Student Handbook - Harford County Public Schools

Board of Education Policies
Please Note: The contents of this handbook are meant as a summary of frequently used Board of Educaon
policies and procedures. For a detailed list of Board policies, please access the Board Policy Manual on our website,
www.hcps.org > Board> Board Policies.
ATTENDANCE
Daily aendance is crucial to student achievement and required in order
to demonstrate mastery of material and receive credit for courses.
Students are expected to aend school and all classes regularly and to
be punctual. Upon returning to school from an absence, a student is
required to bring a wrien note from his or her parent/guardian stang
the reason for each absence.
I. General Regulaons
A. Each child who resides in this state and is five-years-old or older and
less than 16 years of age shall aend a public school regularly during
the enre school year except under specific provisions of Maryland law
or regulaon.
B. A student is considered in aendance at school when parcipang
in school-sponsored acvies during the school day, and when that
parcipaon is approved by the local superintendent of schools or the
school principal, or their designees.
II. Recording Aendance
A. Students Scheduled for a Full Day - A student is counted present
for a full day if the student is in aendance four hours or more of the
school day. A student is counted present half day if in aendance for at
least two hours of the school day, but less than four hours. A student
is counted as tardy to school if the student is absent less than two and
one half hours in the morning. A student is counted as early dismissal
if the student is absent less than two and one half hours before
dismissal.
B. Late Opening/Early Dismissal of School Due To Inclement Weather
Or Elementary Planning Day - A student is counted present for a full
day if absent no more than 30 minutes of the school day. A student is
counted present for half day if present for at least two hours. A student
is tardy to school if absent less than 30 minutes in the morning. A
student is counted as early dismissal if absent less than 30 minutes
before dismissal.
C. Students Scheduled for a Paral Day - A student scheduled for a
paral day is to be counted present based on the amount of me
he/she is scheduled. Example: A student scheduled for a two-hour
block of me will be counted present for a full day if the student is in
aendance for that enre block of me. If the student is absent for
that enre block of me, the student will be counted absent for a full
day. A student scheduled for a two-hour block of me will be counted
present for one-half day if the student is in aendance for one hour.
cerficate from the parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student reported
connuously absent for illness. Connuously absent means either
a number of consecuve absences or a total absence in excess of
the standard for regular aendance for which, in the principal’s
judgment, medical documentaon is required.
3. Court Summons.
4. Hazardous weather condions- hazardous weather condions
which would endanger the health or safety of the student when in
transit to and from school.
5. Work approved or sponsored by the school, the local school
system, or the State Department of Educaon, accepted by the
local superintendent of schools or the school principal, or his/her
designees, as reason for excusing the students.
6. Observance of a religious holiday- the absence of a student to
parcipate in the observance of a major religious holiday shall
not prevent him or her from achieving a “Perfect Aendance”
cerficate or other appropriate recognion for aendance.
Major tests, field trips, the taking of student pictures, and similar
acvies should not, insofar as possible, be scheduled during
religious holidays.
7. State emergency.
8. Suspension.
9. Lack of authorized transportaon-this shall not include students
denied authorized transportaon for disciplinary reasons.
10. Other emergency set of circumstances which, in the judgment of
the superintendent or designee, constutes a good and sufficient
cause for absence from school.
11. Family Vacaon or Family Trip- a family vacaon or a family trip
during the school year is strongly discouraged as the loss of class
me may have a negave impact on the student’s academic
progress and record. It is also recognized that, on some occasions,
working parents have lile control over the me of the year
when vacaons or trips may be taken. Family vacaon absences
are considered lawful only if they have prior wrien approval
of the principal and do not exceed five days per school year.
Wrien requests must be made at least ten days in advance of
the requested vacaon absence, and aer approval, parents
and students are responsible for requesng assignments. If a
family vaacon or trip is not approved, the parent may follow the
appeals process in Secon VIII. Requests that exceed five days per
year may be approved by the Superintendent’s designee.
III. Recording Absences
A. Lawful Absences
1. Death in the immediate family- the immediate family shall include
parent, siblings, grandparents, a person who is the primary care
provider, or anyone who lives regularly in the household of the
student and others as determined by the school principal.
2. Illness of the student- the principal may require a physician’s
The Harford County Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, naonal origin, religion, sexual orientaon,
or disability in maers affecng employment or in providing access to programs. Inquiries related to the policies of the Board of Educaon of
Harford County should be directed to the Manager of Communicaons, 410-588-5203.
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