Are you really okay with them applying this to everyone EXCEPT our children?! PGCPS Parents, we have options! We DO NOT have to be forced into sending our children into unsafe and unhealthy schools while decision makers work from the safety and comfort of their homes!

Per PGCPS Administrative Procedure 5113: Student Attendance, Absence and Truancy dated 1/18/2021 (updated March 11, 2021), there are officially 13 defined lawful absences. 5113. III. D. 8, a state emergency is defined as a lawful, excused absence from school.

We are currently under an active 30 day state emergency mandated by Gov. Larry Hogan as of January 4, 2022 titled Declaration of State of Emergency and Existence of Catastrophic Health Emergency — COVID-19. This current state of emergency explicitly proclaims that the widespread health impacts of COVID-19 are a public health catastrophe and public emergency; and COVID-19 poses an immediate danger to public safety.

Maryland State of Emergency Declaration: https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Proclamation-Jan-4-2022-corrected-date.pdf
Board Policy 5113 - Student Attendance, Absence, and Truancy: https://www.pgcps.org/globalassets/offices/general-counsel/docs---general-counsel/board-policies/5000/board-policy-5113---student-attendance-absence-and-truancy.pdf