According to Pennsylvania law, a child is truant if they have three or more unexcused absences during one year. A child is "habitually truant" if they have six or more unexcused absences in one school year.

TIPS works with community-based agencies to help families get kids in school consistently and on time. A good attendance record helps a family avoid formal involvement with child welfare.

Truancy Intervention and Prevention Services works with the School District of Philadelphia, Family Court, and community-based agencies to help families:

• Figure out why their kids are missing school
• Access resources to help kids make it to school
• Maintain regular school attendance
• And avoid kids and families involved in formal child welfare services

Truancy and Intervention Prevention Services are only referred through the School District of Philadelphia or Project Go, a truancy prevention program supporting charter schools and led by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. If your child attends a School District of Philadelphia school, you should:

• Speak to the attendance designee or school counselor at the school.
• Contact the Office of Attendance and Truancy at (215) 400-4830, option 1 or email attendanceandtruancy@philasd.org.
• Visit the school district’s attendance and truancy page.

If your child attends a charter, private, or parochial school, you should contact the school’s leadership with all questions and concerns.