As students returned to school this fall, they are adjusting not only to new classes and schedules, but also to a stricter attendance policy. Along with earlier deadlines and stricter note requirements, the biggest change this year is that parents must now sign students out of school for early departures, replacing last year’s policy that allowed students to check themselves out.
The attendance office is open from 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The staff remind students that early departure notes must be submitted before 7:40 a.m.. If a student is returning to school after a medical appointment, an official doctor’s note is required for the absence to be excused. The attendance office is closed during lunch, so students have to go through the main office to sign out.
These changes are meant to reinforce the message that attendance matters, according to school administration. Montgomery County Public Schools has emphasized consistency across schools, requiring the timely submission of absence documentation and more parent involvement in the process. Students find this unrealistic. “My parents can’t always sign me out, so I end up with an unexcused absence,” junior Gabriel Gorbach said.
The three-day rule for absence notes means that students must plan if they miss class. Whether the absence is for illness, family reasons or another approved cause, documentation must be turned in within three school days. Students who fail to provide a note within that window may have the absence marked unexcused, which can impact class participation grades and eligibility for athletics.
While the three-day deadline has been enforced before, the biggest adjustment for students will be the new sign-out requirement. In the past, juniors and seniors with driver’s licenses could check themselves out for appointments or other approved reasons. Now, a parent must physically come into the school and sign their child out at the attendance office.
Students have said they find challenges with the change. “Last year, I could just drop off a note and leave for a doctor’s appointment. Now, my mom has to leave work just to come get me when I could just drive myself [before]. It’s inconvenient for her and me,” junior Jolie Ginsburg said.
Administrators emphasize that the policy is about student safety. By requiring parents to be directly involved, the school can better ensure that students are accounted for and not leaving campus without proper authorization. With safety concerns and accountability at the forefront, the new rules aim to build stronger connections between families and the school.
As the year continues, students are encouraged to plan carefully, communicate with parents and stay on top of their attendance paperwork. “I get why attendance is important and why we need our parents because people just leave because they want to, but I feel like, as high schoolers, if I need to leave for an actual reason, there is no point for my parents to come if I can drive myself. It is inconvenient for my mom to come to the school and then go back home if I am sick and need to go home,” junior Noa Lucas said.
