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Whitehall-Coplay School District

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Absentee Excuses

As of May 3, 2024, parent/guardian should now navigate to PowerSchool to complete an absence excuse form.

Directions

1. Navigate to the PowerSchool Parent Portal

2. Choose General Forms

3. Complete the Absence Excuse Form

This form should be used for lates, planned absences, and unplanned absences.

WCSD Attendance Information

All students of compulsory school age who reside in the district shall be subject to the compulsory school attendance requirements.

Please refer to Policy 204 for the complete Attendance Policy, which includes definitions, examples of Excused/Lawful Absences and Unexcused/Unlawful Absences, and more in-depth information.

My child is going to be absent, now what?

Go to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to general forms. Complete the absence excuse form.  This form should be used for lates, planned absences, and unplanned absences.

Parental Notification of unexcused absence is sent daily when applicable via phone, text message, and email. Absences shall be treated as unexcused until the district receives a written excuse explaining the absence. Excuses must be submitted within three (3) days of the absence. 

What is the difference between an excused and unexcused absence?

The following conditions or situations constitute reasonable cause for absence from school:

  • Illness

  • Health care or therapy services
  • Quarantine
  • Family Emergency
  • Recovery from an accident
  • Required court attendance
  • Death in family with prior approval
  • Observance of a religious holiday
  • Educational trip
  • College Visit
  • Other urgent reasons or special circumstances, as outlined in Policy 204

A maximum of ten (10) days of total lawful absences verified by parental notification are permitted during a school year. All absences beyond ten (10) total days require an excuse from a licensed practitioner.

Unexcused/Unlawful Absence

For purposes of this policy, absences that do not meet the criteria indicated above shall be permanently considered unexcused.

What does it mean to be truant?

Truancy is three or more unexcused absences. District staff shall notify the parent within ten (10) school days of the student's third unexcused absence. Habitually Truant is six or more unexcused absences. A habitually truant student shall be referred to a school- or community-based attendance improvement program or the local children and youth agency. The school may file a citation.

For more details on truancy, please refer to Policy 204 or the PDE's Compulsory School Attendance information.

Our family is going on vacation, now what?

Complete the student absence form on PowerSchool and indicate your absence reason prior to your trip.

Would you like more information about PA's Attendance Laws?
Please visit https://www.education.pa.gov/Policy-Funding/BECS/Purdons/Pages/CompulsorySchoolAttendance.aspx