Attendance Information

For early dismissals, a note (written or email) is required including the following information:

• Student's full first and last name
• Student grade level
• Date(s) of the absence
• Reason for the absence
• Parent/guardian full first and last name

*RHS students are expected to pick up their early dismissal pass prior to 8:30 am from the Attendance Office, communicate with their teachers if missing class and/or assessments then sign out on the Chromebook at their dismissal time and/or sign back in on the Chromebook at the Attendance Office. If there are any last-minute appointments or emergencies that occur on the day of, you may email RHS_absence@rtsd.org or call the RHS Attendance Office at 610-293-0855, x3536. You may also walk in, check-in with Security, and complete a note at the Attendance Office.

Students must be in the classroom by the defined start of the school day (RHS: 8:30 a.m.; RMS: 7:50 a.m., Elementary: 9:05 a.m.) or they are considered tardy to school.

If your student is tardy to school, a late note (written or email) is required, including the following information:

• Student's full first and last name
• Student grade level
• Date(s) of the absence
• Reason for the absence
• Parent/guardian full first and last name

*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 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. 

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.