Attendance Procedures

Procedures and policies regarding student attendance

REPORT AN ABSENCE

Attendance Office Contact Information

About the Attendance Office

  • Attendance is checked daily each period and for full-day absences.
  • Calls and emails are sent to parents at 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. via an automated attendance system from FCPS.
  • If you have sent an email/left a message regarding an absence but still receive an auto call, please check SIS-Parent Vue to see if the attendance is correct prior to calling the Attendance Office.
  • If you receive a call indicating an individual class absence, please verify/have your student verify with the teacher before calling the attendance office.
  • NOTE: Students may not call or check themselves out.

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What is Excused?

Illness, medical appointment, religious holiday, death in the family, and suspension

ALL DAY ABSENCE - Excused

Parent/guardian must provide a written note, call, or email the attendance office within 3 days of the absence. After 3 days, Assistant Principal’s approval is required.

Include This Information:

  • Student Name
  • Student ID Number
  • Reason for Absence
  • Parent/Caller Name
  • Contact Number for questions

LATE CHECK IN - Excused

Same communication requirements as all day excused absence.

STUDENTS MUST CHECK IN AT THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE UPON ARRIVAL, even if they arrive between classes. If parent has provided communication to excuse the late arrival, attendance will be updated from “unverified” to “excused” in SIS when the student checks in. If a student checks in after 10:00 a.m., parent should expect to receive the morning automated attendance call/text/email.

PLANNED EARLY CHECK OUT - Excused

Same communication requirements as all day excused absence.

STUDENTS MUST GET A CHECK OUT PASS FROM THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE BEFORE LEAVING CAMPUS

Best practice is for student to bring note to attendance office by 9:45 a.m. to receive their pass. Once student has their pass, they simply show it to the teacher at the beginning of the period in which they are leaving. If communication is received via email or phone, the student must stop by the attendance office to pick up the pass before the period in which they are leaving. If student does not check out properly, their absence will not be excused.

UNPLANNED EARLY CHECK OUT

Parent will need to come to the office to check the student out. Please allow 15 minutes for check out. Photo ID is required. Student will be called from class to meet parent in the office. Please know unplanned check outs interrupt class instruction and should be avoided if possible. In person early check out must be done before 2:30 p.m. to avoid hindering bus traffic. Students may not leave campus without checking out through the attendance office or the absence will not be excused.

SICK STUDENT EARLY CHECK OUT

STUDENTS MUST GO TO THE CLINIC TO CHECK OUT OF SCHOOL SICK.

This helps us identify outbreaks of which our community should be advised. Parent will need to come to the office with photo ID. Please allow 5 minutes for check out from the clinic.

Prearranged Absences

If a student knowingly will miss multiple days of school, a Prearranged Absence Form must be used. The form is available online (https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/se289.pdf) or in the main office. The completed form is turned in to the student’s Assistant Principal for approval.

What is Unexcused?

Car trouble, power outage, traffic, parking, vacations, sibling running late, missed bus, oversleeping, child care situations and any other reason unacceptable to the Principal or her designee.

Unexcused Tardy LATE ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL

Students arriving late without a note report to the  attendance office for an unexcused pass.

SIS Parent Accounts

Parents need to have an active Student Information System (SIS) Parent Account to be able to login to SIS: ParentVue. Parents can track attendance in real time and email the teachers through their SIS Parent account. Parents can access to weCare@school to view and update Emergency Care information. 

ROBO CALLS

These automated calls/emails/texts are generated from the SIS records and sent to the contact email/phone on record.  Please check SIS Parent to see the attendance details that generated the call. Often a student is marked “unverified/absent” and later changed to “tardy” or present by the end of the class period. You will receive an additional evening call if there is still an “unverified” absence and the attendance office did not receive communication about why your child was not in school.

For questions regarding single period absences, contact the teacher directly via email.

Excessive Absences

Absences are cumulative during a school year and intervention will be initiated at 5 absences.

Important: Any student absent from school for 15 consecutive days, regardless of reason, will be withdrawn from the school. Parents will then need to re-enroll the student.

FCPS Attendance Regulations