Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School recognizes that good attendance is essential if students are to achieve and reach their potential. In order for a student’s legal attendance to be counted, he/she MUST log into Blackboard (pavcs.blackboard.com) each day that school is in session. If you skip logging into Blackboard, it is the equivalent of skipping or arriving late to homeroom at a brick and mortar school (B&M) and not checking in with the office before heading off to class. If you miss these important steps in a B&M, you are marked absent for the day, and it is the same here at PA Virtual. It is the responsibility of the parents at PA Virtual to provide an excuse when their child is absent from school. If a student is absent for three days without an excuse, the student will be considered truant. PA Virtual is required to report instances of truancy to the student’s school district of residence.

Educational Trips

An absence may be excused when it is demonstrated that the purpose of the absence is to take advantage of a valid educational opportunity. Approval for such an absence must be granted prior to the absence in accordance with the Student Educational Leave of Absence Policy.

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Legal Requirements

Section 13-1301 of the Public School Code establishes the right for students in Pennsylvania to attend school. Students between the ages of 6 and 21 years who are residents of any school district and are of “school age” are entitled to a public education. Furthermore, “compulsory school age” is defined in Section 13-1326 of the Public School Code as “…the period of a child’s life from the time the child’s parents elect to have the child enter school, which shall not be later than the age of eight (8) years, until the age of seventeen (17) years or graduation from an accredited high school.

Attendance Requirements

PA VIRTUAL expects students to attend school by logging onto Blackboard each day that school is in session. Good attendance is essential if students are to achieve and reach their potential. Each day is important for learning. Parents are required to ensure their son/daughter maintains good attendance. Students are expected to attend school each day. When a student misses school the parent needs to notify their family support coordinator (“FSC”) and send an excuse for the missed attendance within 3 school days. Regular school attendance is an absolute necessity for satisfactory pupil progress and is required by Pennsylvania School Law.

The FSC will review and report the student’s attendance daily. If the student is absent for more than one day, the parent must contact their FSC and indicate the nature of the absence and the period of time the student is unavailable. The school will require a physician’s excuse if the absence is illness related. Also, the student’s FSC must be notified if the student is not going to log on for an extended period of time due to a legitimate excuse, as outlined below. The school may, at its discretion, consider the student truant if the FSC is not properly notified, or if the reason for the absence is unexcused. Failure to comply with the attendance requirements may result in the initiation of truancy proceedings (see below for a description of the school’s truancy policy) against the parent and/or student and/or removal from the school’s rolls.

Please refer to the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct for detailed information concerning the PA Virtual attendance and truancy policy.