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Report an Absence

Students may be excused from school in the event of illness, death in the immediate family, quarantine, or exceptional reasons determined to be urgent by the school authorities in accordance with school law. Please see Board Policy 204 for more information on what constitutes an excused absence.
 

Parents/guardians should use the Skyward Family Access Center to enter attendance/absence information for students. This is web-based and available 24 hours a day. Note: Please do not use this to enter early dismissal requests or changes to after-school pick-up plans for students the day of the early dismissal or different after-school pick-up is requested. 

If a student is absent and it is not reported, families will receive an automated notification phone call.

Ways to Report a Student Absence 

  1. In Skyward before 9:00 AM

  2. Via Phone Absence Line

  3. Contacting your child's building secretary (for absences reported after 9AM or 11AM for same-day early dismissals)

Reporting an Absence in Skyward

This feature can be used for an absence, late arrival, or early dismissal. This is web-based and available 24 hours a day. Please do not use this to enter early dismissal requests or changes to after-school pick-up plans for students on the day of the early dismissal or if a different after-school pick-up is requested. Requests for early dismissals submitted after 11 AM on the day of the early dismissal may not be seen. Please make requests after 11 AM via phone at (717) 846-6789 to the school's secretary. This should not be used for educational trips/tours.

 

  1. Sign in to Skyward Family Access Center.
  2. Click on the "Attendance" button on the left side of the Home screen.
  3. Click the "Enter Absent Request" blue link on the top right of the Attendance Screen.
  4. Click the "Add Request" link next to the student or students who will be absent or late.
  5. Complete the required information under the "Add Request." Click "Save" to submit the request.

NOTE: If entering an early dismissal or late arrival, please uncheck the "All Day" box when entering your student's absence.

Reporting an Absence by Phone

Families can also report an absence by phone. The automated operator is available 24 hours a day, so parents may call at any time to leave a message regarding a student's absence.

  1. Call the District's main number at (717) 846-6789
  2. Select your child's school from the options available on the menu.
  3. Select the option to Report a Student Absent or Late. 
  4. Record your information.

Requests for early dismissals submitted after 11 AM on the day of the early dismissal may not be seen. Please make requests after 11 AM via phone to the school's secretary.

Absentee Line

Call the District at (717) 846-6789 and select your child's school, followed by the attendance options, or use the direct extensions listed below.

High School: 2400
Middle School: 2401
North Hills: 2403
Sinking Springs: 2402
Hayshire: 2404
Roundtown: 2405

Stony Brook: 2406 

Educational Trips

Educational Trips & Tours may not be entered through the Attendance/Absence option of Skyward Family Access Center. An Educational Trip and/or Tour Form MUST be completed and submitted to the school principal in addition to any information that is entered into Skyward Family Access Center.

The Educational Trip Form should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the trip.

Educational Trip Form

First page of the PDF file: AR204Attendance09-2023

Attendance Guidelines and Information

The school district cooperates with parents in implementing its School Absence Procedure. Under Act 29, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, all district parents, students and community members should be aware that there are monetary fines levied on the parents of school-age children who have unlawful absences from school. Under the Compulsory School Attendance Laws, three (3) unexcused absences per year, per student, are permitted, but the district must file a citation with a district magistrate against the parents of any student for the fourth (4th) and all subsequent offenses, with penalties of up to $300 per unlawful absence. Once cited for unlawful absences, at the magistrate's discretion, the offending student may have his or her driver's license suspended. If the student is under the age of 16, the magistrate may delay the student's ability to apply for a driver's license.

Parents are asked to enter absences or call the school as soon as the absence is known. Parents also are encouraged to enter a late arrival in Skyward Family Access and/or call and leave a message if your child will be tardy. 

  • Excused Absences: Sickness, impassable roads, quarantine, death in the immediate family, approved educational trips or weather so inclement as to endanger the health or welfare of a child.*
  • Unexcused Absences: Under Pennsylvania School Law, an unlawful absence refers to circumstances such as parental neglect, illegal employment or truancy of a student of compulsory attendance age.
  • Tardiness: Students are considered tardy if they are not at their assigned "student stations" when the bell rings. Principals may assign students after-school detention to make up for such tardiness. Students who are excessively tardy without valid excuses may be suspended. If you know your child will be tardy due to a medical or dental appointment, please call the automated attendance operator to report it.

*Educational Trips & Tours may not be entered through the Attendance/Absence option of Skyward Family Access Center. An Educational Trip and/or Tour Form MUST be completed and submitted to the school principal in addition to any information that is entered into Skyward Family Access Center. Click here to download a copy of the form.


Please Note: A certificate of recovery from a physician is necessary for readmission to school when a student has been absent because of infectious diseases such as: measles, whooping cough, respiratory infections, scarlet fever, impetigo, scabies, and ringworm.

Students absent for five (5) or more consecutive days should have a certificate from a physician. Students who miss more than ten (10) school days per year may be required to have a physician's certificate for each absence thereafter.