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BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HOWARD COUNTY
MEETING AGENDA ITEM
TITLE: Policy 9010 Attendance DATE: May 14, 2020
PRESENTER(S): James LeMon, Executive Director, Community, Parent and School Outreach
Kelly Ruby, Coordinator, School Counseling Strategic Call to Action Alignment: Student-centered Practices - Each and every student receives a high-quality education
through access to individualized instruction, challenges, supports and opportunities.
OVERVIEW: Policy 9010 was reviewed under the guidelines for policy development and adoption. A committee of stakeholders, chaired by
James LeMon, Executive Director, Community, Parent and School Outreach and Kelly Ruby, Coordinator, School Counseling was
convened to make recommendations for revisions to the policy. The committee was charged with the following tasks:
Review all parts of the policy to update legal references as needed and to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory
mandates, in particular the Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article, §§7-301 through 7-305.
Review the policy for consistency with other school system policies, with particular attention to those developed or revised
since the last revision of this policy, such as the grading and reporting policies, Policies 8010 and 8020.
Make recommendations in accordance with current best practices.
Utilize relevant data sources to inform the effectiveness of the policy, if applicable, such as the MD Every Student Succeeds
Act (ESSA) Plan.
Note any implications or follow-up actions that may be necessary as a result of the committee’s recommendations.
Attached are highlights of the revisions, a list of committee members, and the proposed policy and implementation procedures.
The markup copy includes original language from the current policy. The charter for the committee was presented to the Board on
June 13, 2019; the committee’s recommendation was submitted to the Superintendent’s Cabinet on January 21, 2020; and a report
was delivered to the Board on April 16, 2020. RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION: The Board will take action to adopt revised Policy 9010 Attendance on June 11, 2020. The revised policy will become effective
July 1, 2020.
SUBMITTED BY: APPROVAL/CONCURRENCE:
James LeMon, Executive Director
Community, Parent and School
Outreach
Michael J. Martirano, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Kelly Ruby
Coordinator
School Counseling
Karalee Turner-Little
Deputy Superintendent
Mark C. Blom
General Counsel
William Barnes
Chief Academic Officer
Anissa Dennis
Chief School Management and
Instructional Leadership Officer
PUBLIC HEARING (Same Documents as Report)
BOE Meeting of April 16, 2020
Policy 9010 Attendance
Highlights of Initial Proposal
Policy
• Updates the Policy and Purpose Statements.
• Adds definitions for Discretionary Absence, Emancipated Student, Parenting Student,
and Religious Holiday.
• Removes the definition of Exemplary Attendance.
• Updates definitions for Absence, Attendance, Attendance Source Documents,
Chronically Absent, Lawful Absence, and Parent.
• Deletes denial of credit and exemplary attendance in Standards.
• Clarifies proactive supports and interventions will be provided through the HCPSS
attendance strategies and school problem-solving teams for all students.
• Removes students are responsible for making up work when they are absent.
• Updates References.
Implementation Procedures
• Includes approved electronic communication platforms in ways students, parents, and
employees will be notified of the provisions of this policy.
• Clarifies students enrolled for a partial day must be present for at least half of the
scheduled hours to receive credit for a half day.
• Specifies when a student is involved in an approved school sponsored activity during
the day, he or she is to be counted “present” and coded as lawfully absent for the time
missed eg., GT seminar, sections, field trips.
• Includes missing class for more than 35 minutes of a 90 minute class will also be
treated as an absence for that class.
• Specifies the school must receive notification from the parent or physician explaining
the absence/tardiness of a student within five school days of the student’s return or
the absence/tardiness will be unlawful/unexcused.
• Clarifies schools (Instructional Intervention Team/Student Support Team) will
provide supports/interventions through the problem solving team for students who are
habitually late or absent to school/class.
• Includes a parent note will be accepted for students attending a medical appointment.
BOE Meeting of April 16, 2020
• Adds options concerning an appropriate educational program will be in alignment
with Policy 9100 Educational Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Students.
• Specifies parents/students may request an accommodation to meet a religious
obligation that cannot be fulfilled except during the school day, in accordance with
Standard B. of Policy 3000 Religious Observances.
• Clarifies criteria for absences for discretionary days.
• Specifies students can receive credit for make-up work when a student has an
unlawful absence.
• Includes list of actions that may be taken as a result of continued unlawful absences
and/or tardiness of the student.
• Specifies students receiving special education services and exhibiting behaviors
outlined in Sections IV.C. and/or D., the IEP team, in consultation with the
Department of Special Education, must conduct an IEP meeting to determine of the
IEP remains appropriate. If the IEP remains appropriate, the school will move
forward with the processes outlined in Sections IV.C. and/or D. If the IEP is not
appropriate, the IEP team will revise the IEP.
• Removes High School Denial of Credit section.
• Updates section for Supports and Interventions.
• Removes Attendance Motivation Strategies section.
All stakeholders listed in Policy 2020 Policy Development and Adoption were invited to have representation on the committee.
BOE Meeting of April 16, 2020
Committee for the Revision of Policy 9010 Attendance
James LeMon*, Executive Director, Community, Parent and School Outreach
Kelly Ruby*, Coordinator, School Counseling
Jordan Abraham, HCPSS Student, Howard High School
Maribel Alonso, HCPSS Parent
Elizabeth Banyas, Howard County Association of Student Councils (HCASC)
Tom Bowen, PPW
Sally Dorman, Instructional Facilitator of School Psychology
Matthew Dunlop, General Citizens
Lisa Davis, Director, Program Innovation and Student Well-Being
Adam Eldridge, Principal
Steven Fleming, Assistant Principal
Brooklyn Foyles, HCPSS Student, Mt. Hebron High School
Michelle Leader, Principal
Lisa Loveless (Robert Sirois, alternate), Community Advisory Council (CAC)
Despina Mastrogianis, Secretary, Howard High School
Debra O’Byrne, Howard County Administrators Association (HCAA)
Dawn Pipkin, Howard County Education Association (HCEA)
Ellen Rice, School Counseling Secretary, Ellicott Mills Middle School
Shubhi Saxena, Howard County Association of Student Councils (HCASC)
Maryann Thomas, Technical Assistant for Registrars
Katherine Volpe, Teacher, Wilde Lake High School
Mary Weaver, School Counselor, Cradlerock Elementary School
Restia Whitaker, Coordinator, Pupil Personnel Services
Sheree Witby, Coordinator, Student Access and Achievement
Invited/No representation/No participation**
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC)
* Committee Chair
BOE Meeting of April 16, 2020
POLICY 9010
ATTENDANCE
BOARD OF EDUCATION Effective: July 1, 2020
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THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL DOCUMENT PROVIDED AS A TOOL FOR STUDYING PROPOSED CHANGES
I. Policy Statement
The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that a quality education is provided for each
student in a welcoming environment. Daily attendance is essential to student achievement and
required in order to demonstrate mastery of material and receive credit for a course. The Board
recognizes the strong correlation between regular attendance, academic achievement, and the
completion of school and future success. The Board of Education further believes that regular
attendance is a shared responsibility of the family, the student, and the school.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish the requirements for student attendance, provide
guidance for attendance monitoring and recording, and identify structures that support
students’ attendance.
III. Definitions
Within the context of this policy, the following definitions apply:
A. Absence – The failure of a student to be present in school/class or at a school-related
activity.
B. Attendance – The act of being present at school or school-related activities.
C. Attendance Source Documents – Electronic records that are maintained by classroom
teacher, homeroom teacher, substitute or other school-based employee that document
the student’s attendance.
D. Chronically Absent – A year-to-date absence rate of 10% or more, including both
lawful and unlawful absences.
E. Discretionary Absence – Absence requested by a parent/guardian and approved by a
school administrator that satisfies the criteria in Section III.H.11. below.
F. Emancipated Student – A student who meets one or more of the following conditions:
1. The student is under age 21 and married,
2. The student is under age 18 and has been declared emancipated by the court,
3. The student is age 18-21 and is living independently of the student’s parents.
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G. Habitual Truant – A student who met ALL of the following criteria during the school
year:
1. The student was age 5 through 20.
2. The student was enrolled in the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS)
for 91 or more days.
3. The student was unlawfully absent for 20% or more of the days of enrollment.
H. Lawful Absence – An excused absence for any portion of the day under the following
conditions:
1. Death in the immediate family
2. Illness of the student
3. Pregnancy and parenting needs
4. Court summons
5. Hazardous weather conditions
6. Work approved or sponsored by the school
7. Observance of a religious holiday
8. State emergency
9. Suspension
10. Lack of authorized transportation
11. Other emergency or set of circumstances which, in the judgment of the
Superintendent or designee, constitutes a good and sufficient cause for absence
from school.
I. Parent – Any one of the following, recognized as the adult(s) legally responsible for the
student:
1. Biological Parent – A natural parent whose parental rights have not been
terminated.
2. Adoptive Parent – A person who has legally adopted the student and whose
parental rights have not been terminated.
3. Custodian – A person or an agency appointed by the court as the legal custodian of
the student and granted parental rights and responsibilities.
4. Guardian – A person who has been placed by the court in charge of the affairs of
the student and granted parental rights and responsibilities.
5. Caregiver – An adult resident of Howard County who exercises care, custody or
control over the student, but who is neither the biological parent nor legal guardian,
as long as the person satisfies the requirements of the Education Article, §7-101(c)
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(Informal Kinship Care) or has been issued a U.S. Department of Health and
Human Service’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Verification of Release
form entering into a custodial arrangement with the federal government.
6. Foster parent – An adult approved to care for a child who has been placed in their
home by a state agency or a licensed child placement agency as provided by the
Family Law Article §5-507.
J. Parenting Student – A student who is a parent of a child. This includes the mother and
father.
K. Religious Holiday – A traditional and customary day of religious observance,
excluding regular weekly prayer, services, or practices. (Policy 3000 Religious
Observances)
L. School-Related Activity – Any school system activity, whether held on or off school
property, in which a student directly participates (e.g., school field trip, athletic event,
or class/graduation activity), or in which the student does not directly participate but
represents the school or student body simply by being there (e.g., spectator at a school
event).
M. Truant – A student who is absent for a day or any portion of a day for any reason other
than those cited as lawful in COMAR 13A.08.01.03 and/or failure to bring a note
written by a parent to verify a lawful absence.
N. Unlawful Absence – An unexcused absence, including absence for any portion of the
day, for any reason other than those cited as lawful are presumed as unlawful and may
constitute truancy. Students unlawfully absent are considered truant. (COMAR
13A.08.01.04).
IV. Standards
A. Annual Notification
Attendance guidelines will be communicated annually to all students, parents, and
school-based employees.
B. Attendance Expectations
All students are expected to attend school regularly in accordance with state law and
regulation and this policy and may be excused from class or school only for reasons as
specified in state law and regulation and this policy.
C. Discipline
Disciplinary consequences for unlawful/unexcused absences will be applied as outlined
in the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct. Students cannot be suspended or expelled
solely for attendance-related offenses.
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D. Entry/Exit
For enrollment purposes, students will be entered and exited using the procedures
outlined in the Maryland Student Records System Manual.
E. Make-up Work
1. A student may make up work missed due to lawful absence and receive a recorded
grade in accordance with Policies 8010 Grading and Reporting: Prekindergarten
through Grade 5 and 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School.
2. A pregnant or parenting student may choose one of the following alternatives to
make up work that the student missed:
a. Retake a semester;
b. Participate in an online course credit recovery program; or
c. Allow the student six weeks to continue at the same pace and finish at a later
date.
F. Monitoring of Attendance
Teachers will maintain daily/period attendance records for all students.
G. Retention of Attendance Source Documents
Attendance source documents will be retained in accordance with guidelines outlined in
the Maryland Student Records System Manual.
H. Support for Students
Proactive supports and interventions will be provided through the HCPSS attendance
strategies and school problem-solving teams for all students.
V. Responsibilities
A. The Superintendent/designee will monitor standards and procedures related to
attendance as set forth in state law and policy.
B. Principals will inform students, employees, and parents annually of the provisions of
this policy.
C. Principals will assign and oversee personnel to monitor the recording of daily/period
attendance, report student absences (lawful and unlawful), and enter and withdraw
students for purposes of enrollment.
D. Teachers will maintain daily/period attendance electronically in accordance with
guidelines outlined in the Maryland Student Records System Manual.
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E. The Technology Department will retain attendance source documents in accordance
with the guidelines outlined in the Maryland Student Records System Manual.
F. Teachers will provide make-up work for students who are lawfully absent.
G. Students will be in school or attend a school-related activity each day school is in
session.
H. School-based problem solving teams will develop interventions and provide support to
students who are chronically absent or habitually truant.
VI. Delegation of Authority
The Superintendent is authorized to develop appropriate procedures for the implementation of
this policy.
VII. References
A. Legal
The Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article, §§7-301 through 7-305
COMAR 13A.08.01.02, Age for School Attendance
COMAR 13A.08.01.03, Lawful Absence
COMAR 13A.08.01.04, Unlawful Absence
B. Other Board Policies
Policy 3000 Religious Observances
Policy 8010 Grading and Reporting: Prekindergarten through Grade 5
Policy 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School
Policy 8100 Field Trips
Policy 9000 Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment
Policy 9020 Students’ Rights and Responsibilities
Policy 9100 Educational Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Students
Policy 9200 Student Discipline
C. Relevant Data Sources
D. Other
Maryland Student Records System Manual
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
HCPSS Student Code of Conduct
VIII. History
ADOPTED: April 23, 1992
REVIEWED: July 1, 2012
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MODIFIED: September 19, 2017
REVISED: June 10, 1999
June 21, 2005
October 27, 2005
June 20, 2006
July 14, 2011
June 11, 2020
EFFECTIVE: July 1, 2020
BOE Meeting of April 16, 2020
POLICY 9010-IP
IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES
ATTENDANCE
Effective: July 1, 2020
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THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL DOCUMENT PROVIDED AS A TOOL FOR STUDYING PROPOSED CHANGES
I. Annual Notification
A. The HCPSS will publish attendance information annually in the Student/Parent
Handbook and post current attendance guidelines and procedures on the school
system’s website.
B. The principal will inform all students, parents, and employees of the provisions of
this policy annually and at other times as appropriate. This may be done in the
following ways:
1. Making announcements via the public address system at the beginning of the
school year.
2. Publishing the information in school newsletters and on approved electronic
communication platforms.
3. Publishing the information in employee/student handbooks.
4. Posting the information on a bulletin board and/or school’s website.
5. Making the information available for new students through the registration
process.
II. School Procedures
Recognizing administrators’ and teachers’ responsibility for maintaining a system to
record and report student absences (lawful and unlawful/excused and unexcused), the
following procedures are required for all schools:
A. Monitoring of Attendance:
1. Teachers will maintain daily/period attendance records for all students and
report tardiness and absence information as well as suspected truancies to
attendance reporting personnel. This information will be entered into the
student information management system by the end of each period and serve
as the attendance source document. The attendance source document is the
documentation substantiating a student’s attendance. The document must
include school name, school year, teacher’s name, student’s name,
consecutive and chronological dates and a clear indicator of present, absent,
and tardy with a legend for the indicators. These elements are required for the
Maryland State Department of Education September Enrollment Audit.
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2. Attendance personnel will use the following guidelines for determining full
day absent, full day present and half day present:
a. Students Scheduled for a Full Day
A student is counted present for a full day if the student is in attendance
four hours or more of the school day. A student is counted present for a
half day if in attendance for at least two hours of the school day, but less
than four hours.
b. Students Scheduled for a Partial Day
A student scheduled for less than a full day is to be counted present
based on the amount of time the student is scheduled.
i. Students enrolled in less than a full day of classes must be present
for their full defined day in order to be credited with a full day
present.
ii. Students enrolled in only one class must be present for the full class
in order to receive a full day present, otherwise they are marked
absent.
iii. Students enrolled for a partial day must be present for at least half of
the scheduled hours to receive credit for a half day.
3. Any student who participates during the school day in a school-sponsored
activity which is approved by the Superintendent or the principal, or any
persons duly authorized by the Superintendent/designee or principal/designee
will be considered in attendance at school. This means that when a student is
involved in an approved school sponsored activity during the day, he or she is
to be counted “present” and coded as lawfully absent for the time missed eg.,
GT seminar, sectionals, field trips.
4. Students reporting late to school/class when the day/period begins are
considered tardy. Leaving school/class before the day/period ends is
considered early dismissal. School personnel will designate tardiness and
early dismissal as lawful or unlawful and treat it under the same criteria as a
lawful or an unlawful absence. Missing class for more than 20 minutes will
be treated as an absence for that class. Missing class for more than 35
minutes of a 90 minute class will also be treated as an absence for that class.
5. Designated school personnel will contact the parent when a student is absent
for two or more consecutive school days or when truancy is suspected.
6. The school must receive notification from the parent or physician explaining
the absence/tardiness of a student within five school days of the student’s
return or the absence/tardiness will be unlawful/unexcused.
Emancipated students may be allowed to write their own notes to verify a
lawful absence. When a doctor’s note for chronic illness has been required
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and not provided within five school days of the student’s return, the
absence/tardiness will be recorded as unlawful/unexcused until a doctor’s
note is provided.
7. All schools' report cards will report numbers of days present and absent from
school. High school report cards will also report numbers of absences from
each period.
8. Schools (Instructional Intervention Team/Student Support Team) will provide
supports/interventions through the problem solving team for students who are
habitually late or absent to school/class.
B. Retention of Attendance Source Documents:
Documentation substantiating attendance must be retained for three school
calendar years in accordance with the Maryland State Department of Education
Student Records System Manual.
C. Retention of Other Documents Related to Attendance:
Tardy logs, early dismissal logs, and parent notes will be retained for three years
in a secure location.
D. Entry and Exit for Purposes of Enrollment:
School employees responsible for maintaining enrollment and attendance
information will record entry and exit codes on the Student Record 1 card
(Attendance Card) according to standards described in the Maryland Student
Records System Manual. In addition, entry and exit codes must be entered into
the student information management system when a student enters or leaves the
school.
III. Lawful/Excused Absence
Students presently enrolled in public schools are considered lawfully absent from school,
including absence for any portion of the day, and may receive make-up work under the
following conditions:
A. Bereavement
1. Immediate family – The number of days absent for a death in the “immediate
family” is not to exceed five per instance. “Immediate family” is defined as
parents, (step) brother, (step) sister, grandparents, or anyone who has lived
regularly in the household of the student.
2. Other – Two days of absence will be allowed for the death of an aunt, uncle,
cousin, or classmate.
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B. Illness of the student
1. A doctor’s note may be required for chronic illness, which is defined as a
physical or mental health disease (condition) of long duration, showing little
change or of slow progression, which may be minor or severe in nature. This
includes, but is not limited to, medical appointments.
2. A parent note will be accepted for students attending a medical appointment.
3. Students receiving Home and Hospital Teaching will be maintained on the
regular school rolls and counted as present except when students are not
available for home and hospital teaching, in which case they are marked
absent.
4. Health-related exclusion – Students are temporarily excluded from school for
the following health-related reasons:
a. Failure of parents or guardians to abide by the health regulations
regarding immunization schedules or failure to provide evidence of
appropriate immunizations after 20 calendar days: COMAR 10.06.04.03;
or
b. Conditions that present a clear and direct health risk to others: COMAR
10.06.01.06.
C. Pregnancy and parenting needs
1. All pregnancy- and parenting-related conditions are lawful/excused absences
for:
a. Labor
b. Delivery
c. Recovery
d. Prenatal and postnatal medical appointments.
2. A parenting student is allowed lawful/excused absent days after the birth of
the student’s child. A physicians’ note may be required.
3. A parenting student’s absences due to an illness or a medical appointment of
the student’s child are lawful/excused absences. After four days of such
absences, during a school year, a physician’s note may be required.
4. A student’s absences due to a legal appointment involving the pregnant or
parenting student that is related to family law proceedings, including
adoption, custody, and visitation are lawful/excused absences.
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5. Options concerning an appropriate educational program will be in alignment
with Policy 9100 Educational Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Students.
D. Court summons – When a student must report to court by the issuance of a
summons, the time absent will be considered a lawful/excused absence.
E. Hazardous weather conditions – This will be interpreted to mean only those
conditions of the weather which would endanger the health or safety of the
student when in transit to and from school.
F. Work – Such work must be approved or sponsored by the school, the local school
system, or the State Department of Education, and accepted by the Superintendent
or the principal/designee.
G. Observance of a religious holiday – Students may be excused when their
attendance at school conflicts with participation in traditional and customary
religious holidays. In accordance with Standard B. of Policy 3000 Religious
Observances, parents/students may request an accommodation to meet a religious
obligation that cannot be fulfilled except during the school day.
H. State emergency – The Governor/designee makes these determinations.
I. Suspension – Suspension is the denial of a student's right to attend regular classes
or school for a specified period of time for cause as outlined in Policy 9200
Student Discipline.
Note: Suspension is a lawful/excused absence and the days of suspension status
cannot be used when determining “habitual truancy.”
J. Lack of authorized transportation – A student may be excused when school
system authorized transportation is not available for reasons beyond the student’s
control. This does not include students denied authorized transportation for
disciplinary reasons.
K. Other emergency or set of circumstances, which, in the judgment of the
Superintendent/designee, constitutes a good and sufficient cause for absence from
school. The principal, in consultation with the Community Superintendent or
designee, as appropriate, will determine whether absences are excused under this
provision.
1. Absences of an Emergency Nature
Such absences will be reviewed by the principal in consultation with the
administrative directors to determine whether the absences will be
lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused.
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2. Deployment Related Absences
Deployment related absences will be excused for the purpose of visiting with
a parent who is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has
been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from,
deployment to a combat zone or support posting.
3. Absences for Discretionary Days
a. A written request for such absences to be lawful/excused should be
submitted at least one week in advance to the principal/designee.
b. Such absences may not occur during exam or state-mandated testing
periods unless authorized by the principal/designee.
c. For absences of up to 3 days per year, the principal will determine
whether the absences will be lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused.
Such absences may include, but are not limited to, the following events
directly involving the student:
i. Visits to post-secondary institutions
ii. Participation in college orientation programs
iii. Scheduled interviews with prospective employers
iv. Special family events, including vacations/trips.
d. For absences in excess of three days under this provision, the principal in
consultation with the Community Superintendent or designee will
determine if the absences will be lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused.
e. Requests for absences for religious obligations which are not addressed
under Section III.G. of these procedures should be processed in
accordance with Policy 3000 Religious Observances.
IV. Unlawful/Unexcused Absence
An absence for any reason other than those cited as lawful are presumed as unlawful and
may constitute truancy (COMAR 13A.08.01.04).
A. Teachers may assist students with make-up work when a student has an unlawful
absence, however, students will not receive credit for such assignments.
B. Continuing unlawful absences and/or tardiness of the student will result in the
initiation of one or more of the following actions:
1. Student conference
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2. Parent contact
3. Attendance contract
4. After school detention
5. Saturday School
6. Exclusion from activities
7. Removal of school privileges
8. Restriction of extracurricular activities
9. Referral to PPW/Student Services.
C. Enrolled students who do not report to school in August/September are marked
absent during the first month of the school year until they report to class. By
September 30, all enrolled students who have not reported since the first day of
school, will be exited with the date of exit July 1.
D. Students with unlawful absences of 10 consecutive school days or more will be
withdrawn from school and may be allowed to re-enroll, provided they meet
enrollment requirements, upon their return. Upon expiration of the 10-day
window, the student will be withdrawn and the date of the exit will be the first
day after the last day of attendance. Teachers will not be required to provide
make-up work during this time of absence. For these absences to be considered as
lawful, parents will need to exercise the option outlined in Section III. of these
procedures.
E. For students receiving special education services and exhibiting behaviors
outlined in Sections IV.C. and/or D. of these implementation procedures, the
Individualized Education Program (IEP) TEAM, in consultation with the
Department of Special Education, must conduct an IEP meeting to determine if
the IEP remains appropriate.
1. If the IEP remains appropriate, the school will proceed with the processes
outlined in Sections IV.C. and/or D. of these implementation procedures.
2. If the IEP is not appropriate, the IEP team will revise the IEP.
V. Supports and Interventions
A. School-wide informational sessions will be conducted to share the expectations of
the HCPSS Policy 9010 Attendance and its connection and correlation to
student’s academic and social success. Information sessions can be communicated
through new student orientation, student assemblies, information pamphlets,
school website, etc. within the first few weeks of school.
B. The HCPSS attendance strategies will be implemented school-wide to encourage
attendance for all students.
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C. Interventions will be put in place for students who need more support to avoid or
improve chronic absenteeism.
1. The Principal will ensure that designated school personnel will initiate a “call
of care and concern” to parents when a student misses two unexcused
consecutive days or reaches a 5% absence rate to identify how the school can
assist the family.
2. Administrators will identify students with multiple absences and will send
letters home at 5%, 10%, and 20% unless the school has notification of a
student’s chronic medical condition and interventions are currently in place.
3. Members of the team will develop, implement and regularly monitor an
attendance improvement plan that may include the following:
A parent/teacher/student conference focused on assessing the needs of the
student will be requested if a student experiences absenteeism rates of 15% or
more in order to assess the needs of the student in connection with attendance
and academic success.
4. The school’s problem solving team will create an attendance plan to support
students in improving overall attendance and in meeting attendance goals.
5. If attendance barriers are present that are adversely affecting a child’s
attendance, an SST referral will be made to look at comprehensive supports
for the family.
D. Intensive supports will be implemented for students facing the greatest challenges
to getting to school. These supports include:
1. An attendance team or SST to further monitor student attendance.
2. Use of a Pupil Personnel Worker to visit home.
E. Include quarterly reminders and updates of school attendance with employees to
share success and identify needs for improvements.
F. Under the Annotated Code of Maryland action may be taken when compulsory
attendance issues arise. It is the duty of the parent to see that their child attends
school or receives the required instruction.
1. Any person who induces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself
unlawfully from school or employs or harbors any child who is absent
unlawfully from school while school is in session is guilty of a misdemeanor
and on conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment not
to exceed 30 days, or both. (Section 7-301 (e) 1)
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2. Any person who has legal custody or care and control of a child who is 5
years old or older and under 16 who fails to see that the child attends school
or receives instruction under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and: For
a first conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $50 per day of unlawful
absence or imprisonment not to exceed 10 days, or both; and For a second or
subsequent conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $100 per day of
unlawful absence or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or both. (Section
7-301 (e) 2)
VI. History
ADOPTED: April 23, 1992
REVIEWED: July 1, 2012
MODIFIED: September 19, 2017
REVISED: June 10, 1999
June 21, 2005
July 1, 2005
October 27, 2005
July 13, 2006
May 10, 2007
September 20, 2007
July 14, 2011
June 11, 2020
EFFECTIVE: July 1, 2020
BOE Meeting of April 16, 2020
POLICY 9010 ATTENDANCE
BOARD OF EDUCATION Effective: September 19, 2017
July 1, 2020
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THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL DOCUMENT PROVIDED AS A TOOL FOR STUDYING PROPOSED CHANGES I. Policy Statement The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that a quality education is provided for each
student who is enrolled in the school system a welcoming environment. Daily attendance is essential to student achievement and required in order to demonstrate mastery of material and receive credit for a course. The Board recognizes that students are required to be in school or to be attending a school-related activity each day school is in session and that there is a the strong correlation among between regular attendance, academic achievement, and the completion of school and future success. The Board of Education further believes that regular attendance is vital to ensuring that students become productive members of society a shared responsibility of the family, the student, and the school.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish the requirements for student attendance, guidelines provide guidance for attendance monitoring and recording, and procedures for supporting chronically absent and habitually truant students identify structures that support students’ attendance.
III. Definitions Within the context of this policy, the following definitions apply:
A. Absence – The failure of a student to be physically present in school/class or at a school-related activity during the school day.
B. Attendance – The act of being physically present at school or school-related activities
during the school day.
C. Attendance sSource dDocuments – Electronic records that are maintained by classroom teacher, homeroom teacher, substitute or other staff member school-based employee that document the student’s attendance.
D. Chronically aAbsent – A year-to-date absence rate of 210% or more, including both
lawful and unlawful absences.
E. Exemplary attendance – A final attendance rate of 96% or more of the student year with no unlawful absences.
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Discretionary Absence – Absence requested by a parent/guardian and approved by a
school administrator that satisfies the criteria in Section III.H.11. below.
F. Emancipated Student – A student who meets one or more of the following conditions:
1. The student is under age 21 and married, 2. The student is under age 18 and has been declared emancipated by the court, 3. The student is age 18-21 and is living independently of the student’s parents.
FG. Habitual tTruant – A student who met ALL of the following criteria during the school
year:
1. The student was age 5 through 20. 2. The student was enrolled in the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS)
for 91 or more days. 3. The student was unlawfully absent for 20% or more of the days of enrollment.
GH. Lawful aAbsence – An excused absence for any portion of the day under the following
conditions:
1. Death in the immediate family 2. Illness of the student 3. Pregnancy and parenting needs 4. Court summons 5. Hazardous weather conditions 6. Work approved or sponsored by the school 7. Observance of a religious holiday 8. State emergency 9. Suspension 10. Lack of authorized transportation 11. Other emergency or set of circumstances which, in the judgment of the
Superintendent or designee, constitutes a good and sufficient cause for absence from school.
HI. Parent – Any one of the following, recognized as the adult(s) legally responsible for the
student:
1. Biological Parent – A natural parent whose parental rights have not been terminated.
2. Adoptive Parent – A person who has legally adopted the student and whose
parental rights have not been terminated.
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3. Custodian – A person or an agency appointed by the court as the legal custodian of the student and granted parental rights and privileges responsibilities.
4. Guardian – A person who has been placed by the court in charge of the affairs of
the student and granted parental rights and privileges responsibilities. 5. Caregiver – An adult resident of Howard County who exercises care, custody or
control over the student, but who is neither the biological parent nor legal guardian, as long as the person satisfies the requirements of the Education Article, §7-101(c)
(Informal Kinship Care) or has been issued a U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Verification of Release form entering into a custodial arrangement with the federal government.
6. Foster pParent – An adult approved to care for a child who has been placed in their
home by a state agency or a licensed child placement agency as provided by section the Family Law Article §5-507 of the Family Law Article.
J. Parenting Student – A student who is a parent of a child. This includes the mother and
father. K. Religious Holiday – A traditional and customary day of religious observance, excluding regular weekly prayer, services, or practices. (Policy 3000 Religious
Observances)
IL. School-rRelated Activity – Any school system activity, whether held on or off school property, in which a student directly participates (e.g., school field trip, athletic event, or class/graduation activity), or in which the student does not directly participate but represents the school or student body simply by being there (e.g., spectator at a school event).
JM. Truant – A student who is absent for a day or any portion of a day for any reason other
than those cited as lawful in COMAR 13A.08.01.03 and/or failure to bring a note written by a parent to verify a lawful absence.
KN. Unlawful aAbsence – An unexcused absence, including absence for any portion of the
day, for any reason other than those cited as lawful are presumed as unlawful and may constitute truancy. Students unlawfully absent are considered truant. (COMAR 13A.08.01.04).
IV. Standards
A. Annual Notification Attendance guidelines will be communicated annually to all students, parents, and staff
school-based employees.
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B. Attendance Expectations All students are expected to attend school regularly in accordance with state law and
regulation and this policy and may be excused from class or school only for reasons as specified in state law and regulation and this policy.
C. Denial of Credit Any high school student with absences constituting five percent (5%) of a semester or a
yearlong course will be considered for denial of credit.
D. Discipline Disciplinary consequences for unlawful/unexcused absences will be applied as outlined
in the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct. Students cannot be suspended or expelled solely for attendance-related offencses.
ED. Entry/Exit For enrollment purposes, students will be entered and exited using the procedures
outlined in the Maryland Student Records System Manual.
F. Exemplary Attendance Schools will recognize students with exemplary attendance.
GE. Make-up Work
1. A student may make up work missed due to lawful absence and receive a recorded
grade in accordance with Policies 8010, Grading and Reporting: Prekindergarten through Grade 85, and 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School.
2. A pregnant and or parenting student may choose one of the following alternatives
to make up work that the student missed:
a. Retake a semester; b. Participate in an online course credit recovery program; or c. Allow the student six weeks to continue at the same pace and finish at a later
date.
HF. Monitoring of Attendance Teachers will maintain daily/period attendance records for all students. IG. Retention of Attendance Source Documents Attendance source documents will be retained in accordance with guidelines outlined in
the Maryland Student Records System Manual.
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JH. Support for Students Proactive Ssupports and interventions will be provided through the HCPSS attendance
strategies and school problem-solving teams for all students who are chronically absent and/or habitually truant.
V. Compliance Responsibilities
A. The Superintendent/designee is responsible for will monitoring standards and procedures related to attendance as set forth in state law and policy.
B. Principals are responsible for will informing students, staff employees, and parents
annually of the provisions of this policy. C. High school principals are responsible for making determinations regarding denial of
credit. D. Principals are responsible for will assigning and overseeing personnel to monitor the
recording of daily/period attendance, the reporting of student absences (lawful and unlawful), and the entering and withdrawing of students for purposes of enrollment.
ED. Teachers are responsible for will maintaining daily/period attendance electronically in
accordance with guidelines outlined in the Maryland Student Records System Manual. FE. The Technology Department is responsible for will retaining attendance source
documents in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Maryland Student Records System Manual.
GF. Teachers are responsible for will providinge make-up work for students who are
lawfully absent. HG. Students are responsible for will being in school or attending a school-related activity
each day school is in session. I. Students are responsible for making up work when they are absent.
JH. School-based problem solving teams are responsible for will developing interventions
and providinge support to students who are chronically absent or habitually truant. VI. Delegation of Authority The Superintendent is authorized to develop appropriate procedures for the implementation of
this policy.
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VII. References
A. Legal The Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article, §§7-301 through 7-305 COMAR 13A.08.01.02, Age for School Attendance COMAR 13A.08.01.03, Lawful Absence COMAR 13A.08.01.04, Unlawful Absence B. Other Board Policies Policy 3000 Religious Observances Policy 8010 Grading and Reporting: Prekindergarten through Grade 85 Policy 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School Policy 8100 Field Trips, Domestic Policy 8110 Student International Educational Travel Policy 9000 Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment Policy 9020 Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Policy 9100 Educational Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Students Policy 9200 Student Discipline
C. Relevant Data Sources
CD. Other Maryland Student Records System Manual Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children HCPSS Student Code of Conduct
VIII. History
ADOPTED: April 23, 1992 REVIEWED: July 1, 2012 MODIFIED: September 19, 2017 REVISED: June 10, 1999
June 21, 2005 October 27, 2005 June 20, 2006 July 14, 2011 June 11, 2020
EFFECTIVE: September 19, 2017 July 1, 2020
BOE Meeting of April 16, 2020
POLICY 9010-IP
IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES
ATTENDANCE
Effective: September 19, 2017
July 1, 2020
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I. Annual Notification
A. The HCPSS will publish attendance information annually in the Student/Parent
Handbook and post current attendance guidelines and procedures on the school
system’s website.
B. The principal will inform all students, parents, and staff employees of the
provisions of this policy annually and at other times as appropriate. This may be
done in the following ways:
1. Making announcements via the public address system at the beginning of the
school year.
2. Publishing the information in school newsletters and on approved electronic
communication platforms.
3. Publishing the information in staff employee/student handbooks.
4. Posting the information on a bulletin board and/or school’s website.
5. Making the information available for new students through the registration
process.
II. School Procedures
Recognizing administrators’ and teachers’ responsibility for developing and maintaining
a system to record and report student absences (lawful and unlawful/excused and
unexcused), the following procedures are required for all schools:
A. Monitoring of Attendance:
1. Teachers will maintain daily/period attendance records for all students and
report tardiness and absence information as well as suspected truancies to
attendance reporting personnel. This information will be entered into the
student information management system by the end of each period and serve
as the attendance source document. The attendance source document is the
documentation substantiating a student’s attendance. The document must
include school name, school year, teacher’s name, student’s name,
consecutive and chronological dates and a clear indicator of present, absent,
and tardy with a legend for the indicators. These elements are required for the
Maryland State Department of Education September Enrollment Audit.
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2. Attendance personnel will use the following guidelines for determining full
day absent, full day present and half day present:
a. Students Scheduled for a Full Day
A student is counted present for a full day if the student is in attendance
four hours or more of the school day. A student is counted present for a
half day if in attendance for at least two hours of the school day, but less
than four hours.
b. Students Scheduled for a Partial Day
A student scheduled for less than a full day is to be counted present
based on the amount of time the student is scheduled.
i. Students enrolled in less than a full day of classes must be present
for their full defined day in order to be credited with a full day
present.
ii. Students enrolled in only one class must be present for the full class
in order to receive a full day present, otherwise they are marked
absent.
iii. In all other cases, the student will be credited with a half day present
if the student is present an hour or more of the school day.
Students enrolled for a partial day must be present for at least half of
the scheduled hours to receive credit for a half day.
3. Any student who participates during the school day in a school-sponsored
activity which is approved by the Superintendent or the principal, or any
persons duly authorized by the Superintendent/designee or principal/designee
shall will be considered in attendance at school. This means that when a
student is involved in an approved school sponsored activity during the day,
he or she is to be counted “present” and not coded as lawfully absent for the
time missed eg., GT seminar, sectionals, field trips.
4. Students reporting late to school/class when the day/period begins are
considered tardy. Leaving school/class before the day/period ends is
considered early dismissal. School personnel will designate tardiness and
early dismissal as lawful or unlawful and treat it under the same criteria as a
lawful or an unlawful absence. Missing class for more than 20 minutes will
be treated as an absence for that class. Missing class for more than 35
minutes of a 90 minute class will also be treated as an absence for that class.
5. Designated Sschool personnel will contact the parent when a student is absent
for two or more consecutive school days or when truancy is suspected.
6. The school must receive a note notification from the parent or physician
explaining the absence/tardiness of a student within two five school days of
the student’s return or the absence/tardiness will be unlawful/unexcused.
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Emancipated students as defined in Policy 9000 (Student Residency,
Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment) may be allowed to write their own
notes to verify a lawful absence. When a doctor’s certification note for
chronic illness has been required and not provided within two five school
days of the student’s return, the absence/tardiness will be recorded as
unlawful/unexcused until a doctor’s certificate note is provided.
7. All schools' report cards will report numbers of days present and absent from
school. High school report cards will also report numbers of absences from
each period.
8. If unlawful/unexcused absences continue to persist after the school has
contacted the parent and taken some disciplinary action, a referral should be
made to the problem solving team (Instructional Intervention Team/Student
Support Team).
Schools (Instructional Intervention Team/Student Support Team) will provide
supports/interventions through the problem solving team for students who are
habitually late or absent to school/class.
B. Retention of Attendance Source Documents:
Documentation substantiating attendance must be retained for three school
calendar years in accordance with the Maryland State Department of Education
Student Records System Manual.
C. Retention of Other Documents Related to Attendance:
Tardy logs, early dismissal logs, and parent notes will be retained for three years
in a secure location.
D. Entry and Exit for Purposes of Enrollment:
School staff employees responsible for maintaining enrollment and attendance
information will record entry and exit codes on the Student Record 1 card
(Attendance Card) according to standards described in the Maryland Student
Records System Manual. In addition, entry and exit codes must be entered into
the student information management system when a student enters or leaves the
school.
III. Lawful/Excused Absence
Students presently enrolled in public schools are considered lawfully absent from school,
including absence for any portion of the day, and may receive make-up work under the
following conditions:
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A. Bereavement
1. Immediate family – The number of days absent for a death in the “immediate
family” is not to exceed five per instance. “Immediate family” is defined as
parents, (step) brother, (step) sister, grandparents, or anyone who has lived
regularly in the household of the student.
2. Other – One Two days of absence will be allowed for the death of an aunt,
uncle, cousin, or classmate, or HCPSS staff member.
B. Illness of the student
1. A doctor’s certification note may be required for chronic illness, which is
defined as a physical or mental health disease (condition) of long duration,
showing little change or of slow progression, which may be minor or severe
in nature. This includes, but is not limited to, medical appointments.
2. A parent note will be accepted for students attending a medical appointment.
23. Students receiving Home and Hospital Teaching will be maintained on the
regular school rolls and counted as present except when students are not
available for home and hospital teaching, in which case they are marked
absent.
4. Health-related exclusion – Students are temporarily excluded from school for
the following health-related reasons:
a. Failure of parents or guardians to abide by the health regulations
regarding immunization schedules or failure to provide evidence of
appropriate immunizations after 20 calendar days: COMAR 10.06.04.03;
or
b. Conditions that present a clear and direct health risk to others: COMAR
10.06.01.06.
C. Pregnancy and parenting needs
1. All pregnancy- and parenting-related conditions are lawful/excused absences
for:
a. Labor
b. Delivery
c. Recovery
d. Prenatal and postnatal medical appointments.
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2. A parenting student is allowed at least ten (10) lawful/excused absencest days
after the birth of the student’s child. Exceptions can be made for additional
lawful/excused absences upon approval of the Superintendent/Designee. A
physicians’ note may be required.
3. A parenting student’s absences due to an illness or a medical appointment of
the student’s child are lawful/excused absences. After four days of such
absences, during a school year, a physician’s note may be required.
4. A student’s absences due to a legal appointment involving the pregnant or
parenting student that is related to family law proceedings, including
adoption, custody, and visitation are lawful/excused absences.
5. Options concerning an appropriate educational program will be in alignment
with Policy 9100 Educational Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Students.
D. Court summons – When a student must report to court by the issuance of a
summons, the time absent will be considered a lawful/excused absence.
E. Hazardous weather conditions – This will be interpreted to mean only those
conditions of the weather, as determined by the Superintendent, which would
endanger the health or safety of the student when in transit to and from school.
Students will be credited for at least a half day attendance if they are present any
part of the school day that schools close for weather-related or other emergencies.
F. Work – Such work must be approved or sponsored by the school, the local school
system, or the State Department of Education, and accepted by the Superintendent
or the principal/designee.
G. Observance of a religious holiday – Students may be excused when their
attendance at school conflicts with participation in traditional and customary
religious holidays. In accordance with Standard B. of Policy 3000 Religious
Observances, parents/students may request an accommodation to meet a religious
obligation that cannot be fulfilled except during the school day.
H. State emergency – The Governor/designee makes these determinations.
I. Suspension – Suspension is the denial of a student's right to attend regular classes
or school for a specified period of time for cause as outlined in Policy 9200,
Student Discipline.
Note: Suspension is a lawful/excused absence and the days of suspension status
cannot be used when determining “habitual truancy.”
J. Lack of authorized transportation – A student may be excused when school
system authorized transportation is not available for reasons beyond the student’s
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control. This does not include students denied authorized transportation for
disciplinary reasons.
K. Other emergency or set of circumstances, which, in the judgment of the
Superintendent/designee, constitutes a good and sufficient cause for absence from
school. The principal, in consultation with administrative directors the
Community Superintendent or designee, as appropriate, will determine whether
absences are excused under this provision.
1. Absences of an Emergency Nature
Such absences will be reviewed by the principal in consultation with the
administrative directors to determine whether the absences will be
lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused.
2. Deployment Related Absences
Deployment related absences will be excused for the purpose of visiting with
a parent who is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has
been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from,
deployment to a combat zone or support posting.
3. Absences for Non-emergency Circumstances Discretionary Days
a. A written request for such absences to be lawful/excused should be
submitted at least one week in advance to the principal/designee.
b. Such absences may not occur during exam or state-mandated testing
periods unless authorized by the principal/designee.
c. For absences of up to 3 days per year, the principal will determine
whether the absences will be lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused.
Such absences may include, but are not limited to, the following events
directly involving the student:
i. Visits to post-secondary institutions
ii. Participation in college orientation programs
iii. Scheduled interviews with prospective employers
iv. Special family events, including vacations/trips.
d. For absences in excess of three days under this provision, the principal in
consultation with the administrative directors Community
Superintendent or designee will determine if the absences will be
lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused.
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e. For absences of 15 consecutive days or more, a written request must be
submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the absence.
f. Requests for absences for religious obligations which are not addressed
under Section III.G. of these procedures should be handled processed in
accordance with Policy 3000, Religious Observances.
L. Health-related exclusion – Students are temporarily excluded from school for the
following health-related reasons:
1. Failure of parents or guardians to abide by the health regulations regarding
immunization schedules or failure to provide evidence of appropriate
immunizations after 20 calendar days: COMAR 10.06.04.03; or
2. Conditions that present a clear and direct health risk to others: COMAR
10.06.01.06.
IV. Unlawful/Unexcused Absence
An absence for any reason other than those cited as lawful are presumed as unlawful and
may constitute truancy (COMAR 13A.08.01.04).
A. Teachers may assist students with make-up work when a student has an unlawful
absence, however, students will not receive credit for such assignments.
B. Continuing unlawful absences and/or tardiness of the student will result in the
initiation of one or more of the following actions:
1. Student conference
2. Parent contact
3. Attendance contract
4. After school detention
5. Saturday School
6. Exclusion from activities
7. Removal of school privileges
8. Restriction of extracurricular activities
9. Referral to PPW/Student Services.
BC. Enrolled students who do not report to school in August/September are marked
absent during the first month of the school year until they report to class. By
September 30, all enrolled students who have not reported since the first day of
school, will be exited with the date of exit July 1.
CD. Students with unlawful absences of 10 consecutive school days or more will be
withdrawn from school and may be allowed to re-enroll, provided they meet
enrollment requirements, upon their return. Upon expiration of the 10-day
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window, the student will be withdrawn and the date of the exit will be the first
day after the last day of attendance. Teachers will not be required to provide
make-up work during this time of absence. For these absences to be considered as
lawful, parents will need to exercise the option outlined in Section III.K.3.e. of
these procedures.
DE. For students receiving special education services, withdrawal can only be
considered through the IEP team process and with the approval of and exhibiting
behaviors outlined in Sections IV.C. and/or D. of these implementation
procedures, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) TEAM, in consultation
with the Department of Special Education, must conduct an IEP meeting to
determine if the IEP remains appropriate.
1. If the IEP remains appropriate, the school will proceed with the processes
outlined in Sections IV.C. and/or D. of these implementation procedures.
2. If the IEP is not appropriate, the IEP team will revise the IEP.
V. High School Denial of Credit
A. Teachers will submit to the principal the attendance record and a recommendation
for granting or denying credit for each student for whom denial of credit is
considered.
B. Students and their parents will be notified by the principal/designee that the
students are in danger of losing credit and provided opportunities to present
information explaining the degree of absenteeism.
C. The principal will determine whether credit is awarded or denied.
D. Any student who loses credit under this provision may appeal the determination to
the Superintendent’s designee.
VI. Supports and Interventions Procedures for Chronically Absent Students
A. The expectation for regular attendance is the same for all students enrolled in the
HCPSS whether they are under or over the compulsory attendance age.
School-wide informational sessions will be conducted to share the expectations of
the HCPSS Policy 9010 Attendance and its connection and correlation to
student’s academic and social success. Information sessions can be communicated
through new student orientation, student assemblies, information pamphlets,
school website, etc. within the first few weeks of school.
B. The HCPSS attendance strategies will be implemented school-wide to encourage
attendance for all students.
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C. These support and iInterventions procedures should will be put in place for
students who have need more support to avoid or improve chronic absences
absenteeism (lawful and/or unlawful).
1. Prior to a referral to the problem-solving team (Instruction Intervention
Team/Student Support Team), a designated staff person should document
attempts to notify the parent of the chronic absences.
The Principal will ensure that designated school personnel will initiate a “call
of care and concern” to parents when a student misses two unexcused
consecutive days or reaches a 5% absence rate to identify how the school can
assist the family.
2. If the absences continue, the student should be referred to the school’s
problem-solving team (Instruction Intervention Team/Student Support
Team).
Administrators will identify students with multiple absences and will send
letters home at 5%, 10%, and 20% unless the school has notification of a
student’s chronic medical condition and interventions are currently in place.
3. Members of the team will develop, implement and regularly monitor an
attendance improvement plan that may include the following:
a. Meeting with the student
b. Meeting with the student’s teachers and administrative staff
c. Meeting with the student’s parent(s)
d. Assigning the student to a counseling group
e. Referring the student to an alternative placement
f. Scheduling a hearing with the Pupil Personnel Worker
g. Referring the student and parent to Project Attend, a program designed to
improve the attendance of habitually truant and chronically absent
students in the Howard County School System
h. Making a referral to an outside agency for support
i. Making a referral to the State’s Attorney’s office for possible court
action (for students under the compulsory attendance age)
j. Completing the Maryland State Department of Education Statewide
Educational Interview Form (for students over the compulsory
attendance age).
A parent/teacher/student conference focused on assessing the needs of the
student will be requested if a student experiences absenteeism rates of 15% or
more in order to assess the needs of the student in connection with attendance
and academic success.
4. The school’s problem solving team will create an attendance plan to support
students in improving overall attendance and in meeting attendance goals.
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5. If attendance barriers are present that are adversely affecting a child’s
attendance, an SST referral will be made to look at comprehensive supports
for the family.
D. Intensive supports will be implemented for students facing the greatest challenges
to getting to school. These supports include:
1. An attendance team or SST to further monitor student attendance.
2. Use of a Pupil Personnel Worker to visit home.
E. Include quarterly reminders and updates of school attendance with employees to
share success and identify needs for improvements.
BF. Under Tthe Annotated Code of Maryland, criminal charges may be filed in
relation to unlawful absence from school action may be taken when compulsory
attendance issues arise. It is the duty of the parent to see that their child attends
school or receives the required instruction.
1. Any person who induces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself
unlawfully from school or employs or harbors any child who is absent
unlawfully from school while school is in session is guilty of a misdemeanor
and on conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment not
to exceed 30 days, or both. (Section 7-301 (e) 1)
2. Any person who has legal custody or care and control of a child who is 5
years old or older and under 16 who fails to see that the child attends school
or receives instruction under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and: For
a first conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $50 per day of unlawful
absence or imprisonment not to exceed 10 days, or both; and For a second or
subsequent conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $100 per day of
unlawful absence or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or both. (Section
7-301 (e) 2)
VII. Attendance Motivation Strategies
A. Conduct school-wide orientation assemblies at the beginning of the school year to
review the attendance policy and promote the idea that regular attendance is a
student responsibility and an essential life skill.
B. Develop school-wide incentive programs to improve attendance.
C. Develop and utilize positive rewards for students with exemplary and improved
attendance during any one grading period and/or for the school year.
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D. Include quarterly reminders on the importance of regular attendance in school
newsletters and on school websites.
VIII. History
ADOPTED: April 23, 1992
REVIEWED: July 1, 2012
MODIFIED: September 19, 2017
REVISED: June 10, 1999
June 21, 2005
July 1, 2005
October 27, 2005
July 13, 2006
May 10, 2007
September 20, 2007
July 14, 2011
June 11, 2020
EFFECTIVE: September 19, 2017
July 1, 2020