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Shamokin Area School District

Dedicated To Excellence In Education

Attendance & Truancy Support

Attendance & truancy support

Attendance notice help

A notice starts a review. The meeting starts a plan.

Start by checking the dates and documentation. If a conference is needed, the goal is to understand what is getting in the way and decide what support and next steps could improve attendance.

What does my letter mean? ↓What happens at the meeting? ↓Return to attendance help →

Understand the notice

Attendance notices and Pennsylvania truancy thresholds

Pennsylvania law defines what happens after 3 and 6 unexcused school days. District Policy 204 explains the local process. Building handbooks add reporting and documentation directions for each grade group.

Unexcused school daysTruantA required notice and record check
Pennsylvania law and District Policy 204

The school sends written notice to the person in parental relation within 10 school days of the third unexcused school day in the current school year.

School sendsA notice that explains what may happen if unexcused absences continue.
Family checksThe dates, submitted excuses, medical documents, and possible errors.
Next stepA School Attendance Improvement Conference may be offered. If another unexcused absence occurs and a conference was not already held, the school will offer one.

The real pointThis is a required notice. It is not a final decision about the cause or outcome.

Read the full requirements after 3 days

What the family will receive: The notice will describe what happens if unexcused absences continue. It will use the preferred mode and language of communication for the person in parental relation.

If another unexcused absence occurs after the notice and a SAIC was not previously held, the school will offer a SAIC.

Read District Policy 204 ↗Read Pennsylvania guidance ↗
Unexcused school daysHabitually truantSupport planning before legal action
Pennsylvania law and District Policy 204

Six unexcused school days is the legal threshold. Reaching it does not automatically begin a court case.

Before legal actionThe school will hold the scheduled School Attendance Improvement Conference.
The written planThe team reviews the causes and develops a School Attendance Improvement Plan.
Cyber charter transferDuring the current school year, a habitually truant student may not transfer to a cyber charter school unless a judge determines that the transfer is in the child’s educational best interest.
What followsThe student’s age, the plan, and the steps already completed affect the legal route.

The real pointSix days is a legal threshold. It is not an automatic court filing.

Read what may happen after 6 days

Cyber charter transfer: The restriction applies to a transfer during the current school year to a cyber charter school. It does not mean the child is removed from the current school. A parent, or a student age 15 or older, may request an educational best interest hearing. A judge will decide whether the proposed transfer is in the child’s educational best interest.

For a student under age 15: The school will refer the student to an attendance improvement program or the local children and youth agency. A citation against the person in parental relation may also be filed.

For a student age 15 or older: The school will refer the student to an attendance improvement program or file a citation. If unexcused absences continue after a referral, or the student refuses to participate, a children and youth referral may follow.

If the student is referred to children and youth or a citation is filed, the district will verify that a SAIC was held.

Understand the SAIC ↓Read the PDE cyber enrollment rule ↗Read Pennsylvania guidance ↗

Published student handbook directions

Which rule applies to my student?

Choose the student’s school and grade group. These practical reporting rules work with Pennsylvania law and District Policy 204.

Grades K to 6Current handbook for 2026 to 2027

Elementary & Intermediate

Use the K to 6 absence form and include the student, teacher, exact dates, and reason.

See the elementary documentation rule
  • After 13 parent signed absence days, a licensed physician will need to document additional absences.
Open the K to 6 handbook ↗Use the K to 6 absence route →
Grades 7 to 12Verify the handbook publication year

Middle & High School

Submit a written excuse within three days after the student returns.

See the currently published directions
  • Submit a written excuse within three days after the student returns.
  • Three or more consecutive absence days require a physician’s note to be excused.
  • After 13 parent notified absence days, a licensed practitioner will need to document additional absences.
Open the published handbook ↗Use the grades 7 to 12 absence route →
Virtual attendanceSPEAR students in grades K to 12

SPEAR

Report the absence and any participation barrier promptly.

See what families should check
  • Use the absence route for the student’s grade.
  • Check ParentVUE for the family visible attendance record.
  • Report illness, technology, login, or participation barriers.
Open SPEAR attendance ↗Contact SPEAR

Check the publication year. The elementary and intermediate link is labeled 2026 to 2027. The middle and high school page still links to a 2025 to 2026 handbook. Families should follow the current notice, Policy 204, and current building directions if any detail has changed.

Do this before the meeting

Check the record first.

Fixing missing documentation or a verified attendance error may change what the team needs to discuss.

1

Match the dates

Compare the notice, ParentVUE, appointment dates, and your own records.

2

Send missing information

Use the correct absence form for the student’s grade group and keep the confirmation or a copy.

3

Ask for a review

If information was already submitted or a date looks wrong, contact the attendance office with the exact date and proof.

Choose an absence form →Open ParentVUE help ↗

The focus of the meeting

School Attendance Improvement Conference (SAIC)

Find the root cause. Listen to the child and family. Bring in the right support. Develop a realistic School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP) together.

The SAIC is not meant to be a lecture or a punishment. It is the structured conversation Pennsylvania uses so the team can understand the absences and decide what may improve attendance, with or without additional services.

Prepare for the conversation ↓

What the terms mean

The conference is the conversation. The plan is what the team develops.

The child, family, school, and appropriate supports contribute different parts of the picture.

School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP)

The written plan developed from the SAIC for the child and family. It records the barriers discussed, support being offered, responsibilities, next steps, and how progress will be reviewed.

Who is invited?

Pennsylvania guidance calls for the school to invite:

  • The child.
  • The person in parental relation.
  • Other people the family identifies as a useful resource.
  • Appropriate school personnel.
  • Recommended service providers.

The right team depends on the cause. A nurse, counselor, special education representative, housing liaison, transportation contact, community provider, or another support is included when that role is relevant.

Why family participation matters

The record shows dates. The family helps explain the “why.”

There is no legal requirement that the child or parent attend, but the school will still hold the conference after proper notice and outreach. Participating when possible gives the child and family a direct voice in the SAIP.

Family checklist before the meeting

Bring the information that helps the team solve the real problem.

You do not need to share private diagnoses in an online form. Sensitive health or family details can be discussed privately with the appropriate staff.

✓Dates or attendance codes you believe are incorrect
✓Copies or confirmations for submitted excuses
✓Medical, transportation, housing, or family barriers
✓Patterns such as certain days, classes, or times
✓Learning, emotional, bullying, safety, or technology concerns
✓Supports that have helped before and supports that have not helped
✓A trusted person or provider you want invited
✓Questions you want answered before leaving
Open the forms for each grade group ↓

Forms and grade groups

Use the preparation route for the student’s grade.

The publicly linked district SAIP form is currently labeled for grades 7 to 12. Elementary families should follow the directions included with the meeting notice and use the checklist above.

Grades K to 6

Elementary & Intermediate

Use the family checklist above and the directions provided by the elementary attendance team. Bring any attendance confirmations or documentation to the conference.

Call 570-648-5721
Grades 9 to 12

High School

Use the grades 7 to 12 SAIP form to identify barriers, supports, and practical next steps. Credit or graduation concerns can be added to the team discussion.

Open the grades 7 to 12 SAIP form ↗
SPEAR • Grades K to 12

Virtual students

Use the route for the student’s grade and include virtual learning barriers such as logins, technology, schedule, coursework, or Learning Center access.

Open SPEAR attendance ↗Contact SPEAR

Official sources

Pennsylvania compulsory attendance law and district policy

The summary above is written for families. These sources contain the official requirements and local procedure.

Pennsylvania compulsory attendance and SAIC guidance

Definitions, required notice, SAIC participants, SAIP documentation, age based routes, and what may happen after the plan.

Read the state guidance ↗

District Policy 204: Attendance

Shamokin Area’s local attendance procedures, notices, conference process, documentation expectations, and legal referrals.

Read Policy 204 ↗

Elementary & Intermediate Handbook • 2026 to 2027

Published directions by grade group for absence notes, tardiness, documentation, and attendance monitoring.

Open the handbook ↗

Middle & High School Handbook • 2025 to 2026

The handbook currently linked from the building homepage. Verify current school year directions with the building.

Open the published handbook ↗

This page is a family friendly summary. The individual notice, current District Policy 204, and current law control if a summary differs.