Attendance


Attendance Secretary
Jan Metcalf
Jan_J_Metcalf@mcpsmd.org
301-962-5911

*** Attendance is compulsory in all classes unless a student is participating in a school-authorized activity. Should a student be absent from school, the following procedures must be followed.

Absence Notes:
Absence notes must contain the following information:
Student Name
Grade
Student ID Number
Date of the absence(s)
Reason for the absence(s)
Parent/Guardian signature
Parent/Guardian Telephone number for home, work, cell, etc.

LAWFUL ABSENCES
The State of Maryland regards the following as lawful absences from school:

  • Student Illness
  • Death in immediate family
  • Religious observances
  • Violent/hazardous weather
  • School Emergency (As declared by the Superintendent)
  • State Emergency (As declared by the Governor)
  • Work/activity accepted by the local school authorities

The following are not accepted as excused absences:

  • Caring for younger sibling/relative
  • Vacationing/Trips out of town
  • Caring for an ill relative
  • Traffic/Broken down car
  • Family Emergency (This excuse must be clarified in the note and fit into the excused absences identified by the state before the school can excuse the absence.

Absence From School
Follow these procedures if an absence occurs:

  1. A note from the parent/guardian is necessary to excuse any absence. The note is required within three (3) days of returning to school.
  2. A physician’s note is required for any absence of five (5) or more consecutive days due to illness.
  3. Notes for absences should be given to the Attendance Secretary.
  4. The Attendance Office will verify notes excusing absences, tardies, and early departures by contacting parents/guardians. All notes must include the information listed in the box. Only lawful absences will be considered excused. All notes will remain unexcused until verified by the attendance office.

Vacations: Absences for vacations are unexcused. Contact the attendance office if you have any questions.

Truancy: A student who is absent from school without lawful cause is considered truant. A referral to the Truancy Board will be made for students whose absences exceed 20%.

Should an absence from school be necessary:

  • The parent/guardian should notify the school attendance office at least five (5) days in advance, stating the reason for the absence. Ex: college visits, orientation, etc.
  • Medical, dental, and other appointments are to be made outside of school hours, that is, after 2:10pm.
  • If the student is ill or expects to be absent for more than four weeks, home instruction may be arranged. Contact the appropriate guidance counselor.

Late Arrivals/Tardiness

  • Student absent for more than one hour will be counted as absent for a half day.
  • Students not in their assigned classrooms at the sound of the bell are tardy.
  • Missing twenty (20) minutes of any class is an absence from that class.
  • Any student arriving to school after 7:45 am must sign in at the Attendance Office.
  • All late arrivals must be explained in a legitimate signed note in order to be excused.

Early Departure

  • For security and safety reasons, students may not be excused without a legitimate signed note.
  • Notes for early departure from school must be received in the attendance office by 7:25 am that morning.
  • Upon returning, the student must sign in at the Attendance Office.
  • The student is responsible for making up all class work and assignment.

Truancy and Cutting Classes

  • Truancy (illegal absence from school) and cutting class are serious infractions of State, MCPS, and local school policy.
  • The Attendance Office carefully tracks patterns of student attendance,
  • The Attendance Office verifies excuses for absences, late arrivals, and early departures.

LOSS OF CREDIT (LC)

  • Three (3) unexcused tardies to class equal one unexcused absence. Five (5) unexcused absences cause a loss of credit for the course.
  • A student who loses the credit for a course is required to continue attending the course.

First unexcused absence:

Teacher speaks with the student.

Teacher imposes consequences/detention.

Second unexcused absence:

Teacher contacts student and parent/guardian.

Teacher assigns consequences.

Third unexcused absence:

Teacher speaks to student. A Loss of Credit warning letter is sent to the parent/guardian with a copy to guidance counselor. Guidance counselor confers with student and parent.

Fourth unexcused absence:

Teacher gives final warning to the student.

Fifth unexcused absence:

Teacher informs student of loss of credit and reminds student that he/she MUST continue to attend class. Final LC letter is sent to the parent/guardian with a copy to the guidance counselor. The Guidance counselor will advise the student of the right to petition for restoration of credit.

After a student has been informed of Loss of Credit, these alternatives are available:

  • Petition for restoration of credit. The student and guidance counselor develop a plan to restore credit. The teacher will review the request and make a recommendation to the grade administration. The principal makes the final decision.
  • Repeat the course in Evening, Saturday, or Summer School

The student should consult with the guidance counselor to select the best alternative.