A KEY Component to Success

Sayre Area School District believes in advancing our students’ success. We encourage a passion for excellence, responsibility, and lifelong learning. Attendance is a key component to that success!

The laws of Pennsylvania regarding student attendance (24 P.S. 13-1327) require local school districts to enforce attendance requirements as detailed in the PA School Code. This applies to a charter school, a cyber charter school, a licensed private or religious school, or an approved homeschooling program.
To do this, we as a community must work together. Schools, families, and our community must work together to ensure that every effort is made to keep our youth in school. This will allow our students to realize the opportunities and benefits being in school offers.

It is mandatory for all children of compulsory age, who live in Pennsylvania to attend school every day from age 6 until the age of 18 or graduation, whichever comes first. Compulsory school age was recently changed, and the new law went into effect in the 2020-2021 school year.

Lawful Absence or Tardy

• Student illness

• Family emergency

• Death in the family

• Religious holiday

• Medical or dental appointments – with Dr excuse.

• Educational travel (with PRIOR approval see FORMS button for the form you need)

Unlawful Absence or Tardy

All absences are unlawful until the school receives a written excuse (or email/fax) explaining the reason for and date of the absence. You have 3 days to submit your written parental excuse.

A student is permitted ten (10) cumulative (excused and unexcused combined) absences during the school year. This total includes Educational trips with prior approval. All absences beyond ten (10) cumulative days require a written excuse from a physician.

Excuses are to be provided within three (3) days of the student’s return to school. If the student will be out for more than 3 days, please contact the school.

After six (6) unexcused days, a citation is filed with the Magistrate.

A student is considered tardy if they are not in their classroom by 8:20 for the High School or 8:15 for the Elementary.

In high school, 3 tardies will result in a detention.

Attendance Letters
Attendance letters will be sent home when a student has an unexcused absence (in the High School, four unexcused periods in one day will prompt a letter for an unexcused day)

A Student Attendance Improvement Conference or ” SAIC”,  is a school/family conference that is held after a student has at least three unexcused absences. During this meeting, possible solutions to help improve the student’s attendance will be explored. Students and families should expect a follow-up by the school to be sure that there is an improvement in the student’s attendance.

At 6 unexcused days, a citation is filed with the Magistrate. 

Should your student have an unexcused absence the following is the progression of notice you will receive:

• 1st unexcused absence will be noted with a letter titled “First Unexcused Absence”

• 2nd unexcused absence will be noted with a letter titled “Second Unexcused Absence”

• 3rd unexcused absence will be noted with a letter titled “Third Unexcused Absence”.  This letter will provide the date, time and location for a Student Attendance Improvement Conference (SAIC) to be held with administration, the parent/guardian, and when applicable, the student. 

• 4th unexcused absence will be noted with a letter titled “Fourth Unexcused Absence”.  This letter will provide information about a possible Truancy Citation with the District Magistrate and another copy of the Attendance Clerk contact information sheet.

• 5th unexcused absences will be noted with a letter titled “Fifth Unexcused Absence”.  This letter will provide information regarding the Truancy Citation with the District Magistrate that occurs with the next unexcused absence.   

• 6th unexcused absence will result in a citation being filed with the District Magistrate.  That citation may result in:

  • Up to $300 fine (plus court fees)

  • Up to 6 months of suspension of driving privileges typically for a student 15 years of age or older.

  • Referral to Bradford County Children and Youth Services

• Additional unexcused absences will result in a second citation or subsequent citations.  The second (and subsequent) citation(s) may result in:

  • Up to $750 fine (plus court fees)

  • Up to 6 months of suspension of driving privileges typically for a student 15 years of age or older.

  • Involvement with County Youth Services

 All absences, both excused and unexcused, college visits, and educational trips count in the cumulative absence of a student.  Once a student accumulates five (5) absences, you will receive a letter titled “Medical Warning Letter”.  Once a student accumulates ten (10) absences, you will receive a letter titled “Medical Excuses ONLY”.  This letter will explain that for the remainder of the year, your student must have an excuse submitted to the school from a licensed healthcare provider or it is considered an unexcused absence.

Attendance Code Legend
A       = unexcused absence from school – office
U      = unexcused absence from class – teacher
T-TR  = tardy to school
L    = late to class
E-AP    =excused appointment (examples:  driver’s test, permit test, non-medical appointments)
M-AP    = verified medical appointment
M-DX    = Dr. excused from school
A-PI    = parent phoned in – still need to have a written excuse sent to Attendance Secretary for the file.
O    = other or office
N-CL    = nurse excused
E    = excused absence
A-ET    = unexcused educational trip
E-ET    = educational trip
OSS    = out-of-school suspension
A-AP     = appointment claimed, but no verification of appointment

Truancy Information and Solutions

IMPORTANT UPDATED INFORMATION about Attendance Laws in Pennsylvania

Did you know?

* Educational Trip Forms need to be filled out at least a WEEK before your student misses school. After it is approved, the student (HS) needs to turn in a trip log for those days to be excused. Those days DO count toward your 10-day total missed days per year allowed. You will find the ET form on the forms page.

*Older students are also responsible for attending school. Once a child turns 15, the school may take your child to court if they are not attending school. Students who are 15 or older may face consequences such as fines(up to $300 plus additional court fees), community service, and suspension of their driver’s license.

*While the school usually allows some time to put the SAIC plan into place before taking legal action, once your child is habitually truant — meaning they have six or more unexcused absences — the school is obligated to take action, and this may include legal action.