Attendance

BOARD POLICY 5113 - ATTENDANCE, ABSENCES, AND EXCUSES

The Board believes that the regular attendance of students in each class and in school in general is critical to its educational mission. The district shall endeavor to achieve the ninety percent (90%) attendance rate required by the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC). Continuity of instruction is an essential element in student performance and allows students the greatest opportunity to succeed at meeting the state learning standards in the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The superintendent shall oversee the development of effective strategies that maximize student attendance at all scheduled periods of actual instruction or supervised study activities and strive to:

A. Encourage good attendance;

B. Discourage unexcused absences;

C. Identify patterns of absence, tardiness and early departures from school; and

D. Intervene to prevent and correct problems with attendance.

Board Policy 5113 has defined “excused” and “unexcused” absences:

Excused

A. An absence shall be considered an “excused absence” for the purpose of determining promotion, retention, truancy, grades, course credit, eligibility to make up missed assignments and tests for full credit, and violations of the school code of conduct for attendance, for the following reasons:

1. The student’s illness with documentation;

2. Requirements of a student’s individual health care plan;

3. A death or critical illness in the student’s immediate family, or of others with permission of principal;

4. Quarantine;

5. Observance of the student’s religion on a day approved for that purpose by the State Board of Education;

6. The student’s suspension from school;

7. Requirements of the student’s individualized education program (IEP);

8. Alternate short or long term accommodations for students with disabilities;

9. The student’s required attendance in court;

10. Interviews with an admissions officer of an educational institution;

11. Necessary and unavoidable medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled at a time other than the school day;

12. Such good cause as may be acceptable to the principal.

Unexcused Absence

An "unexcused absence" is a student’s absence for all or part of a school day for any reason other than those listed as excused absences in “A” above. An unexcused absence may be counted toward retention, truancy, loss of course credit, ineligibility to make up missed assignments and tests for full credit, and violations of the school code of conduct for attendance. Absence is expressly not excused for any of the following reasons (this list is intended to be illustrative and is not inclusive):

1. Family travel;

2. Performance of household or babysitting duties;

3. Other daytime activities unrelated to the school program;

4. Leaving school without permission when school is still in session;

5. Leaving class because of illness and not reporting to the school nurse as directed; or

6. Being present in school but absent from class without approval. Such absence from class is a "class cut."

Parents are strongly encouraged to avoid scheduling vacations during the school year, as extended absences can disrupt a student’s educational progress. Please note that absences due to vacation are not considered excused under state guidelines. Teachers are not obligated to provide assignments in advance for such absences.

Students who miss school for a vacation will have up to five (5) days upon their return to make up any missed work. To stay on track, students are advised to bring necessary materials with them and/or check the school website or contact a classmate for assignments.