Attendance

School Hours: 8:45 AM to 3:24 PM

Laura H. Carnell School expects all students to come to school prepared and ready to learn each day. When your child is absent from school, send in a written excuse for this absence within three days of your child’s return to school. If your child is absent for more than 3 consecutive days, please notify the office. Excessive absences could result in a referral to Truancy Court.

  •       A note signed by a parent/legal guardian must be brought to school after each absence indicating the dates and reasons for the absence.
  •       All absences will be coded unexcused if a note is not brought to school the day the child returns.
  •      Three or more days of absences must be accompanied by a written note from a doctor or verification from the principal.

 

FAQ from SDP Website:

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EXCUSED ABSENCE AND AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE?

Excused: The following conditions are considered excusable: authorized school activities, illness, quarantine, recovery from accident, required court appearance, and a death in the family. Funeral leave as follows: Five (5) days, including day of funeral: parent/step-parent, child. Three (3) days, including day of funeral: sibling, grandparent/stepgrandparent, resident of same house. Day of funeral: aunt, uncle, first cousin, niece, nephew.

Unexcused: Absences are unexcused if (1) they do not meet any of the above-listed conditions and (2) if the school does not receive a signed excuse note from a parent. Family vacations on school days are considered unexcused absences. Please use our District calendar to plan family vacations as well as doctor visits around school days: philasd.org/calendar.

DOES BEING LATE OR LEAVING EARLY IMPACT STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND HURT SCHOOL PERFORMANCE?

Yes, when your child is tardy or leaves early, they are missing out on instructional time and classroom activities. Any K-8 student coming to school two hours after the start or leaving two hours before the end of the school day will be marked as absent one half-day.