Student Handbook - Attendance Policy
Overview
In accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws, the Worcester Public Schools recognizes and enforces that every child, between the ages of six and sixteen, must attend school.
School personnel and caregivers must work together to ensure that all students, Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12, attend school every day, and on time, during the 180-day pupil calendar. School attendance is a priority for the Worcester Public Schools. Students’ academic, social and emotional growth and development depend upon students’ daily attendance, classroom participation and exposure to high quality teaching and learning. The daily interactions among teachers and students are irreplaceable components of the learning experience. In addition, daily attendance and punctuality habits acquired during schooling are essential skills in adulthood life, and it begins as early as the pre-school years. Students who are chronically absent from school impact their own learning and the school community as a whole. Schools can take the following steps to address absenteeism:
School Attendance
Chapter 76, section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws states that all children between the ages of six and sixteen must attend school. A school district may excuse up to seven day sessions or fourteen half-day sessions in any period of six months. In addition to this law, Worcester has an attendance policy and should make sure that caregivers are familiar with it.
The school recognizes that there are legitimate reasons for being absent from school, such as illness. In accordance with state law, to the extent that excused absences do not exceed seven days or 14 half-days in a six-month period, documented absences that fall within these limits may be excused. Eligible students who require modifications to the attendance policy due to a qualifying disability may seek accommodations through a 504 Plan or IEP.
Absences for any reason other than illness must be pre-arranged. School officials will not grant permission for a student to leave the school for any reason during the school day until a parent/guardian has been informed. Absences and tardies are part of a student’s permanent record.
Excused Absences
The following is a list of absences which will not count toward retention or loss of credit:
Family bereavement (parent/caregiver note required)
Religious holiday (parent/caregiver note required): The student has a sincerely held religious belief and that school attendance would interfere with their religious observances.
Illness (or a medical appointment) absences with written or other communicated verification from the parent/caregiver or the student’s treating physician’s office. In instances of chronic or irregular absences reportedly due to illness, the administration may request a doctor’s note or other documentation from the student’s treating health care provider and may seek consent to communicate with the health care provider. For absences of five consecutive days or more, the student must report to the nurse on the day of return with documentation from the student’s treating health care provider and/or parent note.
Hospitalization: The caregiver must submit to the school discharge papers from the hospital documenting the student's hospitalization.
School-approved field trips (including a limited number of athletic events to be designated by the administration) the appropriate form signed by the parent granting permission and teacher approval.
Representation of Worcester Public Schools in a school-related activity.
Suspension for violation of the school disciplinary code.
Court appointment with official court time and date verification.
For Grade 12 and 11 students ONLY: College interview/visit documented on college Letterhead (limit of 6 between Junior and Senior year).
Documented Absence
Caregivers requesting to have an absence excused must present the required documentation upon the student’s return to school, but no later than 7 school days following the absence.
Please be advised that absences without documentation will count as unexcused absences. Please see the DESE guidance for reference.
Examples of UNDOCUMENTED ABSENCES (not a complete list):
Truancy
Tardy to school/class (20 minutes late)
Class cutting
Illness without documentation/communication by parent/caregiver
Family vacations, trips, obligations, etc.
Unnecessary absences from class as determined by an administrator
Non-school related extracurricular events
Any form of “Skip Day”
Special Note: Any student who is twenty minutes late for class or who is dismissed twenty minutes before the end of the class will be considered to have an undocumented absence unless the tardiness/dismissal falls in the category of documented absence.
Upon receipt of a physician's written order verifying that any student enrolled in the Worcester public schools must remain at home or in a hospital on a day or overnight basis, or any combination of both, for medical reasons and for a period of not less than fourteen school days in any school year, the student may be eligible to receive home or hospital instruction. For more information refer to Home Hospital instruction on page 67.
Student Absence Notification Program
The District will notify a student's caregiver daily of a student's absence based on morning attendance via a ConnectEd automated phone call.
Beginning with 5 absences, caregivers will receive an attendance letter via the U.S. Mail with each absence. Each Principal, by whatever title they may be known, or designee shall make a reasonable effort to meet with any student, and that student's caregiver, who has missed five (5) or more unexcused school days (a school day shall be equal to two (2) or more class periods in the same day) in a school year. The meeting shall be to develop action steps to improve student attendance and shall be developed jointly by the Principal or designee, the student, and the student's caregiver. The parties may seek input from other relevant school staff and/or officials from relevant public safety, health and human service, housing, and nonprofit agencies.
Dropout Prevention
No student who has not graduated from high school shall be considered permanently removed from school unless the Principal has sent notice to a student, and that student's caregiver, who has been absent from school for ten (10) consecutive days of unexcused absence. The notice shall be sent within five days of the tenth consecutive day of absence and shall offer at least 2 dates and times within the next ten (10) days for an exit interview with the Superintendent or designee, the student, and the student's caregiver. The notice shall be in both English and the primary language of the home, if applicable. The notice shall include contact information for scheduling the exit interview and shall indicate that the parties shall reach an agreement on the date/time of the interview within the ten (10) day timeframe. The timeframe may be extended at the request of the caregiver but no extension shall exceed 14 days.
The Superintendent or their designee may proceed with any interview without a caregiver present.
Tardiness and Dismissal
A student who is not in their assigned seat at the start of homeroom or class is tardy.
If a student starts school after half of the academic day has passed, then that student will be marked absent from school for that day. The student may not participate in any school activity (e.g., sports, dances, prom) during the rest of that day.
If a student leaves school before half of the academic day has passed, then that student will be marked absent from school for that day. The student may not participate in any school activity (e.g., sports, dances, prom) during the rest of that day.
Principals will address attendance issues with students and caregivers as needed.
Faculty Responsibility
Faculty members will record all absences, tardiness, and dismissals of students from their assigned classes. As students may miss some classes more frequently than others, each faculty member will be responsible for notifying.
Attendance Notification to Students and their Caregiver
Caregivers are notified by phone on a daily basis if their child is absent. After five unexcused absences, the principal or their designee will notify the caregiver(s) in writing and, when appropriate, request a meeting to discuss the student’s attendance. caregivers will continue to receive written notification of their child’s attendance at every 5th absence from school.
Caregivers and guardians will also receive attendance information through:
Interim and attendance progress reports (at five weeks into each marking period)
Report cards (every ten weeks). The secondary report cards show students’ absences from each class and students’ total absences from school
Special Attendance Issues
Student Not Living with Parent or Guardian
A student who is not living with a parent or guardian is expected to follow all school policies in the same manner as all other students. Notes (to excuse absences, etc.) should be written by an adult member of the household in which the student lives. If the student lives in a situation where no adult authority is present, arrangements regarding attendance and discipline procedures must be set up by means of a meeting of the student and the assistant principal. M.G.L. Chapter 76 Section 1.
Retention and/or Loss of Credit
Fourteen absences or more per school year may result in retention and/or loss of credit.
Absences accumulated due to out-of-school suspensions do not count towards a loss of academic credit. Students who are absent because of out-of-school suspensions must make up missed assignments, including homework and test(s). The principal can determine that other extenuating circumstances justify absences which do not merit a loss of academic credit.
Truancy/Unresolved Chronic Absenteeism
When a student accumulates excessive unexcused absences, the principal (or their designee) may seek assistance from the Juvenile Court and/or the Department of Children and Families to resolve attendance matters.
High School Attendance and Academic Credit Policy
Attendance is required to earn credit. A student who has enrolled in a class is expected to be present each time the course is in session. For the 2025-2026 school year, high school students will not receive credit when they exceed the following number of absences:
a. Fourteen (14) unexcused class absences per one-credit course
b. Seven (7) unexcused class absences for courses less than one credit
Administrative Procedure for Loss of Credit
a. In any case where a student fails to receive credit for any course, the final course grade will still be recorded on that student’s permanent record card.
b. In the case where no credit is received for a course required for graduation (e.g., American History) and in which a passing grade has been received, it is required that the course be repeated.
c. A minimum of twenty-four (24) credits is required to graduate.
Attendance Buyback Program During the 2025-26 school year, eligible high school students will be able to voluntarily participate in an Attendance Buyback Program. Through this program, students can make up the credit(s) which they lost due to excessive absences. To be eligible for the Attendance Buy-back Program, students must have passed a course and must have between 15 and 22 absences. Eligible students who complete additional hours of instruction beyond the school day or on Saturday mornings can then receive full credit for the course. Students will not be able to change their passing grade for their course. Eligible students who are interested in this program, should contact their high school guidance counselor for additional information.
Appeal Procedure
a. The following areas may be considered in the appeal process:
Documented illness
Mandated school-sponsored activities School-sponsored field trips
Alternative Education Programs
Home tutoring assigned by the school
b. Appeals for waiver of the policy will be heard by the Principal or their designee.
c. The caregiver may appeal an adverse decision by the Principal or their designee to the Managers for Instruction and School Leadership
d. The caregiver may appeal an adverse decision by the Managers for Instruction and School Leadership to the Superintendent.
e. The caregiver may appeal an adverse decision by the Superintendent of Schools to the School Committee. Appeals to the School Committee must be submitted in writing to the Superintendent, who will place the caregiver’s or guardian’s appeal on the School Committee agenda for the next regular meeting. The caregiver is to be notified of the date, time and place of the School Committee meeting.
Note: Confirmed class cuts and confirmed truancy cannot be appealed.