Office of
Student Rights and Responsibilities

Children get much more than academics at school. They also learn social and emotional skills, get healthy meals and exercise, and stay connected to mental health supports and other important services.

Attending school on time, every day:

• • provides your child with the opportunities for discovery, exploration, learning and achievement they need to thrive
  • allows teachers to best support your child’s academic progress and their unique learning styles and abilities
  • offers students real-time access to the technology and other educational resources they need to engage in their education
  • leads to daily interactions with teachers, peers and support staff who help students develop friendships, learn more about themselves, build empathy, and better handle stress. This is especially important for children with diverse learning needs.

The more school time a student misses:

• the less likely they are to be proficient in math and reading by fourth grade, which is when students are no longer learning to read, but reading to learn
• the less likely they are to graduate high school on time
• the more likely they are to drop out of school
• the more challenging it becomes to catch up

Nonetheless, it’s never too late to work with your child’s school to help improve attendance.

It is important that an accurate record of your student’s attendance is properly recorded so that we can identify how best to support all of our students and plan for their future academic success.

Please ensure with your child’s school that your child’s attendance records are accurate and up-to-date and that you address any inconsistencies with the school.

Note: If you have questions regarding correcting your child’s attendance records, please call your child’s school and ask to speak with the secretary.

How can I see my student’s attendance records?

You can view your child’s attendance information in the Parent & Family Portal.

• If you do not have a Parent and Family Portal account use the directions found here to sign up.
• Once you have created your Parent and Family Portal account or if you already have an account, use the appropriate stepper linked below to access your child’s attendance information:
• • Campus Parent Tutorial Video
  • Campus Parent Stepper (MS/HS)
  • Campus Parent Stepper (Elementary)
  • Translated versions of all steppers are available here

• If you do not have a Parent Portal, you can always view your child(ren)’s attendance information by logging into their Student Portal with them.
• The steppers below provide instructions on how to access your student’s portal:
  • Campus Student Stepper (MS/HS);
  • Campus Student Stepper (Elementary)

Families can help children achieve good attendance and stay on track at every grade level by:

• Familiarizing yourself with the District’s student attendance requirements
• Ensuring your child is prepared for the school day
• Informing the school of your child’s absence
• Provide written excuse notes to the school when your child is absent

Here are some tips and resources to support you as you prepare your child to attend school on the first day of school and every day throughout the school year.

BEFORE the school year begins:

• Know your child’s bell & bus schedule – Check the school’s website or call the school office for details.

• Plan Your Daily Routine with Your Child – Post it at home using our Daily Routine reminder. 

• Make a plan and backup plan for getting to school on time – It’s so important to have people in your life who have your back. Ask family, friends or neighbors to be your school drop-off back up. And be theirs, too.

• Plan Ahead for Early Dismissal Days – Learning continues on these days. Be sure your child attends school and has an after-school care plan in place. Visit philasd.org/calendar for the full calendar.

• Update your contact information – Moved? New phone number? Have emergency contacts changed? Contact the school and let them know. Having correct information on file allows school staff to keep in touch with you on attendance and other matters, and to contact you in an emergency.

• Make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations
  Schedule an appointment at philasd.org/vax or call 1-877-926-9272.

• Register for a Parent and Family Portal account if you don’t yet have one
  Access information about your child’s attendance, grades, test scores, and more, anytime. Register at philasd.org/pfportal.

DURING the school year: 

• Be Your Child’s Attendance Champion – Let them know you care about school because when you’re excited, they are too!
• Celebrate Great Attendance At Home – Use our Weekly Attendance Tracker and Attendance Hero Certificate to make it fun for all.
• Talk To Your Child’s Principal, Teachers or the School Nurse – If you are having or expect to have attendance challenges, they can work with you to help address them.

Under Pennsylvania law, all students between the ages of six (6) and eighteen (18) must attend school every day.

• Once a student is enrolled in school, this includes students in kindergarten, they are subject to compulsory school laws until the student reaches age 18.
• A parent/guardian who enrolls their child in kindergarten may formally withdraw their child from school prior to reaching compulsory school age (age six), at which point the child would no longer be subject to compulsory school laws until they turn six (6) years old.

A student shall be considered in attendance if:

• present at any place where school is in session by authority of the Board
• receiving approved tutorial instruction or health or therapeutic services
• engaged in an approved and properly supervised independent study, work-study, or career education program
• receiving approved homebound instruction; or if the student’s placement is instruction in the home.

An excused absence is when a student is absent from school for a reason identified by the District as legitimate, valid and reasonable. The following conditions or situations are examples of reasonable causes for absence from school.

• Obtaining professional health care or therapy service
• Quarantine
• Recovery from accident
• Required court appearance
• Death in family
• Educational, project or performance (i.e. music/dance/stage) related trip/tour under specific conditions
• College tours, trade school tours, career and technical training program tours, community college tours, or tours of other non-District schools, with prior approval.
• Observance of a religious holiday observed by a bona fide religious group, upon prior written request from the person in parental relation.
• Family Emergency (An unexpected, serious event that is outside of the control of the student’s family).
• Other urgent reasons that may reasonably cause a student’s absence, as well as circumstances related to homelessness and foster care.

Some of these events have their own conditions that need to be met in order for the absence to be excused.

You can also learn more in the District’s 204 Attendance Policy.

• The District’s attendance policy requires written excuse notes explaining the absence.
  • Contact the child’s school to verify ways excuse notes may be submitted.
  • Excuse notes must be given to the school within three (3) days upon the student’s return to school. If the note is not submitted to the school within the required time frame, the day(s) may not be excused.
  • Excuse notes must include the student’s name, date(s) of absence(s) and a valid telephone number or other means of contact for verification purposes.

• All absences resulting in a total of three (3) or more consecutive days due to illness will require a written excuse note by a licensed healthcare provider. Excuse notes from a healthcare provider may also be submitted in lieu of a parent note for any absence.
• For absences that do not total three (3) consecutive days, parents may submit a written excuse note stating the reason for the absence.
• When a student has been absent due to illness, excused with a parent note, totaling eight (8) days (cumulative), all subsequent absences may require a written excuse note from a licensed healthcare provider.

*The submission of notes does not guarantee automatic excusal of absences and are subject to school review to determine the validity of submitted notes.

The following students may be temporarily excused from the requirements of attendance at District schools:

• For the purpose of receiving tutorial instruction in a field not offered in the District’s curricula, with certain requirements*.
•  Students participating in a religious instruction program, with certain conditions*.
•  School-age students unable to attend school upon recommendation of the school physician and a psychiatrist or school psychologist, or both, and with approval of the Secretary of Education of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

*As outlined in the 204 Attendance Policy

An absence is considered “unexcused” or “unlawful” when either a written note was not submitted to the school upon the student’s return from the absence (in accordance to written note protocol), or the reason provided in the written note by the parent/guardian was deemed invalid by the school, and did not meet the conditions or situations outlined in the District’s 204 Attendance Policy.

Examples of invalid excuses include (but not limited to):

• babysitting
• waking up late
• illness of a family member
• family vacation

Note: An out-of-school suspension may not be considered an unexcused absence.

These templates are available for parents/guardians to use as written absence notes to submit to their child’s school.
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• Family & Community Engagement – Central resource for family engagement in the School District of Philadelphia.
  215-400-4000 | philasd.org/face
• Student Health Services – Immunization information, health forms, homebound instruction, school nurse information.
  215-400-4920 | philasd.org/studenthealth
• Student Enrollment and Placement – Student registration and school selection.
  215-400-4290 | philasd.org/studentplacement
• Prevention and Intervention – Mental health, trauma, and self care resources. School counselor information, 504 plans, and STEP.
  215-400-4930 – philasd.org/prevention
• Transportation eligibility – guidelines, bus service information, SEPTA fare cards, flat rate program.
  215-400-4350 | philasd.org/transportation
• Diverse Learners – Educational services and supports for students with diverse needs within our schools including special education programs and Individualized Education Plan (IEP). philasd.org/specializedservices
• Student Rights and Responsibilities – 215-400-4830 | philasd.org/studentrights
• Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness – Support to remove educational barriers for youth experiencing homelessness.
• 215-400-4830 Option 4 | philasd.org/homeless
• Bullying and HarassmentReport bullying, harassment, or discrimination.
• 215-400-SAFE | philasd.org/studentrights
• Student Discipline – Discipline matters, Code of Conduct.
  215-400-4830 Option 2 | philasd.org/studentrights
• Student Transition Center – Support and services to students that are returning from delinquent, dependent, or mental health facilities.
  215-400-4830 Option 5 | philasd.org/studentrights
• The Re-Engagement Center – Multiple options for students to return to school and graduate.
  215-400-6700 | philasd.org/opportunitynetwork
• Tutoring – Free and Flexible virtual tutoring options for students in grades K-12.
  tutoring@philasd.org | philasd.org/academics
• Parent & Family Technology Support Hotline – Support for parents and students for District-issued devices.
  215-400-4444 | familytechsupport@philasd.org

FAMILY SUPPORT

• Office of Children and Families – Resources and services for children and families.
  
• Philly Loves Families – Support and resources to help you raise a happy, healthy family. 
• Cap4Kids – Resources in the Philadelphia area for children and families.
  

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

• PHLpreK – Free, quality Pre-K throughout Philadelphia.
  

CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE

• The Early Learning Resource Center – Find quality child care and apply for financial support to pay for child care.
  

HOUSING + HOMELESSNESS

• Office of Homeless Services – Emergency housing, case management, and support finding long-term housing.
  

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

• Affordable Connectivity Program – ACP is the federal government’s internet subsidy program that provides eligible families with up to $30 off their existing monthly internet bill.
  affordableconnectivity.gov | getacp.org/phl
• Digital Navigators – Get support with finding free or low-cost computers, internet access, digital literacy, and more.
  • Beyond Literacy 215-474-1235 |  info@beyondlitercy.org
  • ExCITe Center at Drexel University 267-217-3508 |  navigator@excitcenter.org
  • SEAMAAC 267-225-0684  | digital@seamaac.org

IMMIGRANT + REFUGEE

• Nationalities Services Center – Comprehensive services in language access, legal protections, community integration, employment and health and wellness.
• HIAS – Legal, social support, and citizenship services.
• Chester County Intermediate Unit- Migrant Education – The Migrant Education program strives to ensure that migrant students receive educational services to develop to their fullest potential. 484-237-500

HEALTH + WELLNESS

• Philadelphia Mental & Physical Health Services – Public health resources, programs, and notifications for Philadelphia residents.
  
• City Health Centers – Affordable health services. Small fee based on income if uninsured. Call 311
• Community Behavioral Health – Mental health and substance abuse treatment.
• Healthy Minds Philly – Wellness tips and resources for families and communities looking to address trauma, cope with uncertainty, stay connected, find mental health support, and thrive.
• Uplift Center for Grieving Children – Support groups for children and teens in grades K-12th who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives.
• Philly Hopeline – Free and confidential helpline for grief and emotional support. The Philly HopeLine is open to all youth and caregivers in the Philadelphia region. 1-833-745-4673

FOOD + NUTRITION

• The Coalition Against Hunger – Get connected to food pantries across the city and help secure SNAP benefits.
  
• Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – New moms, pregnant women, and children under 5 can receive food, health screenings, and nutrition counseling.
• Philadelphia Food Distribution Sites – Find free food and meals.

EMERGENCY FUNDS + FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

• Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare – Apply for cash, medical, and energy assistance. 
• BenePhilly – Free, one-on-one support to apply for public benefits.
• Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia – Provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE + COMMUNITY VIOLENCE

• Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence – 24 Hour Hotline, Connection to local domestic violence programs, legal guidance.
  
• Women Against Abuse – Support, counseling, safety planning, and shelter.
• Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia – Intervention, prevention, and support services to children, youth, adults, and families who have been a victim of violence.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

• Community Legal Services – Free civil legal assistance to low-income Philadelphians. clsphila.org
• Philadelphia Legal Assistance – Legal advice and referrals for clients with financial constraints.