To submit an absence excuse, send an email to NWAbsenceDocumentation@rhmail.org with the document attached.

Student Attendance Information

Attendance for students will be taken on all platforms of instruction offered.

Virtual Academy

Students in the virtual program will follow a schedule just as they would in a traditional brick and mortar school. Teachers in the Virtual Academy will provide face-to-face instruction via live-streaming and digital coursework through computer-based platforms five days a week. Teachers will record attendance daily.  

Attendance for a Hybrid Schedule: Onsite/Virtual Instruction

For students participating in the A Day/B Day hybrid schedule, onsite attendance will be determined by students’ physical presence in the classroom; and attendance on remote learning days will be determined by a daily online check-in or completion of teacher-assigned work.

Documentation for All Absences

Students in both the Virtual Academy and those attending school on a hybrid schedule must provide official documentation for any absences to their home school within three days after returning to school. This maybe in the form of a written excuse (signed by a parent/guardian) OR a medical statement. This documentation will be entered and filed in the student’s attendance file in the attendance office at their home school.  Documentation does not erase absences; it only states why the student missed school and is consistent with all state law and regulations.  To submit an absence excuse, send an email NWAbsenceDocumentation@rhmail.org with the document attached.

Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism  

Compulsory attendance laws; and state and federal laws and regulations determining absences for truancy and chronic absenteeism, have not changed and remain applicable for both onsite, virtual and hybrid instruction.

Truancy

A student ages 6 to 17 years meets the definition of a truant when the student:

• Has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences.
• In such cases an Attendance Intervention Plan should be developed.

Chronic Absenteeism

A student in grade K-12 meets the definition of chronic absenteeism when the student:

• Misses 50 percent or more of an instructional day for any reason for 10 percent (or more) of their enrollment period.
• All absences contribute to chronic absenteeism including excused, unexcused and OSS.

More district attendance information can be found on the Rock Hill School District website under Attendance.