Policies

Absence Policy

Sometimes students have to miss school. “Excused absences” apply under circumstances such as Illness or injury , death/funeral related absence, education related trips or activities, suspension and religious holidays. A written notice from a parent or guardian must be submitted to the school immediately upon a student’s return to school. Such notice must include a telephone number or other means of contact for verification purposes.

Certification of illness/injury is required if the absence extends for three or more consecutive days. The student /family has three days from the date of the absence to provide documentation to the school for an excused absence. After the third day, the school principal or designee has the discretion to approve or deny the note.

An “unexcused or illegal absence” occurs when a student is absent without a valid excuse in writing. This means that either no written notice was submitted to the school upon the student’s return or the reason provided in the notice was deemed invalid. Examples of invalid excuses include, but are not limited to, babysitting, waking up late or being on a vacation with family.

Please see the School District of Philadelphia’s Absence Policy #204.

You may also download and print a template for an Absence Note.

Immunization Policy

Pennsylvania State law requires students to be fully immunized while in school. This means school-age children must receive certain shots in order to attend school. Students can be prevented from attending school if they do not have the shots they need. Making sure your child is up-to-date on his/her shots helps keep kids healthy and in school. Not vaccinating your child could lead to illness and disease outbreaks.  Also, if your child is not immunized and there is an outbreak, your child will not be allowed to attend school until the outbreak clears (this could take weeks).

See the Center for Disease Control’s 2022 Recommendations for Child Immunizations.  Also please see the School District of Philadelphia’s Student Health Services page.

Graduation and Promotion Policy

Policy provides information on the requirements that must be met by students to be promoted and grade 12 students to graduate. These requirements include passing major subjects and completion of a project. Supports for students, including an extended day program, will be in place to help students meet the requirements.

Student Code of Conduct

See the Student Code of Conduct for the School District of Philadelphia.  Also see the website for the Office of Student Rights.

Acceptable Use Policy

Please see the School District of Philadelphia’s Acceptable Use Policy for use of School District network and hardware.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Attention families: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that a school with certain exceptions obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, a school may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the school to the contrary in accordance with school district procedures.

Parents who wish to opt their students out of directory information releases must complete an Opt-Out Form for each of their students, and must return each form to the school at which each student is enrolled by December 13, 2024.

Find more information, including the forms you need HERE.