Attendance
If you want your children to be successful in school, start with making sure they are present and on time. Good attendance builds the habits that are essential in school and last a lifetime. Attendance indicates an engaged student; absences can signal disengagement. Students who miss too much school fall behind and have a hard time catching up.
Missing a few days of school here and there doesn't seem like much but...
If your child misses one day every two weeks:
That equals 20 days per year = 4 weeks per year = nearly 1.5 years of school over 13 years
If your child misses one day per week:
That equals 40 days per year = 8 weeks per year = over 2.5 years of school over 13 years
If your child misses 2 days per week:
That equals 80 days per year = 16 weeks per year = over 5 years of school over 13 years
If your child misses 3 days per week:
That equals 120 days per year = 24 weeks per year = nearly 8 years of school over 13 years
How about just showing up late to school by 10 minutes?
Only missing just 10 minutes per day:
Equals 50 minutes per week = nearly 1.5 weeks per year = nearly half of a year of school
Only missing just 20 minutes per day:
Equals 1 hr, 40 mins per week = over 2.5 weeks per year = nearly one year of school
Only missing 30 minutes per day:
Equals a half day per week = 4 weeks per year = nearly 1.5 years of school
Only missing 1 hour per day:
Equals 1 day per week = 8 weeks per year = over 2.5 years of school
What You Can Do
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before
- Keep your child at home only if they're truly sick. Complaints of stomachaches and headaches can be a sign of anxiety, which may not be a reason to stay home
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to Teachers, Guidance Couselors, and other parents for advice on how to help them feel more comfortable and excited about learning
- Avoid medical appointments and extended trips during school
- Have a back-up plan for getting to school if something comes up - be able to call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent
- Be sure your child has required vaccines before the school year starts
- Come to our Meet & Greet events so your child can get to know their Teachers and classrooms prior to school starting
How Many Days are Too Many Days?
Absence and Late Policy
There are two ways to report Student absences. Please include your name, your child's name, grade level, and reason for the absence.
- Email attendance@agcharter.org; you will receive a confirmation response to your email
- Or call (484) 667-5000 and select option 1 for K - 12 attendance
If the school does not receive notification of the absence, a call will be placed to the main contact number in the student's record, requesting confirmation of the absence. Any absence not followed up with a written excuse within three days will be automatically considered unexcused.
An absence of three (3) or more days requires an original doctor's office visit note to be excused. Similarly, any student who has been sent a letter for having more than ten (10) parent-excused absences must have an original doctor's office visit note to excuse any absence for the remainder of the year. This does not apply to pre-approved vacations.
Please refer to our school handbooks for our policies regarding vacations.
Definition of "Compulsory School Age"
Effective September 26, 2019, all children from the age of six (6) through the age of eighteen (18) must comply with compulsory school attendance requirements. To meet these requirements, parents must ensure that their child between the ages of 6 and 18 is attending or participating in one of the following: a public elementary, middle, or high school; a public charter or cyber-charter school; a private licensed academic or private religious school; home tutoring by a certified teacher; or an approved program of home schooling. Children may be excused from compulsory attendance for documented medical or other compelling reasons as outlined in school's attendance policy and procedures.