Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Logo Title

Attendance

Regular school attendance is critical to a quality education. The Elizabethtown Area School District attendance practices support your child's academic success. Please read over the following guidelines thoroughly. EASD attendance information is written in accordance with Pennsylvania Compulsory School Attendance Laws.  

Reporting Your Child Absent

Click on the appropriate box below for more information on reporting your child absent. Please note, you must follow these reporting guidelines EACH day your child is absent from school.

Report Your Child Absent -      In-Person Learning         Report  Your Child Absent - Etown Cyber
     

Pennsylvania Compulsory School Attendance Laws

All students from age 6 to 18 must be enrolled and attend school. Upon accumulating three illegal absences, Pennsylvania Compulsory School Attendance Laws require that a first official notice be mailed to the parent(s)/guardian(s). Letters are also sent when a student accumulates six and ten illegal absences. PA Compulsory School Attendance Laws classify a student as "truant" upon accumulating three illegal absences. PA Compulsory School Attendance Laws classify a student as "habitually truant" upon accumulating six illegal absences. At this six-day interval, a truancy meeting will be offered to the family to discuss the absences. A truancy citation can be filed with the local Magisterial District Judge at ten illegal absences. If you receive an attendance notification, kindly respond promptly. Be aware that illegal absences can result in the inability to make-up missed assignments and academic decline.  

Excusable Absences

Excusable absences include:

  1. Legitimate illness.
  2. Medically/legally documented appointments.
  3. Quarantine.
  4. Death in the immediate family.
  5. Impassable roads.
  6. Exceptionally urgent reasons that affect the child as determined by the administration.
  7. Educational Trip experiences pre-approved by the administration.

All other absences are considered to be illegal. Absences for hunting, fishing, non-medical or legally related appointments, employment, or other circumstances not covered under the seven excusable absences above will be coded as illegal/unexcused regardless of a parent(s)/guardian(s) submitting a notification of their absence. All excuses must be submitted within three school days of the absence.

If a child is absent for three or more consecutive days, a medical excuse is required for these absences.

Excessive Excused Absences

Once a student accumulates ten excused absences (documented by a parent/guardian), all future absences or partial absences will require a medical excuse. A notification letter will be sent to the parent/guardian(s) when a student has reached these criteria. Failure to provide documentation from a medical professional for each additional or partial absence will result in the absence being coded as illegal/unexcused. These absences can result in truancy violations or disenrollment from the Elizabethtown Area School District. Be aware that excessive excused absences can result in the inability to make-up missed assignments and academic decline. 

Attendance Tracking

The District's Home and School Visitor tracks attendance. This position is part of the district Support Services. The Home and School Visitor focuses on eliminating barriers to the attendance and academic success of each EASD student. Please contact Dr. Jennifer Fields at (717) 367-1533, extension 21108 to discuss any attendance-related issues.

Educational Trips

A student is permitted, through pre-approval by the administration, an absence to attend educational trip experiences for a maximum of five days per school year. A form must be completed and submitted to the building principal at least five days before the scheduled trip. The determination of each request will be made on the following basis: prior attendance, previous Educational Trip requests, and the educational value of the requested experience. At the administration's discretion, students may be required to complete all missing assignments or an educational project regarding their experiences.

Educational Trip forms can be accessed off the District Forms section of the website.

Make-up Work For All Absences

It is the responsibility of the student/parent/guardian(s) to communicate with teachers or school counselors to request missed assignments when absences occur. In addition, school procedures require that students absent for excused reasons must make up missed assignments within three days of returning to school. The teacher may assign an alternative and comparable assignment to cover missed class material. The intent of all make-up work is to help regain lost instructional experiences due to excused class absences. Missed assignments due to illegal reasons may result in a "0" for the assignment, at the discretion of the teacher/administration. Students who cut class will not be permitted to make up missed work, and this action will result in consequences as determined by the building administration.

Homebound Instruction

Homebound instruction is available for students absent for an extended period due to disability, illness, or injury. Students are required to provide a written medical excuse before homebound instruction is considered. Students on homebound instruction will NOT be permitted to attend school-related activities. If your child may need homebound instruction, please get in touch with your student's School Counselor. For more information about the District's homebound instruction policy, please review EASD Policy 117.

Tardies and Early Dismissals

Absent students, or those (secondary) who arrive at school after 8:30 a.m., are NOT permitted to participate in an athletic game/practice or school-related activity (i.e., plays, musical, field trips, etc.). Exceptions are made if the absence is due to a legal or medical appointment, etc., with appropriate documentation. The activity's advisor/coach/advisor shall obtain approval for participation from the administration.

A student may be excused early from school for urgent or appropriate reasons. Requests of this nature are to be submitted by the parent/guardian and presented in advance to the main office for evaluation. A telephone call may be made to the parent/guardian for verification purposes. Students are encouraged to submit medical or legal documentation upon return to school.

Questions

For information related to attendance, please contact Dr. Jennifer Fields, EASD Home & School Visitor, at (717) 367-1533, extension 21108, or jennifer_fields@etownschools.org