• submit

    To submit an absence excuse, send an email to DCAbsenceDocumentation@rhmail.org with the document attached.

    Student Attendance Information

    Attendance for students will be taken on all platforms of instruction offered.

    Virtual Academy

    Students in the virtual program will follow a schedule just as they would in a traditional brick and mortar school. Teachers in the Virtual Academy will provide face-to-face instruction via live-streaming and digital coursework through computer-based platforms five days a week. Teachers will record attendance daily.  

    Attendance for a Hybrid Schedule: Onsite/Virtual Instruction

    For students participating in the A Day/B Day hybrid schedule, onsite attendance will be determined by students’ physical presence in the classroom; and attendance on remote learning days will be determined by a daily online check-in or completion of teacher-assigned work.

    Documentation for All Absences

    Students in both the Virtual Academy and those attending school on a hybrid schedule must provide official documentation for any absences to their home school within three days after returning to school. This maybe in the form of a written excuse (signed by a parent/guardian) OR a medical statement. This documentation will be entered and filed in the student’s attendance file in the attendance office at their home school.  Documentation does not erase absences; it only states why the student missed school and is consistent with all state law and regulations.  To submit an absence excuse, send an email DCAbsenceDocumentation@rhmail.org with the document attached.

    Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism  

    Compulsory attendance laws, and state and federal laws and regulations determining absences for truancy and chronic absenteeism, have not changed and remain applicable for both onsite, virtual and hybrid instruction.

    Truancy

    A student ages 6 to 17 years meets the definition of a truant when the student:

    • Has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences.
    • In such cases, an Attendance Intervention Plan should be developed.

    Chronic Absenteeism

    A student in grade K-12 meets the definition of chronic absenteeism when the student:

    • Misses 50 percent or more of an instructional day for any reason for 10 percent (or more) of their enrollment period.
    • All absences contribute to chronic absenteeism, including excused, unexcused and OSS.

     

    More district attendance information can be found on the Rock Hill School District website under Attendance.