Below are some of the key components of the Provincial Student Attendance and Engagement Policy.

Attendance supports student learning and promotes a sense of responsibility that
students will need as they transition from the school system to post-secondary studies and/or the workforce.

Per the Education Act, students are required to attend school regularly and punctually. All students are expected to be present and prepared for the beginning of class. Schools will develop and implement consistent, school-wide practices for responding to late arrivals.

Teachers will record student attendance every day, in accordance with school practice.

While student attendance is a critical determinant of student success, students are encouraged toengage in healthy habits and remain at home if they are feeling unwell, especially if they have an infectious disease that might affect fellow students or school staff.

All reasons for absences from school must be communicated by the student’s parent/guardian, per the school communication procedures. 

In order to earn a course credit in high school, students are expected to be present for at least 80 percent of class time. A teacher can recommend loss of credit when a student has missed 20 per cent of class time due to any absences, and strong efforts have been made to improve the student’sattendance, but no improvement has been demonstrated by the student.

Upon receiving the recommendation of a teacher, and working in consultation with the teacher and other school staff as appropriate, the principal will make the final decision around loss of credit. The principal is responsible for communicating the decision to the student and family. Students who losecredit(s) due to absenteeism are not eligible for credit recovery for that course.