The following are legal excused absences classified as “cumulative” and are not subject to Attendance Policy regulations related to the Student Code of Conduct:

• Pre-approved family vacation(s) while school is in session within limits established by the District.

• Any absence for which a written parental excuse is submitted within three days of the student’s return to school.

The following cumulative absences are classified as “unexcused/unlawful” and are subject to Attendance Policy regulations related to the Student Code of Conduct:

• Any day of absence for which neither a written parental or physician’s note is submitted within three school days of a student’s return from absence.

• School truancy which includes any unexcused or unlawful absence by students aged sixteen and under.

• Three unlawful absences result in parent receipt of a written notice of violation of the Compulsory Attendance Law and may result in prosecution before a district judge.

The following days of absence are classified as “non-cumulative” and are not subject to Attendance Policy regulations related to the Student Code of Conduct:

• Suspensions from school.

• Illness verified by a physician’s note submitted within three days of a student’s return to school.

• Death in the family from the date of death until two days after the funeral unless otherwise authorized by the building principal or her designee. A signed parental note must be submitted within three days of the student’s return to school.

• Designated religious holidays provided that a signed parental request is submitted prior to the school holiday.

• School-sponsored activities.

See our Transportation Page regarding Late Arrivals.

Regulations of the State of Pennsylvania provide that, upon written or electronic request from the parents/guardians of the students involved, pupils may be excused from school attendance to participate in an educational tour or trip not sponsored by the school when the trip is evaluated by the Chief Executive Officer as educational and if the adult supervision is acceptable to both the Executive Director and the pupil’s parent/guardians.

The Arts Academy Elementary Charter School building principal has been designated by Chief Executive Officer to make the initial decision, based on the information provided. In order to clarify such absences, the following procedure for non-school educational trips/tour is established:

• The proper form must be submitted to the principal a minimum of five (5) school days prior to the trip (except in an emergency). Parents/guardians will be notified in any case in which the request is denied.

• Requests will be approved only if it can be determined that such trip/tour is of educational value to the student.

• Unless there are unusual or emergency circumstances, such requests will NOT be approved for the first ten (10) school days of the year or during the district’s standardized testing period or the state’s testing periods.

• If more than one child in a family will be taking the trip/tour, a separate request for each child shall be submitted. No more than ten (10) days will be excused during any school year. (Special requests with unusual circumstances or exceptional opportunities for learning should be discussed personally with the building principal well in advance of requested dates for absence.

• Satisfactory academic achievement will be considered in the approval of such a request.

• All schoolwork missed during the trip/tour must be made up at the initiation of the student immediately upon returning to school.

Parents are encouraged to use the School Dismissal Manager app to notify us as an absence. Other options include sending a note to your child's teacher, sending a Jupiter message to your child's teacher, sending a message from an email address we have on file or to complete our Online Absence Request Form.  Excuse notes or messages must provide an allowable reason for the child's absence and must be received no more than 3 days after the child's return to school. Excuse notes, written or e-mailed, cannot be accepted after the third day upon the student's return to school. 

Absence Notifications

Parents can see their child's absence and choose to receive a notification that they have been marked absent via email or text by choosing this option under Settings in Jupiter.

Medical Excuses

Ten excused absences are permitted per school year. After the tenth absence, a medical excuse note will be required for all further absences. Students experiencing Covid-like symptoms are to stay home until these symptoms have resolved. Students under quarantine for Covid exposure or a positive Covid test are excused and not to return to school until the student recieves a negative test result. The school nurse must be informed of a positive Covid test.

For all other absences, a note from a medical physician is required for three or more consecutive days.

Unexcused absences become unlawful after the third day upon a student's return from an absence without a note indicating an allowable absence. Parents will receive a written notice after three unlawful absences. For each following unlawful absence, the parent will receive a second or third notice. The school will provide resources and support for students struggling to attend school, including but not limited to: counseling services, referral to the Student Assistance Program or connection with community organizations.

The following are allowable excuses for a student absence:

• Illness, including if a student is dismissed by designated school staff during school hours for health-related reasons.

• Obtaining professional health care or therapy service rendered by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts in any state, commonwealth or territory.

• Quarantine.

• Family emergency.

• Recovery from accident.

• Required court attendance.

• Death in family.

• Participation in a project sponsored by a statewide or countywide 4-H, FFA or combined 4-H and FFA group, upon prior written request.

• Observance of a religious holiday observed by bona fide religious group, upon prior written parental request.

• Nonschool-sponsored educational tours or trips, if the following conditions are met:

  • The parent/guardian submits a written request for excusal prior to the absence.

  • The student's participation has been approved by the CEO or designee.The adult directing and supervising the tour or trip is acceptable to the parents/guardians and the CEO. 

• Other urgent reasons. Urgent reasons shall be strictly construed and do not permit irregular attendance.  

The school may limit the number and duration of nonschool-sponsored educational tours or trips and college or postsecondary institution visits for which excused absences may be granted to a student during the school year.

If your family is experiencing a hardship or homelessness, please see our SAP page for resources or contact Mrs. Geyer, Student Services Coordinator for assistance