Attendance-The Importance of Showing Up "On-Time and Every Day"
We’re looking forward to seeing your child(ren) at school on time, every day! Regular attendance is essential for student success. Missing too many days, whether excused or unexcused, can slow a child’s academic growth. Did you know that missing just 10% of the school year (about 18 days, or 2 per month) can put a student off track? Let’s work together to build a culture of showing up every day!
Consistent school attendance is key to your child’s academic growth, social development, and overall well-being. Being present each day helps students stay involved in lessons, participate fully in classroom activities, and build meaningful relationships with their peers and teachers. By working together, we can foster strong attendance habits that set every student up for a successful and fulfilling school year.
For more information, please review Howard County Public School System Policy 9010 here: https://policy.hcpss.org/9000/9010/
Reporting Student Absences
If your student is absent or will be absent, please contact us at the following email address to explain the reason: DRESAbsence@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)
Discretionary Days
HCPSS students are granted 3 days a year to use at their discretion for a wide variety of reasons.
- 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 DRESAbsence@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 DRESAbsence@hcpss.org.
Student attendance is crucial to academic growth and learning retention. With the collaborative effort of HCPSS parents, staff, and students, we are confident that all students can have successful attendance. Unless your child is ill, please do your best to ensure they are present in school, on time, each day! This will improve student success in school and in future life!