This handbook details methods Pennsylvania school districts might adopt in order to meet State attendance regulations. Following a brief introduction, a list of general topic references in the law is given as an aid to awareness of the variety of issues addressed by statute and regulation. Next, guidelines are presented for developing school attendance policies and procedures. These components are proposed and detailed: excusals from public school attendance and out-of-school instruction; home-school communication; responsibility and procedures for attendance reporting; and corrective measures and penalties. Possible incentive practices are discussed, including rewards, closer home-school contact, improved in-school communication, community involvement, and realistic approaches to scheduling. Next, other institutional strategies for reducing absenteeism are outlined. These include early identification of attendance problems, after-school detention, academic punishment, strengthening school leadership and improving school climate, and inservice training. Alternative programs and in-school suspension programs are described, and a policy development checklist is presented. Also included are a bibliography and two appendices, which contain school code provisions and State board of education regulations controlling attendance. (KH)