D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5, r. 5-B2103
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) elementary and secondary students who have one unexcused absence from homeroom where attendance has been taken for purposes of the Compulsory School Attendance Act shall receive appropriate absenteeism protocol interventions initiated by classroom or homeroom teachers, pursuant to the Act.
Half-day schedules for students attending DCPS are governed by the following requirements:
DCPS students accumulating thirty (30) or more unexcused absences within a full school year shall only be promoted if they meet an exception set forth in D.C. Official Code §§ 38-781.02(c) or 38-781.05.
DCPS secondary students with ten (10) unexcused absences in any class shall receive an initial written notice that they are at risk of receiving a grade of "FA" (failure due to absences) in that subject upon accumulating more than thirty (30) unexcused absences unless an exception applies.
DCPS secondary students with fifteen (15) unexcused absences in any class shall receive an additional written warning that they are at risk of receiving a grade of "FA" (failure due to absences) in that subject upon accumulating more than thirty (30) unexcused absences.
DCPS secondary students accumulating more than thirty (30) unexcused absences in a course within a full school year shall receive a failing final grade in that course with a resulting loss of course credit.
A written appeal may be filed by a parent or student on behalf of any student receiving a failing grade(s) due to unexcused absences.
An appeal filed pursuant to § 2103.7 shall be submitted to the principal of the school attended or to a designee of the Chancellor within ten (10) school days after receipt of the failing grade(s).
Upon receipt of an appeal filed pursuant to § 2103.7, the principal or Chancellor's designee shall appoint an Appeals Panel and shall forward all written appeal requests to the panel chairperson within three (3) school days.
The Appeals Panel referenced in § 2103.9 shall consist of not less than three (3) members to be selected from the following, one of which shall be from category (a):
Substitutions of no more than two (2) members of the Appeals Panel described in § 2103.10 may be made when necessary.
The Appeals Panel shall hold a hearing within ten (10) school days after its appointment by the principal or Chancellor's designee.
The student, his or her parent, guardian or duly authorized representative shall appear at the hearing to represent the student. One of these individuals shall be given the opportunity to present the student's case and, upon request, to question the involved teacher and to be duly informed of the panel's recommendations.
Each appeals panelist, including the chair, shall have an equal vote; however, two (2) voting members can render a decision.
In the case of a tie vote, the initial grade is deemed to be upheld by the Appeals Panel.
The Appeals Panel's recommendation shall be forwarded immediately to the principal or Chancellor's designee who shall issue the Panel's decision within ten (10) school days after the hearing.
The student, his or her parent or guardian, or duly authorized representative may appeal the decision of the Appeals Panel by writing to the Chancellor's official grade appeal designee within ten (10) school days after receipt of the decision.
When an appeal is filed pursuant to § 2103.17, the Chancellor's official grade appeal designee shall review all documentation submitted and issue the final administrative decision in the matter.
The following procedural guidelines shall apply to appeals reviewed pursuant to § 2103.18:
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5, r. 5-B2103