Attendance Expectations and Policy

Expectations

The Board requires students enrolled in the District to attend school regularly in compliance with the Code of Conduct, applicable Board policies, and state and federal law.  It is paramount that all students accept their responsibility to attend school as scheduled.  Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in school during the days and hours that school is in session unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Board that the mental condition of the student is such that he/she cannot benefit from instruction or that the bodily condition of the student is such as to prevent attendance at school.  The Board also believes that promptness is an important element of school attendance.  Therefore, the Board expects students to arrive at school and in their classes on time and ready to proceed with the day’s course of study.

Attendance

A school day shall consist of at least four hours of actual instruction. Lunchtime does not count.

Absences fall into the following categories:

Excused absences that do not count towards losing credit:    

• Home instruction
• Religious holidays prescribed by the Department of Education and verified by a parent/guardian
• Death in the student's family
• Out of School Suspension
• School sponsored field trips
• Legal obligations (must be documented by judicial verification)
• College visitations (documentation must be provided on college letterhead)
• Military interviews (documentation must be provided on military letterhead)
• Bring Your Child to Work Day (documentation must be provided on company letterhead)

Excused absences that count towards losing credit:

Occurs after 19 days absent in a full year course or 9 days absent in a half year course.

• Parent/guardian note, parent/guardian email, entry in parent portal, or parent/guardian phone call documenting an illness or other reason
• Professional note from a doctor, hospital, dentist, etc. The Administration reserves the right to verify the validity of these notes.
• Driver’s license appointments (as evidenced by presenting a license to the Main Office Secretary)

Students enrolled from the beginning of the school year who accumulate more than 19 absences from a full year class will not be granted credit for the class. Students who have accumulated more than 9 absences from a half year class will not be granted credit for the class.

Unexcused Absences

Absences that are not reported by the parent/guardian are considered unexcused.

Truancy

Ten or more unexcused absences that count toward truancy of a student between the ages of six and sixteen, as determined by the Board’s Attendance Policy and Regulation pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6(a)4.iii, and the definition of school day pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.3.

The Director of Student Services will make a determination regarding the need for a court referral for the truancy, per NJAC 6A:16-7.6(a) 4 i.v.   Any unexcused absence not listed above shall be an absence counted toward truancy.  

School District Response to Unexcused Absences During the School Year that Count Toward Truancy:

1. For up to four cumulative unexcused absences that count toward truancy, Administrators or designee shall:
   1. Make a reasonable attempt to notify the student’s parent/guardian of each unexcused absence prior to the start of the following school day.
   2. Make a reasonable attempt to determine the cause of the unexcused absence, including through contact with the student’s parent/guardian.
   3. Identify, in consultation with the student’s parent/guardian, needed action designed to address patterns of unexcused absences, if any, and to have the child return to school and maintain regular attendance.
   4. Proceed in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 9:6-1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-10, if a potentially missing or abused child situation is detected.
   5. Cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies as appropriate.
2. For between five and nine cumulative unexcused absences that count toward truancy, Administrators or designee shall:
   1. Make a reasonable attempt to notify the student’s parent/guardian of each unexcused absence prior to the start of the following school day.  
   2. Make a reasonable attempt to determine the cause of the unexcused absence, including through contact with the student’s parent/guardian.
   3. Evaluate the appropriateness of action taken pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6(a)4.i.(3) and H.1.c. above.
   4. Develop an action plan to establish outcomes based upon the student’s patterns of unexcused absences and to specify the interventions for supporting the student’s return to school and regular attendance, which may include any or all of the following:
      1. Refer or consult with the building's Intervention and Referral Services Team, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-8.
      2. Conduct testing, assessments, and/oror evaluations of the student’s academic, behavioral, and health needs.
      3. Consider an alternate educational placement.
      4. Make a referral to or coordinate with a community-based social and health provider agency or other community resource.
      5. Refer to a court or court program pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6(a)4.iv. and H.4. below.
      6. Proceed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 9:6-1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-10, if a potential missing or abused child situation is detected.
      7. Engage the student’s family to assist with intervention.
   5. Cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies as appropriate.
3. For ten or more cumulative unexcused absences that count toward truancy, a student between the ages of six and sixteen is truant, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, and Administrators or designee shall:
   1. Make a determination regarding the need for a court referral for the truancy per N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6(a)4.iv. and H.4. below.
   2. Continue to consult with the parent/guardian and the involved agencies to support the student’s return to school and regular attendance.
   3. Cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies as appropriate.
   4. Proceed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:38-28 through 31, Article 3B, Compelling Attendance at School and other applicable state and federal statutes as required.
4. A court referral may be made as follows:
   1. When unexcused absences that count toward truancy are determined by school officials to be a violation of the compulsory education law, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, and the Board of Education's policies, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6(a), the parent may be referred to Municipal Court.
      1. A written report of the actions the school has taken regarding the student's attendance shall be forwarded to the Municipal Court.
   2. When there is evidence of a juvenile-family crisis, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-22.g, the student may be referred to Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part.  
      1. A written report of the actions the school has taken regarding the student's attendance shall be forwarded to the Juvenile-Family Crisis Intervention Unit.
5. For a student with a disability, the attendance plan and its punitive and remedial procedures shall be applied, where applicable, in accordance with the student’s IEP, pursuant to 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; the procedural protections set forth in N.J.A.C. 6A:14; accommodation plan under 29 U.S.C. §§794 and 705(20); and individualized health care plan and individualized emergency healthcare plan pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.3(b)5.xii.
6. All receiving schools pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:14-7.1(a), shall act in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6(a)4.i. and H.1. above for each student with up to four cumulative unexcused absences that count toward truancy.
   1. For each student attending a receiving school with five or more cumulative unexcused absences that count toward truancy, the absences shall be reported to the sending school district.  
      1. The sending school district shall proceed in accordance with the Board of Education’s policies and procedures pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6(a) and H.5. above and the provisions of N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6(a)4.ii. through iv. and H.2. through H.5. above as appropriate.

Truancy (State Law 18A:38-27)

Truancy is any absence from school without the permission of school authorities or parent/guardian. A student who leaves the building anytime during the day and who is not under the supervision of a proper authority, or did not receive permission from the Main Office, will be given a minimum of a Saturday Morning School Detention according to the Code of Conduct procedures.

Students who are truant for the second time may lose their parking privileges for the year. Students who lose their parking privileges are not allowed to park on school property. Their vehicle is subject to towing if parked on school property.

*Students 18 years of age or older must follow the same rules for leaving the building as students under the age of 18. Being 18 years of age does not give the student the right to leave the building without proper permission.

In School Truancy

Any student who intentionally avoids more than one class during the same day will be considered in-school truant and will be penalized the same as above.

Unexcused Lateness to School

• A student who arrives at school after 9:25am shall not be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities for that day, unless a doctor's note is provided to the Principal of the Director of Student Services before the event.
• Unexcused lateness to school more than four times during each semester (2 MPs) will result in detention and implementation of the Code of Conduct procedures.
• Lates to school will reset at the end of the first semester. Warnings will only be given one time.
• Our records indicate that student drivers are a group that shows a definite pattern of abuse in these areas. Therefore, excessive late arrivals (10 times) or early dismissals (for any amount of time) for any reason (singularly or combined) without just cause, may result in the loss of the student’s parking privileges. Parking without proper authorization and a parking permit may result in the student’s car being towed at the owner’s expense after one written warning of same.
• Excused lateness to school shall be defined as the arrival of a student in school after the late bell rings due to the student’s illness with a doctor’s note, the observance of a religious holiday, a death in the student’s family, court appearance, or lateness in compliance with a request or directive of an Administrator. All other student arrivals at school after the late bell rings shall be “unexcused.”
• Late to School with a Parent Note shall be defined as the arrival of a student in school after the late bell rings due to the student’s illness without a doctor’s note, family emergency, or car problems. These notes will be used solely to excuse lates regarding school consequences. The student must present a written note, a parental email, or an entry in the parent portal upon arrival for the late to school to be marked as "Late to School with a Parent Note". For reasons relating to car problems and illness, there will be a limit of no more than two per semester.
• Excessive lates to school will count towards loss of credit and could place a student in credit recovery.
• Excused lateness to class shall be defined as the late arrival of a student in class if the student presents a hall pass from a teacher, Administrator, or Office upon arrival. All other student arrivals to class after the late bell rings shall be unexcused.
• Unexcused late to class or study hall: Teacher interventions for lates 1-4 will include parent/guardian contact and lunch detentions.  More than four times will result in a referral to the Director of Student Services and implementation of the Code of Conduct procedures.

Denial of Course Credit

1. The teacher will determine the credit to be awarded to a student for makeup work.  In cases where class participation is a factor in the learning process, the teacher may consider a student’s absence in determining a final grade. Excused absences or absences for a suspension from school will not adversely affect the student’s grade.  The teacher may record an incomplete grade for a student who has not had a full opportunity to make up missed work.
2. A student may be dropped from a course or denied course credit when he/she has been absent from 10 or more absences in a semester-length course and/or 20 or more absences in a year-long course.  Absences caused by a student’s suspension will not count toward the total.
   1. Exceptions to this rule may be made for students who have demonstrated to the teacher through completion of makeup assignments that they have mastered the proficiencies established for the course of study.

For students with disabilities, the attendance plan and punitive and remedial procedures set forth therein shall be applied, where applicable, in accordance with the student's Individualized Education Programs, pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act; the procedural protections set forth in N.J.A.C. 6A:14; accommodation plans under 29 U.S.C. § 794 and 705(20); and individualized health care plans, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.3(b)2ix.

Courses in which a NG (No Grade) is earned will not count toward meeting the following requirements:

Middle School

• Meeting the requirements to advance in grade level
• Meeting the prerequisite to a sequential course

High School

• Meeting the requirements for graduation
• Meeting the requirements to advance in grade level
• Meeting the prerequisite to a sequential course

Vacations and Trips

Parents should make every effort to arrange vacations and trips when school is not in session.

Notification and Intervention

The following procedures will be implemented by school personnel to ensure the policy is applied to maximize students’ performance:

Unexcused Absences that Count Toward Truancy

1. On Day 5: Official notification to parent/guardian in parent portal.
2. On Day 10: Official notification to parent/guardian in parent portal, written notification to parent/guardian via regular mail, the student's Counselor makes referral to Family Guidance, and the Director of Student Services may make referral to Municipal Court.

Loss of Credit Warning Letter

1. On Day 5: Official notification to parent/guardian in parent portal.
2. On Day 8: Official notification to parent/guardian in parent portal and written notification to parent/guardian via regular mail (half year courses only).
3. On Day 10: Official notification to parent/guardian in parent portal and written notification to parent/guardian via regular mail.
4. On Day 15: Official notification to parent/guardian in parent portal, written notification to parent/guardian via regular mail, and email notification to student's Counselor and Case Manager, if applicable.
5. On Day 20: Official notification to parent/guardian in parent portal, written notification to parent/guardian via certified letter and regular mail, and email notification to student's Counselor and Case Manager, if applicable.

Excessive Absences

Excessive absences by students who have lost credit yet remain in school is a problem that the Board of Education recognizes as its responsibility to:

1. Ensure compliance with compulsory attendance laws.
2. Ensure the school district’s accreditation is not placed at risk due to the substantial impact on overall school attendance data.

When a student has been notified as being in “non-credit status”, and misses more than 20 total days of unexcused absences, the following procedures may be implemented as needed to ensure the integrity of the policy. Nothing herein shall prohibit the initiation of any intervention steps at an earlier stage.

Students above Compulsory School Age

Students age 16 and over will be notified of excessive absences, and they may be dropped from the attendance register. Due process will be exercised to the fullest.

Students of Compulsory School Age

If the student is under 16 years of age, then he/she may be referred to the IR&S or a Child Study Team evaluation and recommendations will be made concerning the continuation with his/her schedule. The parent/guardian of the student will also be taken to court on the charge “failure to send to school.”

Attendance Credit Recovery Program

The Credit Recovery Program may be used as a component for credit restoration due to excessive absences, under limited conditions with proper planning in concert with the Administration. All Credit Recovery requests must be made in writing to the Principal within 10 days of the receipt of the loss of credit notice. Students will be assigned to Credit Recovery by the Director of Student Services to ensure proper student preparation.

Verification Notes

All absences must be verified by a parent/guardian phone call, parent/guardian email, entry in the parent portal, or in writing from the parent/guardian. Students returning from any absence, including late to school or early dismissal when a parent/guardian did not call, email, or post an entry in the parent portal must bring a note from a parent/guardian.  Notes are required to authenticate absence and verify parent/guardian knowledge.

Notes are also used to establish a working file on a student’s absence, help to identify absence patterns, and provide an information base in case of an attendance appeal.

The parent/guardian excuse note stating the reason for absence must be returned to the Main Office Secretary within two days of the student’s return to school.  Doctors’ notes shall also be submitted within two school days.

Parent/Guardian Notification to Attendance Office

The parent/guardian should notify the Attendance Office by 8:30am on the day of the student's absence.

Makeup Work

Pupils shall be required to complete all work and exercises assigned during any absence, including suspensions. Arrangements to make up the work must be initiated by the student or parent/guardian. The length of the student’s absence is equal to the amount of time the student has to complete makeup work, for example: 5 days excused absence = 5 school days for makeup work.

Home Instruction

When parents/guardians are aware their child will be out of school for a period longer than two weeks due to illness or injury, they are required to immediately supply the school with a doctor’s note stating the reason for the long term exclusion from school.  Home instruction will begin after approval by the school physician. Home instruction absences are not counted in the attendance total.

Appeals Procedure

The Board is cognizant of possible unforeseen factors which may create hardships relating to the operation of the attendance policy. Therefore, an appeals procedure is available to students. The appeals procedure may be initiated by any of the following individuals: parent/guardian, adult student, guidance advocate, CST advocate, or a community/government agency advocate.

Petition for Hearing with Principal

A written appellate request must be presented to the Principal by the parent/guardian/advocate no later than ten days after receipt of the written notification of the student’s no-credit status. The Principal will make a decision with the help of the Director of Student Services, a School Counselor, and a CST member when appropriate. The Principal shall communicate his/her decision in writing to the parent within five school days. The letter will also identify the next step in the process.

Appeals to the Superintendent

A written appellate request must be presented to the Superintendent by the parent/guardian/advocate in writing no later than ten school days after receipt of the Principal's written decision.

• The Superintendent will select a committee to review all cases being appealed. The committee will be identified with the initial appeal case and shall sit for the remainder of the school year. Alternates will be used as needed to facilitate the prompt review of each case.

The committee will be composed of five people, each serving in one of the following capacities:

– Classroom Teacher (2)

– Supervisor of School Counseling or CST member

– School Counselor

• The Superintendent will review the case, interview the student and the parent/guardian, and consider the pertinent facts. The decision will be communicated to the student and parent/guardian via written letter within five days of the hearing.

Appeals to the Board of Education

Appeals to the Board of Education relating to the decision of the Superintendent must be made in writing within ten school days of receipt of the Superintendent’s decision. The Board of Education will conduct a hearing in a timely manner. The decision of the Board will be communicated to the student and parent/guardian in a timely manner.

Board of Education decisions may be appealed to the N.J. Commissioner of Education.