Excessive student absences can have consequences, both for the student and potentially for the school district.
“Good attendance [for students] is between 94 to 95 percent,” said Dean of Students Mr. William Campbell. This equals about two to three absences per student for the year, he added.
According to said District Data and Assessment Manager Ms. Courtney Hamm, a potential consequence for the school is that funding could be withheld for the district if the percentages aren’t met for attendance, she said. The school could also be placed on an Improvement Plan by the state, she explained, adding that this is not something Milton has ever experienced.
The district submits attendance information to the state’s PIMs system once a year. The state measures how many days students were enrolled versus how many days they attend, Ms. Hamm added.
Co-Principal Mr. Andrew Rantz said if the attendance requirements are not met, there are potential corrective actions from the Department of Education. He added that the school does not get fined.
The school is only responsible for students ages five through 17, said Mr. Rantz. After students turn 18, the school is no longer responsible for their attendance, he added.
Mr. Campbell said that the school still tracks these students’ attendance and will still contact the student and their parents if needed.
Every month there is a meeting with Mr. Campbell and Secretary Ms. Carrie Davister to discuss attendance and court referrals at the school, added Mr. Campbell.
After COVID-19, the school’s attendance trends started to get worse, according to Mr. Campbell.
During the 2021- 22 school year, there were 269 students who had School Attendance Improvement Plans (SAIP). The number of students who were referred to Parental Truancy Assistance Program (PTAP) was 97, said Ms. Davister. She added that 64 students were referred to the Magistrate Court.
During the 2022-23 school year there were 242 students who had a SAIP, 68 students were referred to PTAP and 34 students were referred to the Magistrate Court, said Ms. Davister.
Ms. Davister added, so far during the 2023-24 school year, 67 students have had SAIPs, 38 were referred to PTAP and 36 were referred to the Magistrate Court.
According to Ms. Davister, a SAIP is referred after five unlawful absences and a PTAP is after six.
“I think it’s better this year,” added Ms. Davister.
Mr. Campbell said the school has been trying to increase student attendance after COVID-19. There was a debate on whether students should be given more than ten days of absences, he added.
The School District decides how many absences students are allowed, according to Mr. Campbell. A recent policy change allows students to present a doctor’s note, which will prevent the absence from counting toward their total, added Ms. Davister.
The decision was made by the school board, said Ms. Davister. She added it was changed due to the concerns and complaints of parents.
Mr. Rantz said an unlawful absence is applied when parents do not call into the attendance line, send a parent excuse or send a doctor’s note in.
After SAIP is in place, the school brings the Pennsylvania School Attendance Improvement and Truancy Reduction Toolkit, along with a truancy officer to go over state laws, said Mr. Campbell.
Milton’s truancy officers are Mr. Keith Mielke and Ms. Molly McCarthy, added Ms. Davister.
Aaccording to SAIP, a phone call is to be made after five or more unlawful absences, said Mr. Campbell.
The district also could introduce attendance approval plans with parents and students, get Children and Youth involved, attend PTAP meetings and then also be referred to the magistrate court, explained Mr. Rantz.
If students are not coming to school, the school works with the students and their families, and sends letters and makes phone calls home, said Mr. Rantz.
There are some bright spots when it comes to attendance. As of February, there were 37 students this year that have perfect attendance: Six freshman, 10 sophomores, five juniors and 17 seniors, said Ms. Davister.