Attendance

CCA provides an online, flexible educational opportunity for learners residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learners are expected to meet minimum levels of attendance per the Pennsylvania Public School Code.

Required Instructional Hours
Learners are required to complete at least 180 days or 900 hours (Elementary)/990 hours (Middle & High) of instruction every calendar year. The CCA board of Trustees approves a 180-day school calendar each year. This calendar is released in the spring prior to the beginning of the school year and can be found in edio, on the CCA school website and in the Learner Handbook.

CCA learners are expected to login on each of the approved 180 school days indicated on the school calendar. Should a learner not log in during one of the 180 approved days, the Learning Coach must submit an excuse via edio explaining the absence. Attendance may also be reconciled based on successful completion of assigned schoolwork.

CCA learners meet the hours of attendance by attending Guided Instruction or Live Classroom Sessions, completing coursework in edio or independently, attending educational field trips, attending state testing or participating in other CCA-approved activities.

Holidays
Although CCA observes many federally designated holidays, as a public school, CCA must comply with state laws and regulations by providing students with the minimum number of days or hours of instruction during the school year, as noted above. Because of CCA’s diverse, statewide population, our model gives families control over when they complete schoolwork. Whether it’s for holidays, travel, religious observances, or any other reason, families have the flexibility to be off from school at their discretion or need. Although CCA may not be officially closed on a specific date, families are always welcome to celebrate any and all holidays that are important to them. CCA respects each family’s beliefs and will offer support if they choose to celebrate a holiday that is not on our official school calendar. Please contact your learner’s teachers to inform them of your observance of a holiday and they
will gladly work with your learner.

Excused Absences
Should a learner be unable to login during one of CCA’s school days, the Caretaker must complete and submit an excuse form through edio or edioGO within three (3) days of the missed school day. Schoolwork completed on an alternate school day or non-school day and excused absences do not impact perfect attendance.

Learners may be excused from school for any of the following reasons:

Should a learner accumulate four (4) excused absences, CCA may require doctor’s notes for additional absences.

Unexcused Absences
if a learner has not logged on during one of CCA’s school days, it will be recorded as an unexcused absence until the learner or caretaker submits a valid excuse. This excuse should be provided no later than three days after the non-login. Unexcused absences will impact perfect attendance. CCA shall provide notice to the parent/guardian upon each incident of unexcused absence. Following accumulation of the equivalent of three (3) unexcused absences, CCA shall send written notice to the parent/guardian in accordance with applicable law
and administrative guidelines. A learner is considered habitually truant after six (6) unexcused absences and CCA shall send written notice to the parent or guardian. Following accumulation of the equivalent of ten (10) unexcused absences, CCA shall send written notice to the parent/guardian scheduling a School Attendance Improvement Conference between appropriate school staff, parent/guardian, learner, and other service providers to determine what may be preventing the learner from participating in the learning program, and to develop a School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP).

Failure to adhere to the SAIP and/or continued accrual of unexcused absences will result in additional actions in accordance with applicable law, which may includereferral to a school-based or community-based attendance improvement program, referral to county Children and Youth Services (CYS), filing a truancy citation in the office of the appropriate judge, or withdrawal from CCA (for learners 18 or older).

CCA may withdraw a learner who accumulated ten or more consecutive, unexcused absences. If a learner is withdrawn for absences, CCA will notify the resident school district and CYS to ensure enrollment at another school. Excessive unexcused absences may all result in suspension or termination of Instruction Technology Subsidy (ITS) Reimbursement.