New Absence Reporting System Now Available
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We’re pleased to announce the launch of a new absence reporting system for our school district. Starting now, all student absences should be reported through the myStudent Parent Portal.
To submit an absence:
- Log in to your myStudent Parent Portal.
- Navigate to the Forms section.
- Complete and submit the Absence Reporting Form for approval.
For step-by-step instructions and helpful resources, please visit:
👉 www.pasco.k12.fl.us/attendance/absence
We appreciate your continued support in helping us maintain accurate attendance records. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.
Attendance Policy
All children who have attained or will have attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school year and have not yet attained the age of 16 years, except as otherwise provided, are required to attend school regularly during the entire school term. It is the District School Board of Pasco County’s belief that academic success requires continuity of instruction and active classroom participation. Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in the schools during the days and hours that the school is in session. School attendance shall be the responsibility of parents and students (F.S. 1003.21).
Pre-Arranged Absence Requests
All absences that deviate from district attendance policy must always be pre-approved. Students are required to complete an “Pre-Arranged Absent Form” for all personal absences. The Pre-Arranged Absent Form can be downloaded or picked up in the front office. Some examples of personal absences include religious retreats, mini-vacations, family visiting from out of town, driver’s license testing, military graduations, etc. Completing the Pre-Arranged Absence Form does not guarantee the days will be excused. Please see the chart below for examples of excused and unexcused absences. Completed forms must be returned to the Attendance Secretary. An absence due to college visits must include a letter from the college admissions office verifying the visit; limit of 2 per semester.
Attendance Notifications
Attendance letters are mailed out every 5 weeks to students whose attendance reflects 5 or more days of Excused or Unexcused Absences. These letters are generated at the district level and are for notification purposes only.
Excuse Notes
Students who are absent will be marked “unexcused” (“U”) until the parent/guardian notifies the school in writing and justifies the absence. Failure to do so within three (3) school days will cause the absence to be recorded as “unexcused”. In the case of excessive or extended absences, upon request of the principal or designee, a parent must provide documentation (doctor’s statement) of a student’s illness. You can report your student’s absence electronically on the bottom that says, “Report and Absence”.
Student Consequences for Unexcused Absences (Secondary Only)
If a student has unexcused absences in 3 or more periods a day in five or more days, or 5 unexcused absences in any one course within a quarter or ten (10) unexcused absences in any one course within a semester, the student shall:
- Lose the privilege of participating in extracurricular activities. These include but are not limited to dances, special events, club activities and participation in athletics, until the end of the following grading quarter. In addition,
- Lose the privilege to drive to campus until the end of the following grading quarter. If this occurs during the fourth quarter of the school year, the privileges would be lost for the first quarter of the following school year. The principal or designee may review extenuating circumstances resulting in a loss of privilege(s). The principal’s decision is final.
- Have their name submitted to the Department of Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). The student will then be in danger of having the current privilege to drive suspended, or for students who are under age 16, having their application for licensure denied. (Please see Driver’s License Law section, which follows) (F.S. 1003.26)
Some Examples of Excused and Unexcused Absences:
| Excused Absence/Tardy | Unexcused Tardy/Absence |
| Illness | Missed the Bus |
| Death in Family | Overslept |
| Appointment | Car Problems |
| Personal Absence (looked at on individual basis) | Forgot Homework |
| Family Emergency | Alarm Didn’t Go Off |
| Religious Event / Observance | Drove Friend to Work |
| * Judicial Activity | Out of Town |
* Subpoena or forced absence by any Law Enforcement Agency, provided that the student is not under immediate suspension from school. A copy of the subpoena or court summons must be submitted to the school.
