How many absences can one make at school and after how many days will one fail

Anyone who does not reach the minimum number of days needed to consider the school year valid risks not being admitted to the next class.
Limit which is the same for elementary, middle and high schools.
Once the school year has begun, it is therefore important to calculate the accumulated absences, so as to understand how many can still be done to avoid the risk of failing.
It must be said, however, that the number of absences alone does not necessarily lead to failure, as there are other factors that are taken into consideration.
However, this is an aspect that should not be overlooked since unless there is a valid reason underlying the absences, as well as more than sufficient performance, the class committee usually tends to refuse admission in cases like this.
In this regard, it is good to know the rules on the number of absences allowed at school, as well as how to calculate the limit and what are the justified reasons that can save you from failing.
Here's everything you need to know about it.
How many absences do you fail? How many absences can you make at school How to calculate the limit of days and hours of absence Does anyone who exceeds the limit of days of absence fail? The justified reasons that authorize the exceeding of the absence limit Failure of the student for too many absences: what the jurisprudence says How many absences can be made at school There are three reasons why the student may not be admitted to the following year: if the performance and results achieved are insufficient; in case of poor conduct; when the limit of permitted absences is exceeded.
In this regard, it is article 14, paragraph 7, of Presidential Decree 122/2009 that sets the limit of absences to be observed so that the school year can be considered valid.
In detail, we read here that: To proceed with the final evaluation of each student, attendance of at least three quarters of the personalized annual timetable is required.
[…] Failure to achieve the minimum attendance limit, including recognized exceptions, will result in exclusion from the final exam and non-admission to the next class or final cycle exam.
In summary, the student must guarantee his/her presence for at least 3/4 of the annual timetable.
The limit, therefore, is equal to 25% of absences out of a total of 200 school days.
This limit applies to each grade: therefore, the absence limit applies to elementary, middle and high schools.
How to calculate the limit of days and hours of absence At this point we can calculate how many days of absence are allowed during the school year.
The calculation is very simple: considering 200 days of school and a limit of absences equal to 25%, it turns out that – making a quick mathematical proportion – one must guarantee one's presence in class for at least 150 days, with a limit of 50 absences.
But as we have seen above, the legislation speaks of "annual hours", so hourly absences must also be considered.
In this case the limit is more flexible since it depends on each class/school.
However, considering that 200 school days correspond to approximately 33 weeks, simply multiply the number of hours per week by 33 to arrive at the total number of hours.
At least 75% of these hours must be present in class, otherwise there is the risk of having to repeat the year.
Does anyone who exceeds the limit of days of absence fail? Article 14, paragraph 7, of Presidential Decree 122/2009 establishes that if the annual absence limit is exceeded, the student cannot even be evaluated.
As if to say that the class council has no choice: the student's failure, as well as possibly non-admission to the end-of-year exam, is not a subject of discussion as it should be triggered automatically, even where the student has distinguished himself by a good performance.
It must be said, however, that the aforementioned decree also refers to exceptions.
In this regard, the educational institution has the right to provide for exceptions to the aforementioned limit, provided that these are motivated and linked to exceptional cases.
Usually this exemption is provided for documented and continuous absences, but at the same time there must still be the possibility for the class council to be able to proceed with the evaluation of the student concerned.
In any case, this exemption must be approved by the Institute Council or by the Ministry itself.
The justified reasons that authorize the exceeding of the absence limit Therefore, it is the task of the teaching body to define the general criteria and the cases that legitimize the derogation from the minimum attendance limit at school.
However, the Ministry of Education with circular no.
20 of 2011 provides a list of appreciable cases, such as: serious health reasons adequately documented; planned therapies and treatments; blood donations; participation in sporting and competitive activities organized by federations recognized by CONI; adherence to religious denominations for which there are specific agreements that consider Saturday as a day of rest.
read also When can you fail primary school? Student failure due to too many absences: what the jurisprudence says Jurisprudence has intervened on the topic on more than one occasion, establishing the principle according to which the failure due to too many absences must not be automatic.
In detail, as stated in sentences 1436/2018 and 1479/2019 pronounced by the Regional Administrative Court of Puglia – Lecce, Section II – if the student, despite the high number of absences, does not highlight any type of problem in terms of profit, one must not be too strict in applying the aforementioned limit.
Failing a student who, despite the high number of absences, has good grades could, in fact, compromise his "personal and educational development".
Again, the Puglia Regional Administrative Court, with sentence 899/2018, also recognized as illegitimate the provision of non-admission to the following year for a student – with positive academic results – absent for a large number of days, given that in this case no there had been adequate information to parents regarding the risks generated by the high number of absences.
read also With how many insufficiencies and debts do you fail at school?