Page 8 - PBSD Code of Conduct 2020 - 2021

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Attendance
The goal for each Plum Borough student is to have perfect attendance. However, the District understands that life often prevents this from happening. As a result of this reality, students and parents are required to provide the District with written excuses for all absences.
State law and district policy require students to attend school. All absences from school are deemed unlawful until a note from the parent/guardian is submitted to the school. ​Excuses (parent and medical) must be submitted to school within three (3) school days of a student’s return after an absence. If excuses are not submitted by the parent within (3) school days upon return, then the absence will be permanently marked as unlawful. Parents/Guardians can write a note to excuse a child from school for up to 10 absences. Any absence beyond 10 days will require a note from a doctor excusing the child from school​.
When a student accrues three (3) unlawful absences, written notification will be mailed to the parent/guardian that includes a description of the consequences that will follow if student continues to be truant. For continued unlawful absences, the district will contact the parent/guardian for an attendance improvement conference and they will be required to meet with school officials to discuss truancy elimination strategies for their child.
Once a student reaches 6 unlawful days, the student is considered “Habitually Truant”. At this point the district may take one or all of the following actions:
- Referral to a school or community-based attendance program,
- Referral to the county Children and Youth Services (CYS) for services as a
dependent child under the Juvenile Act.
- Truancy Charges may be filed with the local district magistrate
In addition, students who purchased parking passes and acquired 6 or more unlawful absences may result in the student’s loss of parking privileges for the remainder of the school year. Also, students who have 9 or more unlawful absences at the time of prom, those students will not be permitted to purchase a ticket.
Refer to​ B​ oard Policy 204​ ​for more information related to student attendance.
Exceptionally Prepared for Success
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