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Attendance

SCASD’s Commitment

Our district K-12 has teams that consist of our home school visitor, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and administration assigned to every building. With these services, in addition to classroom teachers, specialists, support staff and your support, we all share a common goal to ensure that your child reaches their full potential.

Regular attendance at school is an important part of every student’s success and is necessary in order to gain the greatest benefit from the educational experience. Students who are frequently absent from school will miss valuable instruction and regular contact with their teachers. When absences accumulate, it may ultimately result in academic difficulty for students.

SCASD’s Obligation

Our district has an obligation to you and to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to support your child’s regular attendance at school. SCASD Policy 204 in accordance with the  PDE Compulsory Attendance law, requires the following processes be followed for all school age students from the ages of 6 until the age of 18.

  • All student absences are counted as unexcused/unlawful until your child’s school receives a written excuse explaining the reason for the absence.
  • If a written (parental or medical) excuse is not received at your child’s school within three days, the absence will permanently be added to the student’s file as unexcused/unlawful.
  • If your child accumulates three days, or the equivalent, of unlawful absences, SCASD will notify you by mail of a first offense along with the legal consequences of continual unexcused/unlawful absences.
  • If you child has four days, or the equivalent, of unexcused/unlawful absences, you will be notified of a school attendance improvement plan meeting.
  • If your have received a first offense letter and a school attendance improvement plan meeting has occurred, a second offense will be filed with the magisterial district judge for any additional absences.

PA House Bill 1907 defines “habitually truant” as six unexcused/unlawful days or their equivalent,  if your child accumulates  six days of unexcused/unlawful absences or the equivalent, the district must do the following:

  • Notify Children and Youth services.
  • Notify the magisterial district judge on a weekly basis.
  • In addition, any absences of 17 cumulative days, or the equivalent, will require a written excuse that indicates that your child was seen by a doctor or medical practitioner.

We appreciate your attention to these procedures  and that extenuating circumstances may require special considerations. Please do not hesitate to call your building principals, your child's school counselor or the district's home and school visitor at 814-231-1011 ext 6977 so that we may work together to ensure your child’s educational success.

Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP)

The School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP), as described in Section IV (A)(3) BEC 24 P.S. 13-1327, schools are required to notify the person and parental relationship regarding the need for a joint conference upon the fourth unlawful student absence.

The primary goal of the school-family conference is the development of a comprehensive SAIP which is understood by, agreed upon and supported by the student, the person and parental relationships, the school representatives and all other conference participants. Participation by the student and family is not required, however; it is imperative to develop a plan for academic success. In addition, representatives from relevant and/or involved community-based agencies, community and school services and school personnel should be invited to participate. 

The school-family conference engages all participants involved in the student’s life to explore possible solutions to increase the student’s school attendance. Maintaining open communication between the student and adults will facilitate positive outcomes.

Issues to be addressed at the school-family conference should include, but not be limited to:

  • Appropriateness of the student’s educational environment;
  • Possible elements of the school environment that inhibit student success;
  • Student’s current academic level and needs;
  • Social, emotional, physical, mental and behavioral health issues;
  • Issues concerning family and home environment and
  • Any other issues affecting the student’s attendance.

This comprehensive system of support and services provides documentation of the “good faith” effort between the school and the student’s family should future action be required (e.g., citation to the magisterial district judge and referral to the county children and youth agency upon the fourth unexcused absence).

A sample SAIP is located at the end of this document and can be used as a guide for schools when developing their own plan format.