Wicomico County Board of Education Approval Status Index Code Title: Student Attendance Policy SFS-GEN-PL-019 First Adopted: 08/09/77 Legal Review: 07/29/24 08/13/19 08/01/17 Approved Revisions: 07/30/24 08/13/19 08/08/17 05/13/14 03/14/13 10/10/07 06/11/02 07/12/94 03/10/88 08/01/85 12/13/83 Effective: 07/31/24 07/14/19 08/09/17 05/14/14 03/15/13 10/10/07 06/11/02 07/12/94 03/10/88 08/01/85 12/13/83 08/09/77 Page 2 of 6 WICOMICO COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION , P.O. BOX 1538, SALISBURY, MD 21802 SFS-GEN-PL-019 M. “Immediate Family” – (step)parent, (step)brother, (step)sister, (step)grandparents, a person(s) 37 who is the primary care provider, anyone who lives regularly in the household of the student, 38 and others as determined by the school principal. 39 N. “Lawful Absence” – equivalent to an excused absence as defined in COMAR 13A.08.01.03. 40 O. “School-sponsored Activity” – any school-sponsored activity approved by the superintendent of 41 schools or the school principal, or their designee. 42 P. “Tardy” – not being in the classroom when the class period starts. For the purpose of this policy 43 lawful and unlawful tardies are determined by applying the same criteria as lawful and unlawful 44 absence. 45 Q. “Truant Student” – any student (K through 12th grade) who is absent for a school day or portion 46 thereof without lawful cause as defined in Education Article 7-302.2 for more than: 47 i. 8 days in any quarter 48 ii. 15 days in any semester 49 iii. 20 days in a school year 50 R. “Unlawful Absence” – equivalent to an unexcused absence as defined in COMAR 51 13A.08.01.04. 52 53 III. Policy Statement 54 It is the policy of the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) to require and ensure proper 55 attendance for all students attending Wicomico County Public Schools. WCBOE recognizes that 56 regular school attendance is vital to student success in school. WCBOE asserts that student success 57 in school is directly connected to a continuous, consistent classroom instructional experience. 58 Furthermore, consistent full-day attendance leads to academic success, the completion of school, 59 and the development of students as productive members of society. 60 61 Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring the regular, daily punctual attendance of their 62 student(s). In turn, school personnel must fully work together with parents and guardians to 63 promote proper attendance. 64 65 IV. Policy 66 A. Federal and State Regulations 67 1. General Attendance Regulation (COMAR 13A.08.01.01) 68 a. Compulsory school attendance is required of each child who resides within Wicomico 69 County in accordance with COMAR 13A.08.01.01 et seq., as it now exists or is amended 70 currently, COMAR 13A.08.01.01 states that each child shall attend a public school 71 regularly during the entire school year unless the child is otherwise receiving regular, 72 thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public 73 schools to children the same age, or is exempted from attendance as provided by law. 74
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