Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend every class every day (8 am-3 pm). Illness or family circumstances sometimes make this impossible. However, we encourage students to treat school attendance as a serious matter and to embrace their intellectual gifts as an act of worship. The State Department of Education and the administration of Lancaster County Christian School establish attendance rules. Students absent from school for any reason are responsible for meeting all class requirements. Parents/guardians must email the receptionist by 8:30 am if their son or daughter will be absent. A phone call does not replace the need for an email, excuse card, or filling out the excuse form on the Family Portal. LCCS will email the parent/guardian of any student who is absent and for whom no notification has been received. If an absence is for more than a common illness, a doctor's excuse may be necessary. After three (3) or more consecutive days of absence, a doctor's excuse is required for re-entry into school.

Excused Absence

Students may legally be absent from school because of personal illness, quarantine, impassable roads, death in the immediate family, or other compelling situations directly affecting the student. Parents/guardians must provide a signed, written explanation for all absences and early dismissals via email, a handwritten note, or excuse form on the Family Portal within three (3) school days of the absence. If an excuse form is not received after three (3) school days, the absence will be classified as unexcused.

Pre-Approved Absences

Occasionally, a student may need to miss school for a reason other than illness. Discretion is strongly advised in seeking approval for a pre-approved absence. While special events and trips could be advantageous for some students, they could be detrimental for others. Absences for students who are just maintaining passing grades could have a serious negative effect on class studies and grades. Parents/guardians are asked to give this careful consideration before deciding on a trip or activity.

The “Pre-Approved Absence Request” form is available in the school office or on the website. Please submit the completed form at least two weeks prior to the date of the requested absence. Pre-approved absences are up to the discretion of the administration. Adherence to this procedure is essential.

Absences that do not meet excused absence guidelines and/or are not requested at least two weeks in advance may not be approved and will be considered as illegal/unexcused. Pre-approved absences may not be requested after the date of absence. Students who have already reached ten (10) absences during a school year may not request permission for a pre-approved absence. (Ten absences includes family trips and sick days). If a family emergency arises that does not meet these guidelines, it is at the principal’s discretion as to whether the event is approved.

Students may not request a pre-planned absence during midterms, finals, or achievement testing. If students are absent (unexcused) and miss an exam, they can take it at a later date and earn up to 50%. Students who are absent (unexcused) and do not make up the exam, will receive a zero.

Juniors and seniors may request up to two (2) additional pre-approved absences for college visits. Students who attend the LCCS-sponsored college visits must not have an excessive amount of absences and must be in good academic standing.

Unexcused Absences

Lancaster County Christian School is obligated to follow the rules and regulations of the State Department of Education concerning unexcused absences. The law requires that the superintendent of the public school district where the student resides be notified when a student has been illegally absent for three (3) or more days (Section 13-1332 and 13-1333).

According to Act 138 of 2016, after three (3) unexcused absences, a student is considered truant, and parents/guardians will be notified in writing within ten (10) days of the third unexcused absence and may be offered a conference and a School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP). Each subsequent unexcused absence will require a conference and development of a SAIP. After six (6) unexcused absences, a student is considered habitually truant, and the school must refer the student for either a community or school-based attendance improvement program or make a referral to Children and Youth services if the child is under 15 years old or file a citation with the magisterial district court if the child is 15-years or older.

Excuse Cards

  • Parents/guardians must provide a signed, written explanation for all absences, early dismissal requests, and late arrivals. Electronic excuse cards may be submitted through Family Portal or through email to the receptionist.

  • The burden of proof for excused absences rests with the parent/guardian.

  • If the receptionist does not receive the excuse card within three (3) school days after the student returns to school, then the parents/guardians will receive notification that the absence will remain unexcused.

  • Students who are absent from classes for any reason contrary to those listed will be marked as unexcused. Middle & upper school students who skip school or classes will receive disciplinary consequences as determined by the administration.

Excessive Absences

In an attempt to improve attendance and to comply with the State Department of Education, any student who has been absent for more than seven (7) school days will receive notification by the school office. Once he/she reaches ten (10) days, whether excused, unexcused, or pre-planned, a written doctor’s excuse may be required for each additional absence. This is in compliance with the State Department of Education policies (Section 13-1332 and 13-1333). If a student is illegally absent for three (3) school days the State Department of Education will be contacted. A Truancy Prevention Plan may be written in order to help prevent further illegal absences. The plan may include consultation with a school truancy officer that could result in a court appearance.

Classification of Tardies

All students must be in class by 8 am. Students who are not in class by 8 am must report directly to the receptionist for a late pass before they will be permitted to enter class. All students who are tardy for any reason other than approved, excusable tardies will be marked as unexcused.

  • Students who arrive late but before 11:25 am are considered tardy but present for the full day.

  • Students who arrive late between 11:25 am - 2 pm are considered tardy and absent for a half day.

  • Students who arrive late after 2 pm are considered absent for the full day.

  • Students (grades 7-12) receive two (2) unexcused tardies per quarter without consequence.

  • Students (grades 7-12) who accumulate three (3) unexcused tardies in a quarter (tardy to school and tardy to class are accumulated separately) will be issued a detention.

    • The next two tardies (4th and 5th) will each result in a detention.

    • Students will serve an in-school suspension after their 6th tardy, and a parent/guardian meeting will be held with the principal and dean of students.

    • Additional tardies may result in out-of-school suspensions.

  • A student who arrives late to school is expected to take any test scheduled for that day, even if that class was missed. The student is expected to initiate arrangements for testing or assignments with the teacher.

  • Students who are tardy but arrive before 9 am, must inform the receptionist if they plan to purchase lunch. Students who arrive at school after 9 am must pack a lunch.

  • Students who are tardy (unexcused) and arrive at school after 9 am are not permitted to participate in extracurricular practices and events.

Tardy to Class

Students must be in each class period when the bells for that class to begin. Students who are not in class when the bell rings must have a pass from their previous class’s teacher or from the office.

  • Students (grades 7-12) who accumulate three (3) unexcused class tardies in a quarter will be issued a detention.

    • The next two tardies (4th and 5th) will each result in a detention.

    • Students will serve an in-school suspension after their 6th tardy, and a parent/guardian meeting will be held with the principal and dean of students.

    • Additional tardies may result in out-of-school suspensions.

Excused Tardies

  • Medical/dental appointment with doctor/dentist excuse slip

  • Major traffic problem if the same problem causes a large number of students to be tardy (Students must plan for morning rush-hour traffic.)

  • Late arrival of bused students

  • Illness (with note from parent/guardian)

  • Extenuating circumstances discussed with administration

Unexcused Tardies

After 10 unexcused tardies to school, a student is considered habitually tardy. Parents/guardians will be notified in writing and offered a conference and School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP).

Early Dismissals

Students must bring a written note from the parent/guardian that includes the reason for the early dismissal. Early childhood & lower school students should give the note to their classroom teacher. Middle & upper school students should give it to the receptionist. Excused early dismissals include dental, medical, or other important appointments. Before leaving, the student must sign out with the receptionist. Any work that is missed during the absence must be made up in a timely manner. Students who have an unexcused early dismissal or leave school early due to illness are not permitted to participate in extracurricular practices and events that day.

  • Students who leave early after 2 pm are considered present for the full day (if the dismissal is excused).

  • Students who leave early between 11:20 am - 2 pm are considered absent for a half day.

  • Students who leave early before 11:20 am are considered absent for the full day.

Senior Work Study/Internships

A senior who works/interns a minimum of 10 hours a week may enroll in Work Study. This allows the student to sign out to go to work prior to 3 pm. Approval must be obtained from the upper school principal, the college and career counselor, the parent/guardian, and the employer. The employer will evaluate the student’s work performance and the student will receive a grade for said employment.

Make-up Work

Students are responsible to contact their teachers concerning assignments and tests missed during an absence. All classwork must be completed to the satisfaction of the teacher. Students have the number of days that they were absent + 1 to make up work that was assigned while they were absent (excused absences only, except pre-approved absences). For example, if a student is absent for 3 days, they have 4 total days to make up their work. If they are absent for 5 days, they have 6 total days to make up their work. All make-up work should be submitted by 3 pm on the final day of the permitted make-up days. Make-up tests may be scheduled during a class, lunch, or after school, as arranged by the student and teacher. Long-term assignments will be expected on the scheduled due date unless pre-arranged with the teacher.

Pre-approved absences occasionally cause students to be out of school for several days. Students are expected to make arrangements with all teachers for any work that they will miss prior to the pre-approved absence. Students should make every effort to complete the work before the absence. If this is not possible, then they will be expected to have the work completed upon their return.

Students who are absent unexcused are expected to turn in their missed work on the day that they return to school. Work turned in late after an unexcused absence is subject to the late assignment penalty.

In all circumstances related to student absences from class, the primary responsibility falls upon the student to communicate with the teacher and to complete work in a timely manner when he/she returns. All students who arrive late to school are expected to take any tests scheduled for that day.