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Attendance Requirements

Attendance Policy

Attendance is a very important aspect of your child’s education. This is true in the brick and mortar setting and in an online environment. It is important to understand that with flexibility also comes the responsibility that students need to be logging in daily during any regular school day.  The attendance policy for students within the CVA program will follow the same attendance policy as per the Chambersburg Area School District.  Pennsylvania School Code requires all public schools to offer 900 hours (elementary) / 990 hours (secondary) of instruction each year. 

PA school law considers the following conditions to constitute excused absences from school: illness, quarantine, recovery from accident, required court attendance, death in family, and family educational trips. The district reserves the right to require a doctor’s excuse for any questionable periods of absences. These instances may include medical and dental appointments, court appearances, family emergencies and participation in extracurricular activities.

A CVA student is considered truant if the student accumulates three (3) unlawful absences. After three (3) unlawful absences, the following guidelines are used with the intent of improving school attendance.  

  • 3 Unlawful Absences:  A SAIC (School Attendance Improvement Conference) may be scheduled with school officials.  
  • 6 Unlawful Absences:  A citation for truancy may be filed with the local District Magistrate.
  • 10 or more unexcused or unlawful absences may result in removal from the CVA program. 

Absence Excuse Notes

Absence excuse notes must be submitted to the CVA secretary or through the Attendance Form on the CVA website within three (3) days from an absence.  When no note is received, the absence shall be regarded as illegal. Up to five (5) school days may be used for educational purposes.  Submit the Educational Trip Form to the CVA secretary before an educational trip.  

CVA students follow the Chambersburg Area School District calendar; therefore, CVA students have the same scheduled breaks as in-person students. If CASD has a holiday, snow day, etc., CVA students are off school as well.    

Mandatory Wellness Checks

Act 47 of 2025 requires that virtual schools must ensure that every enrolled student is visibly seen and communicated with in real time by a teacher or school representative.  This must occur at least once per week (when school is in session for at least 3 days of instruction during the week).  This requirement can be satisfied through live session attendance. Students are assigned homeroom teachers who will hold regularly scheduled weekly check ins for students. If students cannot attend their homeroom teacher’s session, the student may attend another scheduled session with any other CVA homeroom teacher.  Students who do not report for their weekly check in will receive a ½ day illegal absence for the week.  

Attendance Requirements - Middle School Program: Grade 6-8

Recommended Hours for Middle School Students:  5.5 hours per day or 25-30 hours per week (Sun-Sat)

6th-8th GRADE students ARE REQUIRED to participate in live sessions with their teacher(s) daily.  To receive credit for attendance, 6th-8th Grade students MUST:

  • Log into AND make progress on their coursework in Edgenuity five of seven days each week. Students will not get credit for attendance if they log in but complete zero activities.  Progress will be verified each Monday for the previous week’s attendance.
  • Each new week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday at 11:59 PM.
  • Students must be able to work in multiple online learning platforms. Teachers may assign additional required graded assignments outside of Edgenuity through their Google Classrooms.
  • Special education students may be required to attend live sessions with the learning support teacher depending on the accommodations listed in their IEPs.  Special education students must complete weekly progress monitoring.
  • If students are failing their courses or not meeting the minimum attendance requirements, they may be required to return to their home buildings.
  • If students have scheduled assessments (MAP, PSSA, Keystone, CDT, WIDA) or other required exams and do not participate in those exams, they will be considered absent and may lose the privilege of remaining with CVA.
  • CVA students may be required to take their tests in the school setting or during a virtual session as scheduled by the teacher or CVA Principal. 

Attendance Requirements - High School Students: Grades 9-12

Recommended Hours for High School Students:  1.5 hour per course per day (4 courses = 30 hours per week)

Students ARE ENCOURAGED to participate in live sessions with each of their teacher(s) regularly, especially if they are struggling with their coursework. Live sessions are required if students are failing their course(s). Students can meet with their teachers during the regularly scheduled live sessions OR by scheduling a meeting with the teacher.

To receive credit for attendance, high school students must either:

  • Log into AND make progress on their coursework in Edgenuity five of seven days each week. Students will not get credit for attendance if they log in but complete zero activities OR maintain Target Progress and passing grades in their course(s) based on the Course Map and Actual Grade(s) in Edgenuity.   
  • Each new week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday at 11:59 PM. Progress will be verified each Monday for the previous week’s attendance.
  • Students must be able to work with multiple online learning platforms. Teachers may assign additional required graded assignments outside of Edgenuity and/or eDynamic Learning through their Google Classrooms.
  • Special education students may be required to attend live sessions depending on their IEPs.  Special education students must complete weekly progress monitoring.
  • If students are failing their courses or not meeting the minimum attendance requirements, they will be required to attend live sessions or return to their home buildings.
  • If students have scheduled assessments (MAP, PSSA, Keystone, CDT, WIDA) or other required exams and do not participate in those exams, they will be considered absent.
  • CVA students may be required to take their tests in the school setting or during a virtual session as scheduled by the teacher or CVA Principal.
  • Students cannot participate in extracurricular activities and events if they have accrued 10 or more illegal absences.  These events include prom, Color Day, Homecoming, etc. 

Academic Probation

If students fall substantially behind in their coursework and/or have been classified as habitually truant, they may be placed on academic probation at the discretion of the CVA Principal.  

To remain in the CVA program, students must demonstrate the following:

  • Students must be on target progress with all coursework.   
  • Students must meet minimum attendance requirements.  

After the probationary period, If students have not shown satisfactory academic improvement, they will be dismissed from the CVA program and will be required to return to school in-person.