School and Student Requirements
PLEASE NOTE: This is an outline of some significant provisions applicable to Pennsylvania Christian schools. Many details are omitted for brevity. KCEA's Administrative Handbook and its frequent Special Reports give the necessary details.
Notifications Required to Be Published
- IRS Non-discriminatory Policy (see next topic)
- AHERA Annual Notification to staff and parents of (a) the availability of the Management Plan, and (b) all ACM activity including dates of 6-month inspections and any disturbances in buildings with ACM
School Non-Discrimination Statement
- Spell out non-discriminatory policy in your official minutes, policy books, etc.
- Print required short "non-discrimination" statement in all brochures, handbooks, etc.
- At least annually advertise through public media your non-discrimination policy using the required long "non-discrimination" statement
- Annually file Federal Form 5578 unless required to file Form 990
- Keep good records to prove that your policies were implemented and enforced
Compulsory Attendance
- Compulsory attendance begins at 8 (school year age) or when a child begins to attend school for the first time, whether at K-4, K-5, 1st grade, etc.
- Compulsory attendance ends when one graduates or turns 17 (except at 16 with a work permit and in special situations for 15 and 14 year olds)
- A day school is required to supply the name and address of each day school student to the School District Superintendent of each student's residence
- A day school is required to notify the School District Superintendent if a student withdraws or accumulates three or more unexcused absences
- All students, including seniors, attend school every day until graduation; no "quitting" when their work is completed
- Students attend all day, every day; no "early dismissal" by the day or the year (narrow written exceptions are in place for seniors in the workplace)
- Students fulfilling Compulsory Attendance through home education or private tutoring are not listed as day school students
- Students can fulfill Compulsory Attendance by being "dual enrolled" at another secondary school or at a college; and seniors, following State guidelines, may be engaged in supervised vocational on-the-job training and certain work opportunities
- A school year for a religious school is a minimum of either (to do less is a violation of law which makes the children truant):
- 180 days of school for the students, with each day being 5 hours of instruction for elementary and 5.5 hours of instruction for secondary, or
- an annual total of 900 hours of instruction for elementary and 990 hours of instruction for secondary
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