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    Dear Parents and Guardians, To improve consistency among schools as it pertains to coding student absences, please review the following information provided by the ACCPS Board in the Parent Handbook (pg. 14) and BOE Policy AR901.1 on Compulsory Attendance and Lawful Absences. Whenever your child is absent, you must provide a note of explanation within three days of your child’s return to school. Absences due to illness in excess of 5 days shall be verified by a physician’s note.

    • Getting your child to school on time, every day can ensure your child has a chance to succeed in school. As a parent or guardian, there are steps you can take to make certain your child is in school every day.

      • Establish and stick with routines such as bed time, wake up time, and homework schedule.
      • Prepare for the next day by laying out clothes the night before and packing the back pack and lunch.
      • Talk to your child about school.  Show your interest in what they are learning.
      • If your child is reluctant to go to school, reach out to the teacher or school counselor for help.

      If your child starts to demonstrate school avoidance behavior, i.e., refuses to get up, complains of vague illnesses, or skips school, get help right away!

      Call your school counselor and ask for resources. The school will refer you to your school’s Pupil Personnel Worker.  Remember, Maryland has a Compulsory Attendance Law.  It states that children between the ages of 5 and 18 shall attend public school regularly during the entire school year unless otherwise enrolled in a private school, approved home instruction, or home teaching through the school. Parents may be charged in District Court for failure to see that their children attend school. Parents can be found guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine not to exceed $50 per day of unlawful absence, or imprisonment not to exceed 5 days or both.