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Attendance Matters

Attendance Matters

  • Every absence requires a written excuse signed by a parent/guardian, or the medical professional who treated the child. An email to the teacher and attendance clerk (or filling out the online absence reporting form linked on the website) is also sufficient.
  • The maximum number of days that will be recorded as LAWFUL absences with parent notes for illnesses that do not require medical care will be 5 per SCHOOL YEAR. 
  • Children will be LAWFULLY absent when:
    • They are ill and provide a written medical excuse from a medical professional.
    • There is a death or serious illness in their immediate family-with proper documentation (bulletin, death notice, obituary).
    • There is a recognized religious holiday of their faith and it has been pre-approved by the school principal.
    • They are participating in sanctioned school activities.
    • The student is suspended from school.
    • There is a necessary legal or medical appointment that cannot be scheduled during non-school hours. 
  • Children will be considered UNLAWFULLY absent when:
    • They have exceeded 5 days for illness with a parent note.
    • A student is absent without acceptable cause with or without the knowledge of their parents.
    • They are out of town for trips or vacations.
  • Tardy Arrival/Early Dismissal
    • When you sign your child in Tardy or Dismiss Early and choose “doctor/dentist” as the reason on the computer, the minutes your child misses are only excused when a medical note is provided upon the child’s return from school.
    • These will be counted as absences if a student misses more than 50% of the instructional day, however, they will be a LAWFUL medical excuse with a note.

Need to Report an Absence?

Please use this form to report any time your student will be absent from school, other than a school-mandated quarantine. Don't forget to hit "submit" at the end!

Minutes Matter Every Day!

Attendance guidelines may be found on our district website: www.fortmillschools.org. For questions regarding your student’s attendance record, please contact OPES. For questions about the FMSD attendance policy or State of SC Attendance Laws, please contact the District Office.

 Kelly Kern | OPES PowerSchool Data Manager | Attendance/Registrar
kernk@fortmillschools.org   |    803-548-8178

Meghan Gray  | District Attendance and Residency Interventionist
graym@fortmillschools.org | 803-548-8257