Guidelines For Scholar-Athlete Attendance

Attendance Policy

Philosophy: The Board of Trustees requires that Scholar Athletes enrolled in AFC Lancaster Lions Soccer Academy Charter School attend school regularly in accordance with the laws of the state. The educational program offered by this school is based upon the presence of the SCHOLAR ATHLETE and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation.

Attendance shall be required of all Scholar Athletes enrolled in this school during the days and hours that the school is in session, except that the Chief Executive Officer or designee may excuse a SCHOLAR ATHLETE for a temporary absence when he/she receives satisfactory evidence of such mental, physical, or other urgent conditions which may reasonably cause the SCHOLAR ATHLETE’s absence.

The Chief Executive Officer may alter the school day and the number of school days for emergency reasons and to protect the health and safety of Scholar Athletes and staff members. A SCHOLAR ATHLETE may be dismissed only to a parent/guardian or to a person so designated on their emergency contact list.

Lateness: Scholar Athletes are expected to arrive on time for school. Unless otherwise authorized, a SCHOLAR ATHLETE's late arrival to school will be excused only if such lateness is due to the late arrival of a school bus. Scholar Athletes who travel by other means accept the responsibility for timely arrival at school. Any SCHOLAR ATHLETE who travels by other means than the bus and reports to school after the required time is considered late. All late Scholar Athletes must report to the school office and be signed in by a parent or guardian. Four tardies or four unexcused early dismissals equates to one day of absence. When four of any occur lunch detention will be assigned. Eight occurrences after school detention will be assigned. Accumulation of 12 will require a meeting with a SCHOLAR ATHLETE, parent and staff.

Parents/Guardians are responsible for providing school officials with written verification (notes and/or documentation) of the reason for each lateness. Only doctor’s notes or court appointments will be excuses for lateness.

Early Dismissal: Scholar Athletes who must leave school during regularly scheduled hours must bring a note from the parent/guardian prior to the early dismissal stating the time the SCHOLAR ATHLETE needs to be excused and indicating if someone other than the parent is picking up the SCHOLAR ATHLETE. This note should be presented to the teacher in the morning or faxed to school before 1:30pm. Scholar Athletes will not be dismissed between 3:00pm and 3:30pm.

In case of illness during the school day, the SCHOLAR ATHLETE should report to the school nurse who will then contact the parent/guardian.

Excused Absence: Parents/guardians are responsible for providing school officials with written verification of the reason (notes and/or documentation) for each absence within 3 days of the SCHOLAR ATHLETE’s return to school. Each SCHOLAR ATHLETE is allowed a maximum total of 10 excused absences per school year. Any absence beyond 10 days requires a written medical excuse signed by a physician.

The following may be designated as valid excuses for absence of a SCHOLAR ATHLETE from school provided satisfactory evidence or documentation for the excuse is provided to school officials:

1. Death in the Immediate Family. An absence resulting from the death of a member of the

SCHOLAR ATHLETE’s immediate family. The immediate family of a SCHOLAR ATHLETE includes, but is not necessarily limited to, parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters.

2. Medical or Dental Appointments. An absence resulting from a medical or dental appointment that

cannot be scheduled outside of regularly scheduled school hours. Notice should be given to the teacher prior to the absence, except in the case of an emergency.

3. Illness or Injury. An absence resulting from illness or injury that prevents the SCHOLAR ATHLETE from being physically able to attend school. Any SCHOLAR ATHLETE missing three or more consecutive school days requires a note from a physician. Scholar Athletes who are sent home by the school nurse may not return for 24 hours if indicated by nursing staff or as outlined in the Illness and Medication section of the SCHOLAR ATHLETE Handbook and Code of Conduct.

4. Quarantine. An absence that is ordered by the local health office or by the State Board of Health. 5. Court or Administrative Proceedings. An absence resulting from the attendance of a SCHOLAR ATHLETE at the proceedings of a court or an administrative tribunal if the SCHOLAR ATHLETE is a party to the action or under subpoena as a witness.

6. Observance of a Religious Holiday. An absence may be considered excused if the tenets of a

religion, to which a SCHOLAR ATHLETE or his/her parent adhere, require observance of a religious event.

7. Educational Leave of Absence Policy. A planned educational leave of absence, which extends beyond three consecutive scheduled school days, requires a formal application to the Principal at least five (5) school days in advance of the scheduled leave of absence. Such request must include the dates, destination, purpose of the trip, a description of the educational value, and specific plans for enrichment, and arrangements that have been made for making up missed classroom work. Application for educational tours or trips to occur during any pre-established testing, SCHOLAR ATHLETE led conferences or examination periods, including mid-term, final exam periods or PSSA testing will not be approved. Absences during such periods will be considered unexcused. Educational Trip forms are available in the front office or online.

8. Participation in a project sponsored by a statewide or countywide 4-H, FFA or combined 4-H and

FFA group. A SCHOLAR ATHLETE shall be excused for participation in a project sponsored by a statewide or countywide 4-H, FFA or combined 4-H and FFA group upon request prior to the event. 9. Other excused absences/late arrivals as defined by the Public School Code of 1949, the Pennsylvania Code or by Board policy.

Missed Assignments and Projects:

Scholar Athletes are expected to make up assignments and projects missed when absent. Scholar Athletes are allowed an equal number of days as they were absent to complete the necessary make-up assignments or projects. In cases of extended illness, the SCHOLAR ATHLETE should ask for help in establishing a make-up schedule.

Failure to make up assignments and projects missed when absent will result in a failing grade issued to the SCHOLAR ATHLETE. AFC Lancaster Lions Soccer Academy will review a SCHOLAR ATHLETE’s failure to make up missed assignments on a case by case basis.

Unexcused or Unlawful Absence AFC Lancaster Lions Soccer Academy is required to follow the mandates of the PA Public School Code and the Pennsylvania Code regarding excessive SCHOLAR ATHLETE absences and truancies. A truancy action may be brought against the parent/guardian of a truant SCHOLAR ATHLETE of compulsory school age after proper notice has been given. If a child is absent for ten (10) days in a row without notification, AFC Lancaster Lions Soccer Academy will drop the child from the active school rolls.

Truancy: Absences that do not meet the requirements as described above are identified as unlawful. Excessive absences (3 or more) qualify as a SCHOLAR ATHLETE being truant. As a mandated reporter, AFC LANCASTER LIONS SOCCER ACADEMY is responsible for reporting cases of truancy to the SCHOLAR ATHLETE’s home school district. A SCHOLAR ATHLETE receiving three unexcused absences will be issued a written warning and a SCHOLAR ATHLETE Attendance Improvement Plan meeting will be held with parent, SCHOLAR ATHLETE and staff members. Six unexcused absences will result in a report being made to Children and Youth Services or a citation request with your home school district.

Any absence not verified in writing by a parent/guardian, physician, court, or other agency, within three days of the SCHOLAR ATHLETE’s return to school, is considered unexcused. Planned absences without prior approval are considered unexcused.

Scholar Athletes who are absent in excess of 20 days during one school year are considered at risk for retention or removal from the attendance rolls.

The Chief Executive Officer or designee may impose on Truant Scholar Athletes such incremental disciplinary measures as may be appropriate for infractions of school regulations, but no such penalty may have an irredeemable negative effect on the SCHOLAR ATHLETE’s record beyond that which naturally follows absence from school activities.

Extracurricular Activities Restrictions

As noted in the courses of action to discipline infractions, special program privileges may be revoked for Level One Expectations. Scholar Athletes may lose field trip participation for more serious infractions at Level Two Expectations. In addition, a SCHOLAR ATHLETE who is suspended in school or out of school must forfeit participation in all extracurricular activities during the suspension.

School Attendance

A. Participants must attend school the day of a contest, practice, or event.

B. Participants must be at school by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the contest, practice, or event.

C. Participants must attend school on Friday to participate on Saturday.

D. Participants must have the approval of the administrator to participate.

E. Participants must arrive to school on time the day after a contest or event.