Attendance Information

All absences require that a written excuse be submitted to the school within three (3) days of the student’s return to school. If a written excuse is not submitted to the classroom teacher (elementary level) or school attendance secretary (middle and high school) within that time period, the absence is recorded as unexcused and is deemed by the state to be an illegal absence.

Phone calls notifying the school that a child is absent are appreciated, but these forms of communication do not replace a written excuse. A written excuse documenting an absence is required under the state’s compulsory attendance laws. A written excuse must contain the following information:

1. name of the student;
2. student grade level;
3. the date(s) of the absence;
4. the reason for the absence; and
5. a parent or legal guardian’s signature.

Absence notes may also be submitted to the school as an email attachment.

In cases where a student has accumulated ten (10) or more days of absences (including educational trip requests), parents/legal guardians may be notified that future absences will require an excuse signed by a doctor. 

Students must be in the classroom by the defined start of the school day.

• Radnor High School: 8:30 a.m.
• Radnor Middle School: 7:50 a.m.
• Elementary Schools: 9:05 a.m.

If not, they are considered tardy to school. Once again, a written excuse, which contains the same information as an absence excuse and signed by a parent, is required.

Students entering the building after the defined start of the school day must enter through the main entrance and stop at the main office (elementary) or attendance office (middle and high school) for a pass before being admitted to the classroom. Parents of elementary students must enter with the student to sign excuse forms.

In order for days out of school to be approved for family trips, educational tours or college visits, the Educational Trip Request Form must be submitted to the building principal a minimum of 10 days prior to the trip. Please note that trips will not be approved during the first two weeks of school, in cases of excessive absences, during standardized testing windows, or if the child is in academic jeopardy. Please refer to the request form for additional guidelines.

Educational Trip Request Form (PDF)

The state’s compulsory attendance laws provide consequences for failure to submit written excuses. When a student accumulates a minimum of five (5) unexcused absences, parents/legal guardians may be notified by a document known as a “First Legal Notice.” This document lists the dates of unexcused absences and serves to remind parents/legal guardians that written excuses must be submitted for all future absences. Once an absence is determined to be unexcused, it may not be changed to an excused absence. 

If a student accumulates an additional unexcused absence after a First Legal Notice has been served, the parent/legal guardian will be cited for a violation of the compulsory attendance laws of Pennsylvania. A citation is issued through the office of a District Court Justice. A parent/legal guardian has fifteen (15) days in which to respond to the citation. Responses include (1) paying the fine or (2) requesting a hearing before the District Justice. Failure to do either within 15 days results in the issuance of a bench warrant against the parent/legal guardian.