Missed A Day? Parents And Students Should Note The AACPS Absence Policy

Absence

When a student is absent from school, upon return to school, the student must, within three school days of being absent, provide a dated absence note to his or her first-period teacher. The note should include the following:

• Full student name

• Date of absence(s)

• Reason for absence(s)

• Parent name and signature

• Parent contact number

Students who bring an absent note (within the three school days of being absent) will receive an Admission After Absence pass. Absent notes received after the third day need to be taken by the student to his or her assistant principal for consideration of approval. Note that approval is not guaranteed.

When a student is leaving early from school, the student must check in with the attendance office that morning before school (between 7:05am and 7:25am) and provide a dated early dismissal note that includes the following information:

• Full student name

• Date and time of early dismissal

• Reason for early dismissal

• Parent name and signature

• Parent contact number

If the parent requires another adult to pick up the student for early dismissal, the full name of this adult must be included on the early dismissal note or listed on the student’s emergency card. The attendance office will provide the student with an early dismissal pass. The student will show this pass to the classroom teacher when it is the authorized time to leave; then the student will sign out in the attendance office upon leaving the building. The pass should be shown to teachers of classes missed on the day the student returns to that specific class.

The attendance office will contact the parent/guardian by phone on the morning of the early dismissal to confirm the early dismissal request. Once confirmed, the student may sign out via the attendance office and the parent can wait in the vehicle for the student to expedite process.

Early Dismissal

If a student leaves on early dismissal and returns to school the same day, the student will sign in at the attendance office before returning to class.

Ill students will receive an early dismissal through the health room, but ill students must report to the health room and not text or call parents independently of this procedural step. Again, the student has the responsibility of showing the early dismissal pass to the teacher of any classes missed.

Except for early dismissal, students may not leave the school grounds from the time of arrival until the end of the school day. Requests for early dismissal should be only for matters of an important nature that cannot be accomplished outside of school hours.

Late Arrival

When a student arrives late to school, the student must sign in with the attendance office prior to going to class and provide a dated late arrival note. The note should include:

• Full student name

• Date of arrival

• Reason for arriving late

• Parent name and signature

• Parent contact number

A parent is not required to check the student in if a dated late arrival note is provided with information regarding the student’s absence.

The student will be issued a tardy pass, stamped with the date and time of arrival to school.

Note For Athletes

Per the AACPS Office of Athletics and the athletics handbook, “each student-athlete is required to attend all scheduled classes. In the case of extenuating circumstances, the principal (or designee) of the school may grant an exception for excused class absences.” In addition, student-athletes are to maximize their time in school if they will miss any portion of the day for an appointment or any other reason. If a student-athlete is late to school for an unexcused reason, they will not be able to participate in that day’s game or practice. If the absence is due to a doctor or dentist visit, a doctor’s note must be brought back to school so administration can verify an excused absence. Other extenuating circumstances for late arrival or absences must be approved through administration in order to practice or play a game that day.