St. Mary’s County Public Schools has joined with Attendance Works, America’s Promise Alliance, and Points of Light, as well as several other national organizations to recognize the importance of school attendance. Together, these organizations and school systems around the nation are proclaiming September 2013 as School Attendance Awareness Month. The Board of Education of St. Mary’s County joined in the proclamation, recognizing Student Attendance Awareness Month at their meeting on September 11, 2013.
Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) may monitor school attendance through the Home Access Center (HAC) on the St. Mary’s County Public School website (www.smcps.org). When an absence is unavoidable, documentation of the absence must be sent to school within three days of the absence. Documentation can be either with a written note, phone call, email, or through the school website portal.
Staff is committed to reducing chronic absences. Regular and consistent attendance is necessary for student achievement, graduation, and college and career readiness. The schools cannot educate students or provide support when they are absent from school. It is important for parents, legal guardians, and the community to recognize the importance of students arriving at school every day on time.
