Students who have good attendance and the permission of the principal may be excused up to five days per school year for a family trip(s). Before a student may be excused from school for a family trip, written arrangements must be made by the parents or guardians with the principal five days prior to the trip. Qualified students who leave school for an extended trip will be coded in the following manner:  excused the first five days and all additional absences are unexcused. The student is responsible for obtaining and completing all class work. Absence during End-of-Grade testing should be avoided at all costs.

The North Carolina General Assembly passed General Statute 115C-378, entitled the Compulsory Attendance Law, in 1955 and amended it through 1992. This law, in conjunction with the rules and regulations of the North Carolina State Board of Education, makes parents and legal guardians responsible and accountable to insure that their children’s absences from school are valid. Seven (7) types of valid absences are established by the rules and regulations set forth by the State Board of Education. Two of those types are absences resulting from religious observances and educational opportunities of a significant nature. The Surry County Board of Education Policy 4400 requires advanced permission for excused absences for educational purposes. The principal should deny the request if the cumulative effect of such absences would substantially interfere with the education of the student. If the principal does not approve this request, you will be promptly notified.

Request for Excused Absence for Educational Reasons form