Attendance Information and Resources

Fri, 09/18/2020 - 3:28pm

Research is clear that showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic and social success, starting from pre-kindergarten and continuing through high school. 

  • Missing 10% (or about 18 days of a school year or 2 a month) can drastically affect a student’s academic success at each grade level.

  • By the 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that can indicate if a student is at risk for dropping out of high school.

  • In the 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

Please help us support a culture of showing up to school every day!

Please review Policy 9010: https://policy.hcpss.org/9000/9010/

If your student is absent or will be absent, please contact us at the following email address to explain the reason: CCESabsence@hcpss.org.  In the email please Include the following information:

  • Student First and Last Name

  • Grade 

  • Reason for absence (e.g., illness, bereavement, observance of a religious holiday, lack of transportation)

Discretionary Days

HCPSS students are granted 3 days a year to use at their discretion for scheduled interviews with prospective employers, visits to post-secondary institutions, family trips, civic engagement, and other special events.

  • Such absences may not occur during exam or state-mandated testing periods unless authorized by the principal/designee.

  • A written request for such absences to be lawful/excused should be submitted at least one week in advance to the principal/designee. Please download the PDF fillable Discretionary Absence Form and email it to CCESabsence@hcpss.org. The form is also available in Chinese, Korean, and Spanish

  • If you are requesting a day for a religious holiday not identified by the Howard County Public School System school calendar, please download the PDF fillable Religious Obligation Form and email it to CCESabsence@hcpss.org. 

With the collaborative effort of HCPSS parents, staff, and students, we are confident that all students can have successful attendance. This will improve student success in school and future life!