Get to school: Absence rates rise

The attendance rate for Milton Area High School students has decreased in the 2020-21 school year.

Co-Principal Mr. Andrew Rantz said that the average percentage for attendance in most school years is between 92-94 percent. From the first day of school to Dec. 13, the average was 90.2 percent.

The rate for ninth grade is at 90.9 percent, sophomores and juniors both averaged 91 percent, and seniors are at 88 percent, added Mr. Rantz.

The respective rates from the beginning of the 2019 school year until the March 13, 2020 closure were 94 percent (ninth), 94 percent (tenth), 91 percent (11) and 90 percent (12). The total percentage of attendance for that year was 92.1.

“I believe it is still the fallout of all Covid-19 related issues, stresses, fears, etc,” said Mr. Rantz.

Each year, a student may have up to 10 absences excused with notes written by their parent. After the tenth absence (or after three illegal absences), the student must have a doctor’s note, or all absences are considered unlawful.

“If you continue to get unlawful absences, you’ll be referred to the district magistrate,” he added.

When a student exceeds the three unlawful absences, they must attend a meeting run by Northumberland County Children of Youth and Northumberland County Juvenile Probation.

According to Mr. Rantz, after ten days of excused absences or three unlawful absences, parents will get a call and a letter. At that point, a student attendance improvement plan will be put into place. Mr. Rantz added that once a student exceeds the number of absences, fines would be given.

Once a student is 18, the student does not have to legally go to school anymore and will not be punished for not attending, said Mr. Rantz. However, if older students stop coming to school, the student will not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities at all, he added.

If student athletes have too many absences in a semester, they would be ineligible to play for a whole season. “If a student has 20 or more absences in one semester, then they are out of all PIAA sports until they have been in school for 45 total school days,” he added.

According to Athletic Director Mr. Rod Harris, how each sport handles absences is different and is up to the coaches.

“If you have a team no matter what sport it is if players are not coming to your practices for whatever reason, we don’t have the true dynamic of your team,” added Mr. Harris.

Mr. Harris said that when a student has an unexcused absence on a day of school where there is a game or a practice, usually that student will not play.

Mr. Rantz said that when a student is on quarantine, their attendance is counted as an excused absence from the school. Then the teacher will notify the office whether or not the student is online.

Virtual participation will not affect towards the number of absences a student can have, added Mr. Rantz.

According to Mr. Rantz, if a student does not show up to school for an amount of time and have not heard anything about that student, the guidance counselors will be contacted. After the guidance counselors find out, they reach out to the parents or guardians of that student.