Attendance Policy & Excuse Slips
Mrs. Rothrock handles all attendance matters in the SES office. The link below will provide you with the district form when your child is out for the day or tardy. Please read the district policy listed below.
610-791-2800 ext 4502
SALISBURY TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
2025-26
Please note that the Salisbury Township School District Attendance policy was revised before the start of the 20-21 school year.
It is mandatory for all children of compulsory school age, having a legal residence in Pennsylvania, to attend school in which the subjects and activities prescribed by the Standards of the State Board of Education are taught. Compulsory school age is defined as the period of a child’s life from the time the child’s parents elect to have the child enter school and which shall be no later than 6 years of age until the child reaches 18 years of age.
What is an excused absence?
An absence is considered “excused” where the child has a written explanation from his/her parent or physician that provides an acceptable reason for the absence.
Parents/guardians or students must submit the written explanation within three calendar days of the absence. Parents can either send the written explanation or physician’s note into school with their child, or the preferred method is for parents to use the SDM’s Absent option to report the absence. When using the SDM absent option, select the day on the calendar for the absence, then select Add Exception, and choose Absent from the dropdown screen. Please note that parents must still provide the school office with a physician’s note when required and as specified in our school’s policies.
Acceptable reasons for a child’s absence include when a student is prevented from attendance for mental, physical, or other urgent reasons. The school considers illness, religious holiday, death of an immediate family member, medical or dental appointments, authorized school activities, and educational travel with prior approval as the only lawful absences. An absence that should not be categorized as unlawful is one in which a student who is involved with the county children and youth agency or juvenile probation office is required to leave school for the purposes of attending court hearings related to their involvement with these agencies. A student will also be excused to obtain professional health care or therapy by a licensed healthcare professional. The following are not acceptable absences: employment, visiting away from home, shopping, or oversleeping.
When the student is sent home during the school day by the school nurse, the student’s absence will be considered “excused” for the day that the student is sent home. Parents/guardians must follow the above process for any days after the day that the student is sent home by the nurse.
Failure to provide a written excuse within three days of the absence for an acceptable reason will result in the absence being declared unexcused/unlawful.
How many days of absence can be verified without a physician's excuse?
A maximum of ten days of cumulative lawful absences verified by parental notification may be permitted during a school year. All absences beyond ten cumulative days will require an excuse from a physician. The excuse from the physician must be written out by the physician who treated the child or the physician who supervised the treatment of the child. Cumulative is defined as total absences per school year. Educational trip requests (college visits, etc.) are parent requests and will be counted toward the maximum of ten days of cumulative lawful absences per school year.
What is late or tardy?
Late is arriving to school for an approved reason and tardy is arriving to school for an unapproved reason. Students will be classified as late or tardy if they arrive at school within the first 90 minutes of the school day. After 90 minutes, students will be considered absent for one half (1/2) day. Students missing more than 1/3 of any school day will be considered absent for a full day.
What happens when a child has unexcused absences?
After a student has three (3) unexcused absences, the school will send a Parent/Guardian Notice of Truancy letter to the parent/guardian who lives with the child. If the child is not living with a biological or adoptive parent, a copy of the notice will also be sent to the biological or adoptive parent, provided that the parent’s mailing address is on file with the school and the parent is not restricted from receiving the information by a court order. At the high school, students may not make up schoolwork for the period of the unlawful absence.
If the child continues to have unexcused absences after the school has sent a Parent/Guardian Notice of Truancy letter, the building principal will coordinate a School Attendance Improvement Conference (SAIC) to discuss the child’s absences and develop School Attendance Improvement Plan to improve the child’s attendance, with or without additional services. The child’s parent/guardian will be invited and encouraged, although not legally required, to attend the SAIC.
What is habitual truancy?
Habitual truancy is when a child has six (6) or more unexcused absences.
What are the consequences for habitual truancy?
After a SAIC is held, there are additional consequences for habitual truancy. The consequences depend on the age of the child.
For children under the age of 15, habitual truancy will result in a referral to Children and Youth Services (CYS). The school may also file a citation in the office of the District Magistrate against the child’s parent/guardian.
For children over the age of 15, habitual truancy will result in the filing of a citation in the office of the District Magistrate against the child or the parent/guardian who is living with the child.
What are the penalties for a citation from the District Magistrate for habitual truancy?
A fine not to exceed $300 together with court costs for the first offense. The maximum fines may increase with each subsequent offense.
Community service.
The completion of a course or program approved by the judge.
Where the parent/guardian fails to follow through with the penalty imposed by the court, the parent/guardian may be sentenced to three (3) days in county jail.
Where a child does not follow through with the penalty imposed by the court, the child may have his/or her learner’s permit or driver’s license suspended.
Where can I get more information?
Salisbury Township School District School Board Policy 2.4.4 contains all of the policy and school code regulations for compulsory attendance.
We look forward to having your child with us at school every day. Let us work together to ensure that all students are in school unless they are too sick to attend. Thank you for your support and cooperation!