Cumberland County Schools to enforce updated attendance policy starting in January

Summary

Cumberland County Schools officials outlined changes to the district attendance policy — including a 10‑note limit for parent excuses, a five‑day deadline to submit notes and possible retention or loss of course credit after high levels of unexcused absences — citing rising chronic absenteeism (34.5%).

Cumberland County Schools officials on a district briefing described an updated attendance policy that will take effect in January and stressed new limits and consequences aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism.

Kristina Witt, the counseling coordinator for Cumberland County Schools, said the district’s chronic absenteeism rate rose from 20% in 2019 to as high as 40% in 2022 and is currently about 34.5%. “We believe in Cumberland County Schools that children should be in school, on time, every day,” Witt said.

The policy package the district described narrows the number of parent‑guardian written excuses and tightens record‑keeping. Under the changes, parents may submit up to 10 parent/guardian notes per year; notes must be submitted within five days of the student’s return to keep an absence excused. Absences submitted after the five‑day window or beyond the 10 allowed parent notes will be recorded as unexcused, the presenters said.

Pamela Story, the district’s school social…

Cumberland County Schools to enforce updated attendance policy starting in January

Summary

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