Suffolk Public Schools will continue to call your home following any absence. In addition, once a student has (5) absences, the school will meet with the parent to create a plan to help ensure the student does not miss any more school.

When a student reaches (7) absences, schools are instructed to send the parent a reminder of this either by phone, email, or mail. 

Should a student miss (10) days of school, an attendance meeting will be held at the school again to review the previous plan and make the necessary changes to see that the student does not miss any more days of school.

Students who exceed (10) unexcused absences will meet with the truancy officer and his team at the courthouse to discuss and review the previous plans and provide the necessary support to help the student to be successful in attending school. Should additional unexcused absences occur, the truancy officer may select to file a Child in Need of Services (CHINS) petition with the juvenile court system.

It is important that parents keep Suffolk Public Schools advised of their current mailing address and phone number. Written notes explaining an absence must be received within five (5) days of an absence. Every absence is considered unexcused until a written explanation for the absence is received in writing and approved by the principal or his/her designee. 

The student suffering an infectious or contagious disease, a serious illness, the severe illness of an immediate family member, the student’s exposure to a contagious disease, a death in the immediate family, fire, or other serious damage to the home that requires the family to move, and similar circumstances constitute excused absences.