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        More Changes in Attendance Effective September 2020!!!!

    Act 126 of 2019: Section 136-Definition of Compulsory School Age

    Act 126 of 2019 amends the Public School Code to redefine the definintion of compulsory school age as

    "the period of a child's life from the time the child's parents elect to ahve the child enter school and

    which shall be no later than 6 YEARS OF AGE UNTIL THE CHILD REACHES 18 YEARS OF AGE...

     

    THIS CHANGE LOWERS THE AGE THAT A STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO BEGIN SCHOOL FROM 8 TO 6 AND

    rAISES THE AGE THAT A STUDENT MUST ATTEND SCHOOL FROM 17 TO 18.  

     

    Note:  A child who becomes 6years old on or before September 1, must enroll and attend school. A child

    who turns 6 after September 1 must be enrolled in school no later that the start of the following school year.

     

    Note:  This means that students from 6 to and including 17 years of age MUST attend school by law.  Absences of students 

    within these age groups, not excused  in accordance with Great Valley School District Attendance Policy will be considered

    UNLAWFUL.  (please see below regarding unlawful absences)

     

        

                                                                                                                                                                  

     

    An Important Notice about Attendance 

    A Reminder that changes in the implementation of our attendance policy were made last year to align our practices with changes in the recommendations of the PA Department of Education.

    Notes or Emails Required

    A NOTE or Email from parents or guardians will now be required for ALL absences in order for absences to be excused.

    Guidelines for EXCESSIVE ABSENCES

    ·        A maximum of ten cumulative days of lawful absence for illness, as verified by a note or phone call from a parent, is permitted during one school year.

    ·        A Doctor’s Note will be required to excuse any absences after 10 days of illness excused by a parent note.

    ·        Absences beyond the 10 days due to illness without a doctor’s note, will be unlawful for students 16 and younger and unexcused for students 17 and older.

    ·        Work completed or due on days of unlawful or unexcused absence will NOT BE ELIGIBLE for credit

                NOTE:  Student have 3 days to produce a written excuse

     Guidelines for UNLAWFUL ABSENCE

    ·        When a student accumulates 3 unlawful absences, the District sends the student/parent(s), guardian, a letter notifying them that the student has accumulated 3 unlawful absences and is in violation of the compulsory attendance provision of the PA Public School Code.

    ·        The letter will ask you to call school to schedule a meeting to talk about a plan to improve attendance.

    ·        The letter will inform you that a Citation to District Court will be issued if your son or daughter has another unlawful absence from school.   All future UL absences in the school year will result in further citations being issued.

    ·        Once the District Court receives the citation, they will send a notice to the student, family, and district of a time and date to appear in court.  At that time, the Judge will hear the details surrounding the UL absences and decide how to address the issues.

    ·        The student and family may be referred to a local Truancy Prevention Program

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jane Trimble. 

    jtrimble@gvsd.org

    610 889 1918 ext 22261