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Attendance Policy

Cesar Chavez PCS is committed to providing scholars with a high-quality education. Daily attendance in school is essential for scholar academic success. We strongly request that scholars and their parents make every effort possible to be on time and minimize the number of days they miss school.
 
All scholars who are five (5) years or older on or before September 30th of the current school year are legally required to attend school each day until they meet Upper School graduation requirements or turn 18 years old. Scholars must be present for 60% of the school day to be considered present, per DC Code § 38-202.

Cesar Chavez PCS recognizes there are certain days throughout the school year (i.e. upon the completion of commencement) when scholars are not expected to attend. On such days scholars will be considered “present” for reporting purposes.

Scholars who are absent from school are not permitted to:
    • Be on school property
    • Participate in school activities
    • Attend school activities and/or after school activities including athletic participation
 
EXCUSED ABSENCES
An absence is excused when a scholar (a) has a valid excuse, and (b) provides a written note from a parent/guardian (or doctor) within five (5) days of the absence. All excused absence notes are subject to monitoring and verification. Here are some examples of excused absences:
    • Scholar illness. Scholars must provide a doctor’s note for absences over three (3) days
    • Medical appointments. Scholars are expected to attend school before/after the appointment
    • Religious holidays
    • Death in the family
    • Family emergency, such as house fire, flood, or violence in the home
    • Mandatory court appearance
    • College visit
    • Upper School visit
    • Military and or career program visit
    • Failure of DC to provide legally mandated scholar transportation in cases where there is a legal responsibility for DC to provide transportation for the scholar to and from school
    • An emergency or other circumstance approved by the Executive Director
If a valid excuse note is not provided within five (5) days of the absence, the absence may be considered unexcused.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
An absence is unexcused when a scholar fails to attend school without a valid excuse (whether or not they have parent/guardian approval). Some examples of unexcused absences include:
    • Lengthy vacations 
    • Sports camps or outings
    • Oversleeping
    • Babysitting
    • Skipping class
    • Employment
ABSENCES IMPACT ON SCHOLARS GRADES
Cesar Chavez PCS believes that consistent attendance is essential for academic success. When scholars miss school without an approved excuse, it directly affects their ability to master course content and demonstrate achievement.
Policy Guidelines:
  • Scholars who accumulate 5 or more unexcused absences in any single grading period will receive an automatic “Incomplete” for that course.
  • To remove the “Incomplete,” the scholar must complete an attendance recovery plan assigned by the teacher or administrator (e.g., Saturday school, academic intervention, or targeted assignments).
  • If the recovery plan is not completed within 2 weeks of the grading period’s end, the
    “Incomplete” will convert to a failing grade, at the discretion of school leadership.
  • Unexcused absences may result in loss of eligibility for extracurricular activities, academic
    honors, and field trips during the affected quarter.
This policy emphasizes accountability and reinforces the importance of being present, prepared, and
engaged in the learning process.

DOCUMENTATION OF EXCUSED ABSENCES
When a scholar returns to school after an absence, s/he should bring a note to the Registrar. The noteshould include the date(s) of the absence, the reason for the absence, and any required documentation. An original doctor’s certificate should be provided for medical appointments scheduled during the school day or absences due to illness totaling three or more days. Any scholar who is absent 10 or more days, unexcused, is defined as a truant. Cesar Chavez PCS follows the District of Columbia policy for reporting truant scholars to court services or the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA).

SUPPORTING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Families and guardians can help establish consistent and on-time attendance for their scholars.
    • Engage with your child about the importance of a good education to their future
    • Encourage good sleeping and eating habits
    • Work with your child to come up with a consistent morning routine that includes plenty of time to get ready for school
    • Leave extra time for transportation issues, like metro delays and traffic
    • Make sure your child arrives at school at least fifteen minutes before class starts
    • Schedule medical/dental appointments before or after school, where possible
 
TARDIES/SCHOLAR LATENESS
Classroom instruction and work time is essential for scholar academic success. Arriving at school late is considered tardy. Morning tardiness is inexcusable (unless it meets the requirements of an excused absence). Cesar Chavez PCS scholars who are marked tardy unexcused to any class including first period may be required to make up their work virtually by the end of the day in order to receive credit for the assignments.

In the event that your child is going to be late or absent, please call ahead to inform the school’s front office administrative assistant, even if you have informed your child’s teacher(s). Scholars that arrive after 60% of the academic day is completed will be marked “absent” from school as scholars do not meet the OSSE regulated in seat time.

EARLY DISMISSAL
Cesar Chavez PCS will honor early dismissal for scholars only after written or verbal notification by a parent/guardian of the scholar, on file. A parent/guardian letter that identifies and authorizes another adult to pick up the scholar must be submitted before the scholar will be dismissed early. Cesar Chavez PCS reserves the right to deny an early dismissal. Scholars are expected to pick up work that they are missing and work with their teachers to submit missed assignments.

ATTENDANCE POLICIES AND DISABLED SCHOLARS
Cesar Chavez PCS attendance policies apply to disabled and non-disabled scholars alike; the only exception is when a scholar’s absences are directly related to his/her disability. Parents/guardians should contact the Director of Special Education for an individualized determination regarding the appropriate documentation to excuse an absence.