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Attendance
Carroll County Public Schools recognizes the relationship between good attendance and academic achievement. All students are expected to maintain a regular, daily attendance rate of at least 96 percent. When students are absent, arrive late, or leave school before the scheduled dismissal time, their parents are requested to provide an explanation to the school via a written note, fax, e-mail, or phone call. A parent/legal guardian must provide an explanation of the absence within 5 school days of the student’s return to school, or the absence will be coded as unlawful.
Tardiness is treated similarly as lawful or unlawful absences, as it can be a serious disruption to a student’s educational progress.
Student attendance requirements are described in the Annotated Code of Maryland and Code of Maryland Regulations. These absences are considered lawful and therefore excused with a parent explanation of the absence:
· Death in the immediate family
· Illness of the child
· Court summons
· Observance of a religious holiday
· Suspension.
An absence for any portion of the day, for any reason other than lawful excuses or emergencies as determined by the Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent or his designee, is presumed to be unlawful and may constitute truancy.
It is strongly recommended that parents plan vacations for times when school is not in regular session. It is recognized, however, that occasionally students are absent for necessary or important family activities. When this occurs, an excused absence may be requested in advance, through the school principal. Even though the absence may be excused, students are required to make up work missed during that time. It must be kept in mind that grades may be affected if students fail to follow through with make-up work. Some school work missed, such as class participation or laboratory experiments, does not lend itself to make-up. Missing such assignments may also impact a student’s grade.
Doctor’s notes may be required for absences when excessive or unlawful absences occur.
Students Scheduled for a Full Day
A student is counted present for a full day of school if the student is in attendance over 3 hours and 30 minutes of the school day. A student is counted present for 1/2 day if in attendance between 45 minutes and 3 hours and 30 minutes, but less than four hours. A student in attendance less than 2 hours of the school day is counted absent for the day.
Students Scheduled for an Individualized Modified Day
A student scheduled for less than a full day is to be counted present based on the amount of time he/she is scheduled. A student who is present 10-50% of the scheduled day is to be marked for a half a day. A student who is present over 50% of the scheduled day is to be marked present for the full day. A student present for less than 10% of the scheduled day is to be marked absent for the entire day.
An example: A student who is scheduled to be present for a 2-hour block of time will be counted as present for the full day if the student is present for over 60 minutes of the time. A student who is present between 12 and 60 minutes will be considered present half a day. The student is considered absent the full day if they're less than 12 minutes.