ATTENDANCE REPORTING

Reporting an Absence or Tardy

Please report student absences or tardies by 9:30 a.m. using one of the following options:

Dismissals

  • Students must obtain a dismissal pass from the main office on the morning of their dismissal. Caregivers must have contacted the school in advance by email, phone, or written note in order for a pass to be issued. At the time of dismissal, the student should present the pass to their teacher. Please note: We do not call into classrooms for dismissals unless it is an emergency.

Feeling Unwell During the School Day

  • If a student feels sick during the day, they must report to the nurse. The nurse will assess the student and coordinate dismissal if necessary. Students should not contact caregivers directly to arrange dismissal without first seeing the nurse.
RMHS Attendance Guidelines

WHY ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Reading Public Schools has set a district-wide daily attendance goal of 97%.

A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school year—regardless of whether the absences are excused or unexcused.

Chronic absenteeism affects academic success and is a metric in the Massachusetts state accountability system for schools and districts.

START AND END OF THE SCHOOL DAY

  • The RMHS school day begins at 8:30 a.m.Students must be in their first period class by this time.
  • The RMHS school day ends at 3:05 p.m.Students are expected to remain in their assigned class until the dismissal bell rings. Leaving class early without permission may result in disciplinary consequences.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

Excused absences require communication from a parent/guardian to the Main Office. Valid excused absences include:

  • Student illness (with parent communication)
  • Medical or dental appointments (with documentation)
  • Death in the family
  • Religious observance
  • Court appearances
  • Up to 3 college visits (Grades 11–12; additional visits require principal approval)
  • School-sponsored activities (e.g., field trips, athletic events)
  • Serious personal circumstances (as determined by the principal or designee)

Students are expected to make up missed work within the timeline set by each teacher.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

These absences are not considered valid and will count toward a student’s total absences:

  • Family vacations
  • Babysitting or caring for family members
  • Skipping/cutting class
  • Illness of a family member
  • Conflict with a guardian’s work schedule
  • Oversleeping or being too tired
  • Going to work with a family member
  • Going to the beach
  • Attending an event, concert, or sporting event
  • Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Personal problems or errands
  • Waiting for repair/service personnel
  • Transportation issues (e.g., missed bus, car trouble)

HOW TO REPORT ABSENCES, TARDIES, OR DISMISSALS

Parents/guardians must notify the school of any absences, tardiness, or early dismissals by:

  • Phone: (781) 670-2819
  • Email
  • Google Form (above)

TARDINESS

Arriving Late to School

  • Before 8:45 a.m. without an excuse → Counted as tardy
    • More than 3 unexcused tardies per term → Office detention
    • More than 8 per term → Possible extracurricular ineligibility
  • After 8:45 a.m. without an excuse → Counts as skipping first period (1 unexcused absence)

Arriving Late to Class

  • Under 15 minutes late → Teacher may assign a detention
  • Over 15 minutes late or leaving class for 15+ minutes without permission → Class is marked as skipped; disciplinary referral submitted
Skipping Class
  • Missing 15 or more minutes of class without permission is considered skipping
  • Skipped classes:
    • Count toward the 8 absence limit per term
    • May result in loss of credit
    • May lead to disciplinary consequences including:
      • Detentions
      • Attendance contracts
      • Social probation
      • Loss of senior privileges
    • Teachers are not required to offer make-up work for skipped classes

TRUANCY

Truancy is defined as being absent from school without parent/guardian permission or knowledge.

Truancy consequences include:

  • Unexcused absences (counting toward credit loss)
  • Loss of credit eligibility
  • Inability to make up missed work
  • Disciplinary action
  • Possible Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) referral

DISMISSALS

  • Submit a note or email to the Main Office before the start of the school day
  • Medical dismissals must be approved by the nurse
  • Unscheduled dismissals require:
    • Parent/guardian to appear in person
    • Approval from the principal or designee
  • Students who arrive after 12:00 p.m. or are dismissed before 12:00 p.m. are considered absent for the day

ABSENCES DUE TO SUSPENSION

  • Suspension days do not count as absences
  • Students must complete all missed assignments (homework, quizzes, tests, projects)
  • For suspensions over 10 consecutive days, students will receive educational services as required by law

VACATION ABSENCES

Please plan vacations when school is not in session.

  • Vacations during school are unexcused absences
  • Vacation days count toward the class absence limit
  • Teachers are not required to provide advance assignments or make-up work
  • Students are still expected to complete missed work upon return

The last day of school is tentative and may shift due to snow days. Students are expected to attend through the final day.

ATTENDANCE AND EXTRACURRICULAR ELIGIBILITY

To attend or participate in any co-curricular or extracurricular activity (e.g., sports, dances, prom, plays):

  • Students must be in school on the day of the event
  • For weekend events, students must be present on the prior school day
  • Students dismissed due to illness by the nurse may not participate that day
  • Suspended students may not attend or participate in activities during their suspension
  • All students must be in attendance at school in order to participate and/or attend co-curricular activities that day. This includes PTO sponsored events and after school programs. To be considered in attendance for the day (and be eligible for co-curricular activities) a student must either arrive before 12 p.m. and remain for the rest of the day or arrive on time and not be dismissed until after 12 p.m..

Exceptions (e.g., college visits, funerals, documented appointments) must be cleared with the principal or designee in advance.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES AND LOSS OF CREDIT
  • 8 unexcused absences or 16 unexcused tardies/dismissals per class per term may result in:
    • Loss of course credit
    • Loss of privileges
    • Social probation
    • A report to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for educational neglect
  • A family meeting will be scheduled to discuss support and intervention

ATTENDANCE BUYBACK AND CREDIT RECOVERY

Students over the absence limit may still recover credit if they are academically passing:

  • The school will notify families
  • Students will receive either:
    • A credit recovery assignment or
    • An attendance buyback plan
  • Students have 14 calendar days to complete the plan to retain credit

STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE

Students in leadership roles must maintain excellent conduct and attendance. Violations of the Code of Conduct or chronic attendance issues may result in removal from leadership positions at the discretion of the principal or designee.

NEED HELP OR HAVE QUESTIONS?

Contact the RMHS Main Office Phone: (781) 670-2819