Catholic Education’s Attendance Policy

Parents’ responsibilities

2.4 Parents/carers must ensure children of mandatory school age are enrolled in school or an approved alternative education program, or in approved employment.

2.5 Parents/carers must ensure that enrolled students attend every day of school, and every activity or event the school requires the student to attend, during the required times. This is known as the ‘full-time participation’ requirement.

2.6 Parents/carers must provide an explanation to the school for any absence, ideally on or before the day of absence, and no more than five school days after the absence occurs. Parents/carers may be liable under the ACT or NSW Education Acts if students fail to attend school without a reasonable excuse.

2.7 Parents/carers must notify the school of planned absences of up to 25 school days in a 12- month period (including 25 part days) in writing, including the reason for the absence.

2.8 Planned absences of more than 25 days in a 12-month period, other than sick leave, have additional requirements and parents/carers must apply in advance for extended leave or exemption (see sections 8-10 of this document). The application and approval process complies with strict requirements of the NSW and ACT governments. CECG recommends, and the NSW Department of Education expects, that students granted extended leave of more than 100 days 1 Section 22 NSW Education Act 1990; section 10 ACT Education Act 2004 ATTENDANCE POLICY Page 5 of 17 in a twelve-month period be unenrolled from school and enrolled in home or distance education.

2.9 Parents/carers should understand that schools are required to record any absence as an unapproved or unjustified absence, unless they receive and accept a reasonable explanation before the attendance register is finalised.