Attendance FAQs
Q. What is truancy?
A. Truancy means having three or more unexcused absences in the current school year. These absences do not need to be in a row.
Q. What is habitual truancy?
A. Habitual truancy means having six or more unexcused absences in the current school year. These absences do not need to be in a row.
Q. What are the penalties for habitual truancy?
A. Habitual truancy due to unexcused absences is a summary offense addressed under the Pennsylvania Public School Code Compulsory Attendance Law amended by Act 138 of 2016. As such, penalties (i.e., a fine up to $750, a jail sentence of up to three days, attendance at parenting classes, and community services in the school district of up to six months) may be imposed against parents, guardians, and others responsible for truant children under the age of 17. In cases where the student is determined to be in violation of the compulsory attendance law, he/ she will be subject to penalties (i.e. a fine up to $300, assignment to an adjudication alternative program, driver’s license suspension for 90 days, disposition as dependent child). Referrals to the Children and Youth Agency can be made for habitually truant students. For more information, please refer to the letter from Student Services regarding attendance.
Q. What is a Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP)?
A. Upon the student’s third unexcused absence, a school and family conference will be completed to discuss the cause of the child’s truancy and develop a mutually agreed upon plan to resolve truant behavior.
Q. What if my student goes on a college/university tour while he/she attends a competition/event with their club sport/activity team--will the entire absence be excused?
A. If you provide a valid excuse note from the college/university confirming the visit, the student’s absence will be excused only for the day of the tour/visit.
Q. Can my student volunteer at a food pantry/soup kitchen during the school day?
A. Although we appreciate the charitable efforts, volunteer work during the school day not sponsored by the Pennsbury School District is not excusable.