WCPS Student Handbook 2024-2025

Wicomico County Board of Education Approval Status Index Code Title: Student Attendance Procedures SFS-GEN-PR-002 First Adopted: 05/14/14 Legal Review: 08/13/24 06/10/14 Approved Revisions: 08/13/24 12/08/22 09/04/20 08/28/19 06/10/14 05/14/13 Effective: 08/14/24 12/09/22 09/04/20 08/29/19 06/11/14 05/15/13 Page 2 of 12 WICOMICO COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION P.O. BOX 1538, 2424 NORTHGATE DRIVE, SUITE 100 SALISBURY MD 21802-1538 SFS-GEN-PR-002 D. “Habitual Truant” – any student who has been unlawfully absent from school for a number of days or portion of days in excess of 20 percent of the school days within any marking period, semester or year. (COMAR 13A.08.01.04C) E. “Health Care Provider” – An individual licensed or certified under Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. F. “Immediate Family” – (step)parent, (step)brother, (step)sister, (step)grandparents, a person(s) who is the primary care provider, anyone who lives regularly in the household of the student, and others as determined by the school principal (as relevant to illness or death of the immediate family member) G. “Tardy” – not being in the classroom when the class period starts. For the purpose of this policy lawful and unlawful tardies are determined by applying the same criteria as lawful and unlawful absence. H. “Early Dismissal” – dismissal from school prior to the end of the regularly scheduled instructional school day. For the purpose of this policy, lawful and unlawful early dismissals are determined by applying the same criteria as lawful and unlawful absence. I. “School-sponsored Activity” – any school sponsored activity approved by the Superintendent of Schools or the school principal, or their designee. J. “Excessive Tardies” – For the purpose of this policy any student who has been late to school or class nine times within the school year is excessively tardy. This can be combined with early dismissals. K. “Excessive Early Dismissals” – for the purpose of the policy, any student who has been dismissed early by the parent or guardian nine times within the school year. This can be combined with tardies. L. “Lawful Absence” - equivalent to an excused absence as defined in COMAR 13A.08.01.03. M. “Unlawful Absence” – equivalent to an unexcused absence as defined in COMAR 13A.08.01.04. IV. Federal and State Regulations A. Rules, Definitions, and Procedures for Policy Implementation 1. General Attendance Regulation (COMAR 13A.08.01.01) a. Compulsory school attendance is required of each child who resides within Wicomico County in accordance with COMAR 13A.08.01.01 et seq., as it now exists or is amended currently, COMAR 13A.08.01.01 states that each child shall attend a public school regularly during the entire school year unless the child is otherwise receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children the same age, or is exempted from attendance as provided by law. b. A student is considered in attendance at school when participating in school-sponsored activities during the school day, and when that participation is approved by the local Superintendent of Schools or the school principal, or their designees. Students shall be

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