Absences
Excused:
Following is a list of excused reasons for attendance incidents.
- Observance of a religious holiday
- Religious instruction with a maximum of 36 hours per year
- Trips to exhibitions or places for educational purposes, maximum five (5) days per year and must receive administrative pre-approval. (Exempt Absence) - Request for Educational Travel Form
- Planned vacations up to a maximum of five (5) school days, with prior notification in writing and administrative pre-approval.
- Medical / health related appointments which cannot be scheduled after school hours
- Illness or recovery from a medical procedure.
- Death in the family
- Court appearance
- Unavoidable family emergencies
- Inclement weather resulting in impassable roads
If documentation is not supplied within three (3) school days of the absence, the absence will be considered unexcused. Failure to provide an excuse for an absence after three days will result in the absence being permanently counted as unlawful.
Unexcused:
- Any absence resulting from a situation other than those listed below may be considered unexcused.
- If an excuse is not supplied with three (3) school days of the absence, the absence will be considered unexcused.
- Examples of unexcused attendance events include: Over-Slept, missed bus, traffic (for students with district bussing available), stopping for breakfast, early pick ups for convenience purposes only ( which are not for one of the excused reason listed above).
Our Responsibility
Renaissance Academy will notify parents/guardians of a first and second unlawful absence. Upon a third unlawful absence, Renaissance Academy will notify parents/guardians to coordinate a school/family conference to discuss truancy and develop a mutually agreed upon Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP).
A sixth unlawful absence will result in a student being considered habitually truant, and Renaissance Academy will work to gain attendance law compliance through a referral to the District Magistrate, Office of Children and Youth, or the County Juvenile Probation system. Renaissance Academy will work with the family to provide support and referral
information for assistance from community social service agencies.
What is a Student Attendance Improvement Plan
The Student Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) is written at the school/family conference which is held after the third unlawful absence. During the conference, possible solutions to increase the student’s school attendance will be
explored. Participation by the student and family is an integral component of this conference.
Issues to be addressed at the school/family conference may include but are not limited to:
Reason for absences
Student’s current academic level, needs and goals
Student’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as social, emotional,
physical, mental and behavioral health issues
Issues concerning family and home environment
Any other issues affecting the student’s attendance
For more information on Absences and tardiness please contact the student information manager.
Office Number - 610-983-4080 x 234