The way that attendance is coded at Hopewell Area School District has changed for the 2014-2015 school year.  A copy of the changed attendance codes is included in this correspondence. 

District policies regarding attendance have not changed. 

Five Things To Know About Attendance at Hopewell

1. If your child is not in school for any reason, an excuse needs to be submitted to the office within three days of the student’s return to school, or the absence is ILLEGAL.
   
   
2. If your child accumulates three ILLEGAL absences, a citation could be filed with the magistrate for truancy.  Instead, a notification letter will be mailed home.
   
   
3. If your child accumulates five ILLEGAL absences, a request to attend an attendance meeting with Hopewell administration and representatives from the Truancy Intervention Program (which includes personnel from CYS and Juvenile Probation) will be sent home.  If the problem persists, truancy charges will be filed with the magistrate.  
   
   
4. A note from a parent will be coded as a LEGAL absence in that it is legal as far as Pennsylvania Compulsory Attendance Laws is concerned, but the absence counts against the student’s Hopewell attendance and could have an impact on social/athletic eligibility, commencement eligibility and the student’s ability to earn credit for classes taken. 
   
   
• Five LEGAL absences in a nine week grading period will result in a ten-day social suspension.  Six or more LEGAL absences will result in a 45 day social suspension (students can make up missed time to lift the suspension). 
  
  
• 10 LEGAL absences in a semester will result in denial of credit for any one semester, half-credit courses taken. 
  
  
• 20 LEGAL absences during the school year will result in denial of credit for all courses taken. 
  
  
• Pre-approved vacation days are considered LEGAL absences, but do not count towards social suspension.  Vacation request forms are available on the district website and in the main office. 
  
  
5. Properly documented medical/dental, court date, funeral, weather and pre-approved college visit excuses that have been submitted within three days of the student’s return to school are EXCUSED in that they do not count against Pennsylvania’s Compulsory Attendance Law and they do not count against the student’s Hopewell attendance or towards social suspension.  If a student is sent home through the health suite upon the recommendation of the school nurse, the absence is EXCUSED. 

Complete attendance policies can be found in the 2014-2015 student hand book and at www.hopewell.k12.pa.us.   Please contact Mr. Rowe with questions.