Attendance
Quick Reference
Baldwin-Whitehall School District Attendance and Truancy Procedures – Quick Reference
The Baldwin-Whitehall School District believes that student attendance is critical for academic success. With that in mind, the Baldwin-Whitehall Board of School Directors adopted a revised Attendance Policy 204 and Truancy Policy 204.1 that took effect in the 2014-15 school year. While the policies should be read and understood by all parents and students, the following points can be used as a quick reference.
Students will have 3 days to turn in an excuse or the absence will permanently count as unexcused.
Medical excuses submitted to the school will not count toward excused or unexcused absences.
Absences:
- After 5 total absences or 10 total tardies (excused or unexcused) an Attendance Warning Letter will be sent home.
- After 10 total (excused or unexcused) absences a Medical Letter will be sent home requiring a doctor's note for each additional absence.
- After 15 total (excused or unexcused) tardies a Medical Letter will be sent home requiring a doctor’s note for each additional tardy.
- After 3 additional absences or tardies and failure to provide medical excuses, an Unlawful Absence Letter will be sent home requesting a student-parent conference to develop a Truancy Elimination Plan and charges may be filed with the local district justice.
Habitually Truant:
- After 3 unexcused absences, an Unlawful Absence Letter will be sent home notifying the parent/guardian of the unlawful absences.
- After 3 additional unexcused absences, a Second Unlawful Absence Letter will be sent home requesting a student-parent conference to develop a Truancy Elimination Plan.
- If a student continues to be habitually truant, charges may be filed with the local district justice.
- Students will not receive a grade or credit for any work missed for an unexcused/illegal absence.
- Educational trips must be pre-approved two weeks in advance of the trip. A district form must be completed and returned to the building principal for approval 2 weeks in advance of the trip. The days granted shall not exceed 5 for any school year. Educational trips shall not be approved during the first two weeks and the last two weeks of the school year or during PA State Assessment testing windows. All make-up work must be completed and returned within one week after the student's return from the trip.
Contacting the Attendance Office
Call: 412-885-7500 (Select Option 1)
Absence From School:
On the day that a student is absent the parent is urged to call the Baldwin High School Attendance Office as early as possible, beginning at 7:00 A.M., with the following information:
- Parent’s name
- Name and grade of student
- Reason for absence
Upon his or her return, as mandated by state law, the student must present a written excuse, signed by the parent, to his or her homeroom
teacher. Failure to present an excuse in three school days will result in an unexcused absence.
Excessive absences and tardies may result in disciplinary action, exclusion from extra-curricular activities such as dances, athletics, and
clubs, referral to the magistrate, placement in the alternative education program, or the assignment of a failing grade.
Early Dismissal:
In order for a student to have an early dismissal, the following two step procedure must be followed:
- The parent must contact the Attendance Office as early as possible and provide the following information:
- Parent’s name
- Name and grade of student
- Reason for and time of early dismissal
- The student should present a note to the Attendance Office before first period that includes:
- Name and grade of student
- Reason for and time of dismissal
- Phone number where the parent can be reached
- Parent’s signature
Tardiness To School:
When a student is tardy, he or she must present a signed note from a parent/guardian to the Attendance Office stating the reason for the tardiness. Students arriving on a late bus should report to the Attendance Office for a special late pass. Excessive tardiness will result in disciplinary action.