Online School Attendance Policy

PA Distance Learning Charter School is a unique public school where instruction takes place entirely outside a regular school building. Because of this, attendance is recorded by evidence of student active online engagement each school day. Additionally, student work and participation are measured by reporting Educational Learning Hours—the hours your child is actually engaged in learning on a daily basis. Keep reading to find out more about our online school attendance policies and guidelines.

Pennsylvania Public School Law requires children to receive the following Educational Learning Hours:

Though we are a Pennsylvania virtual charter school, students must still abide by the following regulations as dictated by PA Public School Law:

Kindergarten:

5.0 hours per day
Approximately 25 hours per week, completing a minimum of 900 hours per year

Grades 1-6:

5.0 hours per day
Approximately 25 hours per week, completing a minimum of 900 hours per year

Grades 7-12:

5.5 hours per day
Approximately 27.5 hours per week, completing a minimum of 990 hours per year

Through our unique approach to learning, your child has opportunities to learn and can work on curriculum anytime—24 hours a day, seven days a week—often completing 30 or more learning hours per week.

Missing a Day of Class

Accordingly, parents are required to supervise daily online school attendance to avoid truancy issues. Under the supervision of their parent, students enrolled in a PA cyber school must log into the Student Portal/Learning Management System to complete and submit assignments as outlined in their course calendar. Parents are responsible for providing PA Distance Learning Charter School with written verification of the reason for an absence within three (3) days of such absence. A partial day of absence under Pennsylvania regulations is considered a day of absence from school. A maximum of ten days of cumulative lawful absences verified by parental notification may be permitted during a school year. All absences beyond ten cumulative days require an excuse from a physician.

More info?

Read more about our online school attendance policy in our Student Handbook.

Please feel free to email our Attendance Officer if you have any questions or concerns about attendance or the PA cyber school calendar.