About Absences

If your child is ill and will be missing school, you NO LONGER need to call in their absence by 9:00am. You can call as a courtesy, but it is no longer necessary. The Nurse’s Office can be reached at 410-296-2437.  If you call, include your child’s name, grade, homeroom teacher, and the nature of the illness with the message.

The Maryland State Department of Education requires that schools code absences as Excused or Unexcused. Board Policy 5120 reads: A student absent from school shall present a note immediately upon return to school (within three days).The note, signed by the parent or guardian, shall include the name of the student, the date absent, and the reason for the absence. Upon receipt of the absence note, the school will certify the absence as excused or unexcused. Absences not supported by a note will be considered unexcused.

Parents or Guardians may download an Absence Form by clicking here . (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required for viewing).

Students absent from school due to family vacations should be coded Unexcused. There is no excused absence code for family vacation. The Maryland School Attendance Law (Education Article, Section 7-301) also allows that “A county superintendent, school principal, or an individual authorized by the county superintendent or principal may excuse a student for a necessary absence.”

If you have question regarding the absence policy, please contact school principal Susan Deise at 410.887.3582 or sdeise@cbcps.org.