As we get ready to embark upon the first academic year at CSPES, we have received several inquiries related to student attendance. Attendance plays a crucial role in the success and well-being of your child. You are choosing to send your child to CSPES because of the long standing tradition of excellence that has been established at Chesapeake Science Point Middle/High. For your child to be successful and take full advantage of CSPES instructional programming, they must be at school.

At Chesapeake Science Point Elementary, we firmly believe that regular school attendance is essential for academic achievement and personal growth. We adhere to the policies set forth by the Maryland State Department of Education regarding lawful and unlawful absences, and we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the conditions under which students are considered lawfully absent:

• -Death of a family member: Three school days shall be considered excused upon the death of a family member. The principal may grant extra days for extenuating circumstances.

• -Illness of the student: Absences due to illness are considered lawful. If a student is continuously absent for an illness, a physician's certificate from the parent(s)/guardian(s) is required.

• -Court appearance: A copy of the court document for a court summons is required to excuse a student's absence.

• -Observance of a religious holiday: Students who observe religious holidays are lawfully absent.

• -State of emergency: Absences due to a state of emergency are lawful.

• -Deployment related absences: Visits with an active duty parent/guardian who has been deployed to a combat zone or combat supporting position are lawful, according to the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

Moreover, we want to emphasize that arriving after the official start of the school day (tardy) is also taken seriously, as it disrupts learning and leads to missed instructional time.

Truancy, defined as being unlawfully absent from school for a specified number of days, can have severe consequences for a student's academic progress. We work proactively with the Office of Student Support Services to address irregular attendance and develop necessary interventions.

It is essential for every child who resides in Maryland and is 5 years old or older to attend school regularly. We kindly request that you familiarize yourself with the attendance policies and procedures outlined in this letter, the AACPS Student Handbook, and the AACPS Parent Handbook. If your child experiences an absence, please complete the designated Google Form within 3 school days to explain the absence/s, Without explanation, absences will be recorded as unlawful.

Extended absences that do not meet the above criteria will be considered unlawful and, therefore, will be recorded as unexcused.

We value your partnership in ensuring your child's academic success. Regular school attendance sets the foundation for a brighter future and maximizes potential for growth. Should you have any questions or concerns about attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.