CONDUCT
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 stated 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.
SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD AND OLDER
Students reaching the lawful age for leaving school shall be considered the same as younger students with the following exception:
Any 17-year old who is illegally absent from school for three days shall be given a first notice of unexcused absence. This notice will inform the parents of the student that if the student illegally misses school or any part of another day they will be suspended following due process. Parents wishing to reinstate such youngsters must call the office of the school principal during the school hours, and show reason why their child should be readmitted, and give evidence that he or she will remain in attendance. Should the parents fail to reach an agreement, the child will be referred to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education, where final disposition of the case will be made.
EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD AND OLDER
All report cards, excuses for absences, and other forms MUST BE SIGNED BY THE STUDENT’S PARENT OR GUARDIAN, unless the student has certified proof of emancipation.
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 entered into an agreement with the Forest County Probation Office in regard to enforcement of Compulsory Attendance and jointly have established clear guidelines and directions in the cases of chronic unlawful absences as defined in the Forest Area School District 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.
TARDINESS
Please be prompt! Regular tardiness for class is inexcusable. A three-minute time allowance has been provided in the schedule for class changes. After the first few days there is no reason why a pupil cannot make it to class within the three-minute period.
Any student arriving after the beginning of 3 rd period will be considered absent for one half day ~ 9:33 at East Forest and 9:45 at West Forest. 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 lunch period. Any student leaving school before the start of 6 th period will be considered absent for one-half day ~ 11:48 at East Forest and 12:36 at West Forest.
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. Any absence or tardy that results in disciplinary action will automatically forfeit participation in any extra-curricular activities or athletics. P.I.A.A. regulations apply to participating athletes.
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