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Attendance

 

 Excuses must be submitted to AHolmes@rhmail.org

Make-Up School on Saturday, April 18 and April 25, 8-12:30.  If needed, May 2.Students will be considered lawfully excused absent when: 

  • They are ill, and their attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others.  
  • There is a death or serious illness in their immediate family —with proper documentation (bulletin, death notice, etc.). 
  • There is a recognized religious holiday of their faith.  
  • Activities approved in advance by the principal.  
  • The student is suspended from school.  
  • There is a necessary medical or legal appointment that cannot be scheduled during non-school time. 
  • Absences associated with Covid-19. 

Students will be considered unlawfully absent when: 

  • Willfully absent from school without the knowledge of their parent or guardian.  
  • Absent without acceptable cause with the knowledge of their parent or guardian.  
  • Sports, sporting events, family vacations, or any personal reason not associated with the school will not be excused. This is part of SC State Compulsory Attendance Law. 

Documentation for All Absences 

  • All students are to provide official documentation for any absence to the home school.  
  • A written excuse (signed by a parent/guardian) OR a medical excuse should be provided within three days after returning to school. 

  • Documentation should be submitted electronically by using the email link submitted directly to Alicia Holmes in Sullivan's Attendance Office (AHolmes@rhmail.org). 

Student Attendance Intervention Plans 

After three consecutive or a total of five unlawful absences, regulations require that school officials contact you and your child for a conference. The purpose of this conference is to identify reasons for your student’s absences and to complete a Student Attendance Intervention Plan. Students who exceed the maximum number of absences allowed may be referred to the Family Court for truancy if under the age of seventeen.

Citation: South Carolina Code of Laws 59-65-50, 60, & 70 and South Carolina Board of Education Regulations

Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism  

Compulsory attendance laws, and state and federal laws and regulations determining absences for truancy and chronic absenteeism have not changed and remain applicable for both onsite, virtual and hybrid instruction.

Truancy

A student ages 6 to 17 years meets the definition of a truant when the student:

  • Has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences.
  • In such cases, an Attendance Intervention Plan should be developed.

Chronic Absenteeism

A student in grades K-12 meets the definition of chronic absenteeism when the student:

  • Misses 50 percent or more of an instructional day for any reason for 10 percent (or more) of their enrollment period.
  • All absences contribute to chronic absenteeism, including excused, unexcused, and OSS.

 

More district attendance information can be found on the Rock Hill School District website under Attendance.