The Montgomery Township Board of Education requires students enrolled in Montgomery Township schools to attend school regularly in accordance with the laws of the state.  The consistent contact of students in the classroom with one another and their participation in a well-planned instructional activity under the direction of our faculty is vital to our students’ success.  Parents are encouraged to work in partnership with their children and school to minimize excessive or unnecessary absenteeism. 

Attendance  (Policy 5200) 

The Montgomery Township Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient education for every student within the district in keeping with the prevailing laws of the State of New Jersey.  In order for administrators and teachers to successfully fulfill their responsibilities to students, it is essential that all students accept their responsibility to attend school as scheduled, and that parents/guardians support and reinforce their child’s regular attendance.   

To conform to state regulations requiring school districts to define “excused” and “unexcused” absences:   

a. “An unexcused absence that counts toward truancy” is a student’s absence from school for a full or a portion of a day for any reason that is not an “excused absence” as defined below.

b. “An excused absence” is a student’s absence from school for a full day or a portion of a day for any absence for the reasons listed below: 

1. The student’s required attendance in court; 

2. Where appropriate, when consistent with Individualized Education Programs, the Individuals with Disabilities Act, accommodation plans under 29 U.S.C. §§ 794 and 705(20), and individualized health care plans; 

3. The student’s suspension from school; 

4. College visits, up to three days per school year, for students in grades 11 and 12; 

5. Interviews with an admissions officer of an institution of higher education; 

6. Examination for a driver's license; 

7. Necessary and unavoidable medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled at a time other than the school day with documentation from the doctor’s office; 

8. Take Our Children to Work Day; 

9. Religious observance, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14 through 16;

10. Participation in observance of Veterans Day, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-13.2;

11. Participation in district board of election membership activities, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-33;

12. Closure of a busing school district that prevents a student from having transportation to the receiving school;

13. An absence considered excused by the Commissioner of Education and/or a New Jersey Department of Education rule.

14. An absence for a reason not listed above, not to exceed two days, but deemed excused by the principal upon a written request by the student's parent stating the reason for the absence and requesting permission for the absence to be an excused absence.

“Unexcused tardiness” may constitute an unexcused absence that counts toward truancy in accordance with Policy 5240.

For necessary and unavoidable medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled at a time other than the school day, documentation from the doctor’s office must be on official office script pad or stationery-Must include duration of absences to be excused and date of appointment. * All doctor’s notes will be subject to the school’s validation of the appointment date. 

An “unexcused absence” is a student’s absence for all or part of a school day for any reason other than those listed above. Though a student may be absent with parental approval for reasons other than those listed above, the absence will be defined as verified but unexcused.

To Report Your Child Absent…

• To report an absence on Genesis Parent Access  -*Preferred*

  • Click on attendance

  • Go to ‘Notify Attendance Office’ tab

  • Complete information and click ‘submit to office’

• To report an absence by phone:

Please include your child’s first and last names, teacher name, absence length and reason for absence when calling.

• Before 9:00 am:  

  • Call the District Attendance Hotline at 609-466-7610, Select option 7

  • For Orchard Hill Elementary School, select option 1

  • For Village Elementary School, select option 2

• Between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm:  Call your child’s school:

  • Orchard Hill: 609-466-7605, select option 2 to reach the main office.

  • Village Elementary :  609-466-7606, select option 2 to reach the main office.

• If you send an email to your child’s teacher about an absence, it is important to still call one of the phone numbers listed above or email the main office secretaries to verify the absence.

• If your child will be absent from school for an extended period of time (i.e. vacation, visiting family, etc.) it is recommended that the family keep a daily journal and read during these times.  OHES and VES do not provide school work or supplies during these times.

• Regular breaks are built into the school calendar. It is strongly recommended that families plan vacations during these times to avoid interruption to their child’s learning. 

School Response to Unexcused Absences Counting Toward Truancy N.J.A.C.6A:16-7.6, school staff responses for unexcused absences are as follows:  

For up to four cumulative unexcused absences counting towards truancy, the school district shall: make a reasonable attempt to notify the student’s parents of each unexcused absence prior to the start of the following school day; make a reasonable attempt to determine the cause of the unexcused absence, including through contact with the student’s parents; identify in consultation with the student’s parents needed action designed to address patterns of unexcused absences, if any, and to have the child return to school and maintain regular attendance; 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; and cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies, as appropriate.  

For between five and nine cumulative unexcused absences counting towards truancy, the school district shall: make a reasonable attempt to notify the student’s parents of each unexcused absence prior to the start of the following school day; make a reasonable attempt to determine the cause of the unexcused absence, including through contact with the students’ parents; evaluate the appropriateness of prior action taken; 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: refer or consult with the building’s intervention and referral services team (I&RS), pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-8; conduct testing, assessments, or evaluations of the student’s academic, behavioral, and health needs; consider an alternate educational placement; make a referral to or coordinate with  a community based social and health provider agency or other community resource; refer to a  court or a court program; proceed in accordance with N.J.S.A.9:6-1 et. Seq. and N.J.A.C.6A:16-10, if a potentially missing or child abuse situation is detected: and engage the student’s family. Cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies, as appropriate.   

For cumulative unexcused absences counting towards truancy of 10 or more, a student between the ages of 6 and 16, is truant, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, and the school district shall: make a determination regarding the need for a court referral for the truancy; continue to consult with the parent and the involved agencies to support the student’s return to school and regular attendance; cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies, as appropriate; and proceed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:3828 through 31, Article 3B, Compelling Attendance at School, and other applicable State and Federal statutes, as required; and a court referral may be made as follows: when school officials determine unexcused absences education law, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, and the district board of education’s policies, the parent may be referred to municipal court; a written report of the actions the school has taken regarding the student’s attendance shall be forwarded to the municipal court; or 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; 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. 

For a student with a disability, the attendance plan and disciplinary and remedial procedures shall be applied, where applicable, in accordance with the student’s individualized education program, 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 healthcare plan and individualized emergency healthcare plan, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.3(b)5xii. 

For families planning extended travel:  If a student is out of school for more than ten consecutive days without a medical reason, that student must be unenrolled by the school and re-registered with our Registrar upon return to the district. Please communicate your plans to the main office and the classroom teacher.  

To Check Your Child’s Absences

You can log in to your Parent Resources account to check your child’s total absences.  This is also where you will find letters from the school if your child reaches 4, 8, and 10+ cumulative unexcused absences or if your child has other absence patterns. 

If you see a discrepancy in your child’s attendance record, please contact:

• Orchard Hill Elementary School at 609-466-7605 or email Nora Kobylarz at nkobylarz@mtsd.us .  

• Village Elementary School at 609-466-7606 or email Marisa Narula at mnarula@mtsd.us.

If you have questions about your Parent Resources account, please contact Jaime Velez at jvelez@mtsd.us

Making Up Work Following an Absence

Upon a student’s return to school, a student’s classroom teacher will arrange for making up missed assignments with the student and his/her parent(s).  Assessments will be made up during the school day. If a student is absent for a non-health-related absence, school assignments and supplies cannot be sent home in advance.

Late Arrival to School

Students are expected to be in school by 9:35 am during a normal school day.   Students arriving after 9:35 am must be walked into the building and signed in at the Welcome Center in the main lobby (OHES) or the main office (VES) and will be marked as tardy. 

Early Dismissal from School

A parent picking a student up early should come to the Welcome Center, in the main lobby, at OHES or the main office at VES, and a staff member will call the classroom to have your child come to the main lobby.  The parent will sign-out the student.  Students returning to school after signing out earlier in the day must re-enter via the Main Office and sign back in.  

If someone other than the parent or guardian is to meet the student, a note is required indicating the person has parent/guardian permission to pick up that particular child. Photo identification must be provided to office staff prior to signing out and releasing student. 

Late Arrival & Early Dismissal Communication

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to schedule doctor/dentist appointments before or after school hours.  However, personal circumstances may arise requiring a student to arrive later to school or be released early from school.  To ensure the smooth and safe handling of such situations, parents must send a physical note/Genesis message/email that includes:

• Date

• First and last name of student and the name of the teacher

• Reason for the early dismissal or late arrival(i.e. doctor/dentist appointment- doctor’s/dentist’s name, appointment time, and telephone number, etc.) 

  • Tardies will be identified as excused/unexcused using the same criteria as identified in the attendance section.  

District Attendance Policy: https://www.straussesmay.com/seportal/Public/DistrictPolicy.aspx?policyid=5200&search=5200&id=d098afc5c43b49698c600454bc274af6 

You can submit a note from a medical office either by dropping it off at the VES Main Office in the marked bin on the front counter

-or-

by emailing it to mnarula@mtsd.us 

As part of our ongoing effort to increase safety, security and efficiency in our schools, all students in grades PK through 12 must wear their Montgomery Township School District Identification Card at all times on the exterior of their clothing, on the bus and when in the building or on school property. Students must have their ID in their possession when attending school-related activities (after school and on weekends). An ID is a school-issued item, which must be kept in the same condition in which it was issued.

• The first set (ID card & lanyard) were given to all students before the end of June 2024.

• If you are new to the district, please report to the main office to receive your ID

• In the event that any portion is lost (lanyard or ID card) there will be a $5.00 replacement fee. Payment must be made through your PaySchools Account.

Students will scan their ID barcodes upon entering and exiting their buses for bus attendance and to ensure that each student is on the correct bus. Additionally, these cards will be used in the cafeteria to pay for lunch and in the school library for book checkouts. 

New cards will NOT be issued until after picture day each school year, so we kindly ask for your cooperation in ensuring that your child retains their ID card for use each September. 

If you need to replace your Student ID:

1. Fill out this form and email mnarula@mtsd.us indicating you need to replace your ID and/or lanyard.

2. You will be assigned a $5 in Genesis that you can pay.

3. Upon receipt of payment, your child will be issued a new ID and/or lanyard