Regular attendance in school is imperative because it lays the foundation for academic success, social development, and long-term life opportunities. Showing up is one of the most powerful things a student can do for their future.
Why it matters:
- Academic Progress: Learning is cumulative. Missing school means missing instruction, practice, and feedback that are difficult to fully recover later.
- Skill Development: Regular attendance builds habits like responsibility, time management, and persistence, these skills are essential for both higher education and the workforce.
- Social Connection: School provides consistent opportunities to build relationships with peers and adults, which supports emotional well-being and a sense of belonging.
- Support Systems: Teachers and counselors often notice when students are struggling emotionally, socially, or academically. Being present increases access to this support.
- Long-Term Impact: Chronic absenteeism is strongly linked to higher dropout rates, lower lifetime earnings, and increased risk of future unemployment.
Daily Schedule
At FHS, School begins promptly at 8:00am and goes until 2:20 unless a student has jr/sn privileges. Tuesday’s during Advisory students may not use jr/sn privileges and should only be dismissed for prearranged appointments as attendance is mandatory for advisory. Students should not arrive before 7:30am unless they are participating in a scheduled activity supervised by a staff member or coach. See the FHS Bell Schedule here.
Each student is expected to be in school, on time, every day that school is in session, unless legally excused. The Maine Department of Education has defined the following as legal excuses for tardiness and missing school:
- Personal illness, verified by family/caregivers, or medical authority.
- Appointments with health or other professionals of a necessary nature that cannot be scheduled outside the regular school day.
- Observance of recognized religious holidays when the observance is required during a regular school day.
- Emergency family situation.
- Planned absences that have been approved in advance (state law requirement) for personal or educational purposes.
Truancy:
For students who have completed 6th grade and are under 17 years of age, Maine State Law defines truancy as any student who is Absent Unexcused from school for 5 consecutive days or for 10 cumulative days in the school year. Any student who is Absent Unexcused for more than 2 periods in a day is reported to the state as a day Absent Unexcused and counted towards the 5 or 10 days for state truancy.
Chronic Absenteeism:
A student is considered chronically absent when they have been absent (excused or unexcused) for more than 10% of the school year. Falmouth Public Schools send out auto generated letters to guardians when a student has been absent 10 days and again at 18 days.
Procedures for Student Absence:
Please attempt to schedule medical and dental appointments outside of school time. Students absent from school must have their family/caregivers call the school (207-781-7429 ext 1) or email attendancehs@falmouthschools.org with the reason for the absence/dismissal. When family/caregivers are unavailable, they are asked to appoint a temporary guardian whom the school can contact regarding attendance issues.
Procedures for Dismissal:
Requests for early dismissal for an appointment must be received in the main office at the beginning of the day in order to ensure accurate dismissal/absence documentation. In addition, a student is required to report to the office before being dismissed. If the student does not check out through the main office, the absence will be marked as an Unexcused Absence. It is critical that we have accurate accountability of students, staff, faculty and visitors in the event of an emergency.
Students who are ill and wish to be dismissed must see the school nurse who will notify family/caregivers.
Planned Absence
Every effort should be made to schedule college visits, interviews, and family vacations during school vacation periods. Planned Absence Form: A student who will be absent for three or more consecutive school days must complete a Planned Absence Form and return the completed form to the main office. Teachers are not required or expected to prepare assignments, plan alternative assignments, or to provide remote/virtual learning options prior to or during the absence. Your student is responsible for making up all missed assignments. It is important to note that it is not possible to recreate the classroom learning experience of discussions, labs, and lectures that will be missed. Often an extended absence can have a negative impact on academic performance. With this in mind, parents/guardians and students must assume full responsibility.
Procedure for types of Absences and tardies:
Excused Absence (see above for MDOE legal reasons):
The school requires written verification for appointments from the provider for appointments scheduled during the school day in order for the absence to be excused. Students are given 2 school days for each school day of a legally excused absence to submit work or make arrangements to complete work with the teacher. Students are responsible for communicating with teachers to make arrangements for completing and submitting make-up work. Medical documentation may be required for students who are chronically absent due to numerous call outs for illness.
Tardy to School:
If a student is tardy to school they must gain an admit slip from the main office and present it to the teacher when they get to class. The tardy procedures below will also be enforced. After the 5th Tardy Unexcused of either type (TU or LU) to school or class the student will meet with administration to determine corrective actions which may include the loss of the right to drive to school and jr/sn privileges, if applicable.
Tardy Unexcused (TU) to any class less than 30 minutes:
For the first tardy the teacher will issue the student a warning and may require the student to make up the missed time. The teacher is asked to notify the office that the warning has been issued. For each Tardy Unexcused thereafter in the class the student will be assigned an office assigned mandated AFT period(s) with the teacher of the class to make up the missed time.
Tardy Unexcused (LU) 30 min or more to any academic class:
A Tardy Unexcused of more than 30 minutes to any academic class is considered a skipped class. Students will be assigned a period of Out of Community/In-School Suspension for each period missed. The student will serve the Out of Community ISS unless they get it cleared by the teacher within 2 school days of the skipped class.
Unexcused Absence (AU) for a period including AFT/Advisory:
An unexcused absence is considered a skipped class. Students will be assigned a period of Out of Community/In-School Suspension for each period missed . The student will serve the Out of Community ISS unless they get it cleared by the teacher within 2 school days of the skipped class.
Unexcused Absence (AU) for full day
Guardians/caregivers have 1 business day to reclassify a full day Unexcused Absence. If your student is facing extenuating circumstances that may impact their ability to meet the attendance requirements, please contact the school administration to discuss possible accommodations or support options.
For a first offense and second offense the student will be issued a period of Out of Community/ In-School Suspension.
For any absences that categorize a skipped class as listed above (AU for period/day or LU):
For third and fourth offenses, students will be issued either a half day Out of Community suspension based on the building administrator’s judgment. After the 5th Absent Unexcused the student and guardians will meet with administration to determine corrective actions which may include the loss of the right to drive to school and jr/sn privileges, if applicable.
Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities and Attendance:
It is the students responsibility to know and understand the effects of attendance/discipline on their ability to participate in activities. Please refer to the Athletics and Co-Curricular section of the student and family handbook. Below is a summary of the attendance requirements.
To participate in athletic and co-curricular practices, contests, and performances the student must:
1. Be in attendance for all scheduled periods (including study halls/AFT/Advisory unless on Jr/Sn Privileges) during the school day.
2. If a student has an appointment during the school day and is going to be tardy/dismissed a note from the provider must be provided.
3. If a student is going to miss more than 50% of the day for an appointment/activity or college visit they must get administrative approval from the athletic director to attend any activities that afternoon.
4. Any suspension (held in school or out of school) for any period of time will result in not being able to participate that afternoon.