Student attendance procedures are based on PA Act 138 of 2016, ELCO School Board Policy #204, and the Basic Education Circular “Compulsory school attendance, unlawful absences, and school attendance improvement conferences”, issued February 2020. 

1. Parents/guardians of students K-12 who are absent from school will receive notification of their child’s absence with information on how to provide documentation of the absence via the mass notification system.  Note: If parents/guardians have not provided accurate phone numbers and email addresses, the messages will not be received.
2. If an acceptable parent/guardian excuse for the absence is not received within three (3) days of the student’s return to school, the absence will be considered unexcused.
   1. The parent/guardian excuse must be provided via the PowerSchool Parent portal OR in writing including a parent/guardian signature. Scans or pictures of the signed excuse card will be accepted via email the building attendance email. Parents are strongly encouraged to utilize the PowerSchool parent portal. 
   2. A reason for the absence must be provided for all parent/guardian excuses, "illness" or "sickness" are not acceptable. Specific wording such as cough, sore throat, vomiting should be used.
3. A maximum of ten (10) days of cumulative absences (excused and unexcused), including those verified by parental notification, shall be permitted during a school year. All absences beyond ten (10) cumulative days shall require an excuse from a licensed medical professional.
   1. It is strongly recommended that whenever a student is absent from school and sees a medical professional an excuse from that medical professional is obtained and provided to the school.  Valid excuses from a medical professional will not count towards (10) absences allowed.
4. Students who accumulate three (3) unexcused absences are considered truant and will be provided a written “three-day notice” outlining the potential consequences of truancy. 
5. If a student is subsequently absent without excuse for one day after the “three-day notice” is issued, a school attendance improvement conference (SAIC) will be scheduled and a School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) will be developed. Parents/guardians will be invited to the conference and are encouraged to attend. A copy of the SAIP will be provided to parents/guardians.
6. Students who accumulate six (6) unexcused absences are considered habitually truant and may face the necessary consequences per Act 138 of 2016. Consequences may include consequences may include a referral to Children and Youth Services and/or a citation filed in the office of the District Magistrate.
7. The Principal/Assistant Principal/Dean of Students may exercise prudent judgment in giving extensions or exceptions to the above.