According to Pennsylvania law, a child is truant if they have three or more unexcused absences for one school 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 children in school consistently and on time. Improving the student’s attendance prevents involvement with the formal child welfare system for the student and their family.

Truancy Intervention and Prevention Services works with the School District of Philadelphia, Family Court, Project Go (DA), charter schools, and community-based agencies to help families:

• Identify barriers preventing the child’s school attendance
• Access resources to remove barriers to attendance
• Maintain regular school attendance
• Prevent children and families from becoming involved in formal child welfare services
• Advocate and teach formal truancy policy, guidelines, and practice

Referrals for TIPS services are made 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 and you have questions about attendance, 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.