Section 5-A2102. ABSENCES

 

2102.1    Any absence, including an absence from any portion of the instructional day, without a valid excuse shall be presumed to be an unexcused absence.

 

2102.2   An educational institution shall define categories of valid excuses for an absence, which shall include the following categories:

 

(a)Illness or other bona fide medical cause experienced by the student;    

 

(b)Exclusion, by direction of the authorities of the District of Columbia, due to quarantine, contagious disease, infection, infestation, or other condition requiring separation from other students for medical or health reasons;

 

(c) Death in the student’s family;

 

(d)Necessity for a student to attend judiciary or administrative proceedings as a party to the action or under subpoena;     

 

(e) Observance of a religious holiday;

 

(f)Lawful suspension or exclusion from school by school authorities;

 

(g) Temporary closing of facilities or suspension of classes due to severe weather, official activities, holidays, malfunctioning equipment, unsafe or unsanitary conditions, or other condition(s) or emergency requiring a school closing or suspension of classes;

(h)Failure of the District of Columbia to provide transportation in cases where the District of Columbia has a legal responsibility for the transportation of the student;

 

(i)Medical or dental appointments for the student;

 

(k) Absences to allow students to visit their parent or a legal guardian, who is in the  military;  immediately before, during, or after deployment; and

 

(l) An emergency or other circumstances approved by an educational institution. 

2102.3   An educational institution shall publish and make available to parents and students the attendance policies and procedures, including a list of valid excused absences.

 

2102.4   An educational institution shall obtain an explanation from the student’s parent or guardian verifying the reason for an absence within no more than five (5) days upon the student’s return to school, otherwise the absence shall be deemed unexcused. 

 

 

authority

Article II of An Act to provide for compulsory school attendance, for the taking of a school census in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, as amended, effective February 4, 1925 (43 Stat. 806; D.C. Official Code § 38-201 et seq. (2001 ed. & 2012 Supp.)); as amended by Section 302 of the South Capitol Street Memorial Amendment Act of 2012, effective June 7, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-141, 59 DCR 3083 (April 20, 2012); D.C. Official Code §§ 38-201 et seq. (2012 Repl.); Mayor’s Order No. 2012-116, dated July 26, 2012; Sections 3(b)(11), 3(b)(15) and 7c of the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, as amended, effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-2602(b)(11), 2602(b)(15) and 2609(c)(2) (2012 Supp.)); and Section 403 of the State Board of Education Establishment Act of 2007, effective June 12, 2007 (D.C. Law 17-9; D.C. Official Code § 38-2652(a)(14) (2012 Supp.)).

source

Final Rulemaking published at 24 DCR 1005 (July 29, 1977); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 32 DCR 3668 (June 28, 1985); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 39 DCR 1218 (February 28, 1992); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 56 DCR 8978 (November 20, 2009); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 9725 (June 28, 2013); as amended by the School Attendance Clarification Amendment Act of 2016, effective July 26, 2016 (D.C. Law 21-0140; 63 DCR 8207 (June 10, 2016)).