Did you know for a student to be counted for a full day of attendance, they must be present at least half the day? If a student is checked out before 10:30 a. m., they will not be considered present for a full day. The same is true for late check ins. If a student is signed in after 10:30 a.m., your child will not be considered present for the day.
Here are some additional district wide attendance updates.
Cumberland County Schools (CCS) is taking bold steps to combat chronic absenteeism with the implementation of a revised attendance policy. The updated policy, which communicates clear expectations regarding procedures for absences and emphasizes the importance of consistent school attendance, is part of the district’s ongoing effort to address rising absenteeism rates and improve student outcomes.
Key Details of the Revised Policy 4400 Attendance:
Parent/Guardian Notes: Elementary and middle school students are limited to ten parent/guardian notes to excuse an absence per year; High school students are limited to ten parent/guardian notes to excuse an absence per semester.
Documentation Requirements: Absences will be marked unexcused unless a parent/guardian or doctor’s note is submitted within five days of the student’s return.
Excessive Absences: Students accumulating more than 20 unexcused absences risk being retained (grades K-5) or failing a course (grades 6-12). Students with excused absences due to documented chronic health problems are exempted from this policy.
Waiver Process: If a student has accumulated more than 20 unexcused absences, a parent/guardian may request from the school social worker a waiver for extenuating circumstances or legitimate illnesses.
The research underscores the critical link between attendance and academic success:
Students who are chronically absent in early grades are less likely to read proficiently by the end of third grade—a vital milestone for long-term success (Attendance Works).
By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading predictor of high school dropouts (Baltimore Education Research Consortium).