Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory completion of the course. Students are required to attend class and arrive promptly. The regular school calendar approved by the Mercer County Board of Education will be followed. Please note that Practical Nursing and Cosmetology students continue into the summer months after Mercer County Schools has been dismissed in order to accrue the required amount of hours needed for graduation.

In order to receive a certificate of completion, a student may not miss more than the number of days allowed by the program in an academic year. Allowable absences vary by program, and it is up to the individual student to keep track of their absences based on the program requirements. Students who miss more than their allowed number of days will be dismissed on a case by case basis.

A “day” is defined as the number of hours normally spent in class/clinical. If the class is normally in session for six hours, then six hours absent constitutes a “day” absent (clinical hours per day vary by program area.) Any time a student is not in class/clinical, he/she is considered absent. This includes being tardy, returning late from lunch, or leaving before the end of the class period. A student will be counted tardy if he/she is not at his/her workstation and ready to start when the tardy bell rings. Three tardies or three times leaving early equals one day absent. All absences require documentation explaining reason of absence. Failure to provide instructor with excuse will result in meeting with Director.

Make-up absences may be possible through approval by the Director. Each absence will be reviewed on a case by case basis. If Mercer County Schools are canceled due to inclement weather, adult classes are also cancelled.