Attendance Secretary

 

Attendance Policy

MCPS considers the following reasons to be excused absences:

  1. Death in the immediate family (parents, siblings & grandparents).
  2. Student illness and well-being concerns.
  3. Pregnancy and parenting needs.
  4. Court citation (a copy of the citation is required).
  5. Hazardous weather conditions that would endanger the health or safety of the student when in transit to and from school.
  6. College visit (see below).
  7. Observance of religious holidays.
  8. State of Emergency.
  9. Suspensions.
  10. Lack of authorized transportation (i.e., the school bus does not arrive).
  11. Motor vehicle administration (i.e., Driving test only with  documentation)

Note: Absences due to vacations, family emergencies, family matters, traffic, and car problems are not excused.

Policy and Procedures

To report your child's absence, here are a few quick steps to submit an absence:  

  • Log In: Open the ParentVue portal or mobile app.
  • Select Student: Choose the child you are reporting for.
  • Submit/Upload Documentation as needed
  • Report Absence: Click the "Attendance" tab, select "Report Absence," and enter the date and reason.

Late Arrival

Parents MUST submit tardiness explanations via ParentVue. 

Also, students arriving after 8:00 a.m. must sign in at the Main Office by scanning their student ID.  If a student brings a note from a parent a/o guardian, the student must sign in at the Attendance Office. 

Anticipated Absences

Parents MUST submit the anticipated absence through ParentVue.  Non-MCPS educational experiences, youth camps, work-related activities, sports, and championships are NOT excused. 

Note: Absences due to vacations, family emergencies, traffic problems, and car problems are not excused.

College Visits

Parents or students MUST submit the anticipated absence through ParentVue at least 3 days in advance.  Students or parents must provide a letter from the school or an email confirmation from the school they visited.  College visits are limited to 11th and 12th-grade students and may not exceed three (3) days per year.

Dismissal from Health Room

Students who feel ill during the school day must ask their teacher for a health room pass and report to the health room.  Students who are dismissed from the Health Room must sign out at the Attendance Office.   Students must present the dismissal slip from the Health Room to the Attendance Office. Under no circumstances should a student call/text a parent/guardian directly and leave the building without notifying the school and signing out of the building. 

Early Dismissal Procedures

Parents MUST submit the anticipated early dismissal through ParentVue.  

Students can also submit a parent note for early dismissal only by presenting  to the Attendance Office before 7:45 a.m. that morning. 

Phone calls and emails will not be honored for early dismissal.

Students will not be allowed to leave without confirmation from the parent or guardian.  Only parents, guardians, and authorized persons may pick up a child from school.

Each student must report to the Attendance Office at their scheduled departure time and sign out before leaving the school.

Parents may designate other persons on the Student Emergency Information Form (MCPS Form 565-1) completed by parents a/o guardians.

Parents and/or guardians may also send a note or email to the Attendance Office authorizing a specific person to pick up their child. The school will typically contact parents by phone to confirm such arrangements.   

Under no circumstances should a student call/text a parent/guardian directly and leave the building without notifying the school and signing out

Excusing Notes

Parents MUST submit the excuse note through ParentVue and/or upload a medical note as needed.

Phone calls will not be honored to excuse an absence.

A medical note is required for any absence of four (4) or more days due to illness. Parents MUST submit the excuse note through ParentVue and/or provide physical documentation to the attendance office within 3 days of returning to school.

For security purposes, the Attendance Office will call home to verify the note for absences, tardies, and early dismissals.

The following information must be on all absence, late arrival, and early dismissal notes from parents:

  • Student's full name and ID number.
  • Date.
  • Date(s) of and reason for absence, tardiness, and/or early dismissal.
  • Current work and home phone numbers.
  • Name and signature of parent or guardian.

Make-up Work

It is the responsibility of each student returning to school after an absence to:

  • Submit a legitimate note within three (3) days of returning to school.
  • Students will talk to each teacher to arrange to make up quizzes or tests.
  • To submit make-up work and to retain the academic ground lost during the absences.

Notification

Automated calls are made every night when a student is marked absent from any class period. Information is also available on the student and ParentVue accounts.  It is unlawful for the attendance office to alter a student's attendance record. Students must speak with their teacher to initiate attendance corrections. The teacher must submit written email verification directly to the Attendance Office.

Links and Resources