ATTENDANCE

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Quick Reference:

Attendance:

• Students will be deemed excessively absent at 17.5 school days regardless of reason. 

• The ONLY excused absences as defined by state code:

  • Religious observance as defined by law (N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.3(h));

  • A college visit (up to 3 days per school year, only for students in grades 11 and 12);

  • “Take Our Children to Work Day” (pursuant to the memo issued by the Commissioner to all districts on April 25, 2017) or other rule issued by the Commissioner;

  • Participation in observance of Veterans Day (N.J.S.A. 18A:36-13.2) or district board of election membership activities (N.J.S.A. 18A: 36-33);

• Notes written by parents of students who are ill, still count towards their total number of absences, as well as doctor's notes.  In addition, dismissals from the Nurse's office are still counted toward the total number of absences.  

• Once a student reaches a total of 10 days absent regardless of reason, they will meet with administration to complete an “Attendance Success Plan” outlining the consequences of exceeding the acceptable limit and goals to set to help students be successful.  Parents will be notified.  

• At a total of 18 absences regardless of reason students will be denied access to extra/co-curricular activities, in addition to credit denial/grade retention.  In addition students who are deemed excessively tardy with 20 lateness or more to school will receive the same consequences as described for excessively absent.  Students in violation of 18 days absent and/or 20 lateness lateness will be placed on the PERMANENT RESTRICTED LIST for extra/co-curricular activities and will NOT be able to participate and attend in any extracurricular events for the remainder of the school year.

Attendance Extra/Co-Curricular Activities:

All students who wish to participate in an extra/co-curricular event/activity MUST be in attendance the day of or preceding the event.  Students are not permitted to be dismissed early the day of the prom.  The only expectation would be for a medical note.  

Students who have been suspended, have been determined to be excessively absent (as described above), and/or excessively tardy will not be permitted to participate in the following activities:

• Any dance - Including Homecoming and Prom.

• Field Trips – Including the Senior Class Trip

• All sports and/or clubs (all extra-curricular activities--this includes practices & games)

Students who attend extra and co-curricular events must be in academic good standing and have no suspensions for one calendar month prior to the extra/co-curricular event.

Truancy Charges: 

• Truancy charges may be filed with the municipal court at 10 absent regardless of reason for all students ages 16 and under according to state law.  

•  If a student reaches day 18, they will be denied credit.

• Please provide doctor’s notes for any medical issues (within 3 days following the absence). 

Lateness:

• Students who are late to school must report to the main office to get a pass. Truancy Charges will be filed with the municipal court at 20 times late to school, for all students ages 16 and under.

• Students will also be placed on the RESTRICTED LIST for lateness in fractions as per Student Code of Conduct 5131R.

  • Every 5th lateness is an administrative detention.  A student will be on the restricted list for 5, 10, and 15 school days, depending on the lateness infraction number.

    • 5x late=Detention Only

    • 10x late=5 days on restricted list

    • 15x late=10 days on restricted list

    • 20x late=PERMANENT RESTRICTED LIST and possible grade retention/credit denial.

Documentation for Student Attendance:

If your student is going to be absent, late, or needs to leave early from school a handwritten note must be submitted to the main office or an email must be sent to pmhsattendance@pv-eagles.org  NO EXCEPTIONS.  PHONE CALLS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR EARLY DISMISSALS!

Attendance Policy Information

The Pennsville Board of Education recognizes and accepts its responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient education for every student within the district boundary.  Compulsory school attendance has been upheld by the courts of New Jersey and the United States Supreme Court as a matter of public concern and legislative regulation.

The Pennsville Board of Education upholds the New Jersey Statutes, Title 18A, Education, which provide broad power to the Board of Education on the governance of schools.  Sections 18:38-25 and 26 specifically deal with attendance.

The education process requires a regular continuity of instruction, classroom participation, learning experiences, and study for each student to obtain the maximum benefits of a thorough and efficient educational program.  Frequent absences disrupt this continuity.

The curriculum is designed for the length of the academic year and every absence reduces the ability of the student to satisfactorily complete the prescribed courses of study.

The school cannot be accountable to the students nor the public in terms of educational results unless students are in regular attendance. 

Students who are excessively absent do not comply with the prescribed condition for granting course credit.

The student has the major responsibility to learn and prior to the age of sixteen, the student and parent/guardian are accountable for his/her attendance.

Once a student declares the age of majority (eighteen) and exercises his/her rights, the school will sever all educational ties with the parent/guardian and will deal directly with the student regarding all educational matters.

The student upon returning to school must present a written note, from his/her parent or guardian stating the date of and an explanation for the student’s absence.  If a student declared the age of majority, this student may write his/her own note of explanation which is to include the day of absence. The administration reserves the right of verification of all notes.

A medical excuse may only be issued by a licensed physician.  A student with a medical excuse from his/her own private physician must report to the nurse before school begins.  A student who is medically excused “UFN” from PE shall be excluded from extra curricular activities and may not rejoin that activity until medically cleared by his/her physician.

A student, age sixteen or older, voluntarily withdrawing from school attendance who wishes to re-enter shall appear before the Drop-Out Re-entry Committee.  This committee shall have the power to review the student’s records and to determine the time and conditions of re-entry.

The Board of Education shall not grant course credit to any student not meeting the requirements of the attendance policy.

EXTENDED ABSENCES AND HOME INSTRUCTION

Continuity in education is critical to student success.  Realizing that serious illness may keep a student out of school for an extended period of time, we can provide home instruction.  In order to provide home instruction, a parental request (in writing) and a physician’s certificate stating that the student is unable to attend school on a normal basis are to be submitted to the principal.  If the anticipated absence will instruction will not be provided.  Most home instruction will take place by using district staff either in the student’s home or in a mutually convenient location. 

Home instruction may also take place through a contracted agency.  In the event that an agency is contracted by the district, the student will receive instruction by the agency while completing the necessary work/assessments forwarded by the regular class room teachers.  It may also be necessary while being instructed by a contracted agency that formal assessments be administered during the learning center program after school hours from 2:25 to 4:25 Monday through Thursday.  Please note that when on home instruction, elective classes will not be offered due to the specialized nature of the classes – therefore, home instruction may result in a lower number of credit hours, and possibly jeopardize progress toward a timely graduation. Students on homebound may not participate in extra/co-curricular activities, including dances, field trips, and the prom.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

The State of New Jersey and the Pennsville Board of Education recognizes that some religious holidays fall on regular school days.  If a student intends to be absent from school in observance of a religious holiday, we request a parental note at least one week prior to the absence.

EARLY DISMISSAL

In order to obtain an early dismissal; a parental note must be delivered to the office before the start of the school. The note should explain the reason for the request, a phone number, time of departure and a parent/guardian’s signature. Early dismissals to go to work are unacceptable and illegal.  

Parents should pick students up in the main office.  The student will be required to report to the office in order to be excused.  Any student leaving school early without authorization from the office will be disciplined for cutting.

Senior Option  All senior option students must provide the PMHS administration with a signed parental release/note stating that the student is permitted to sign out for senior option. 

18 Year Old Students  At NO time will 18 year old students be permitted to sign out of school without officially declaring the age of majority and demonstrating his/her emancipation from his/her parent(s)/guardian(s).  Please note that once a student declares the age of majority (18) and effectively demonstrates his/her emancipation, the school will sever all educational ties with the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s), and will deal directly with the student regarding all educational matters.

Students may declare majority status by expressing in writing their wish to exercise their rights to the high school principal.  It will then be up to the student to demonstrate his/her emancipation by providing evidence of his/her financial and living independence from his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) to the Administration.  Upon receipt of the student’s declaration of the age of majority, the administrative staff will contact the student’s parent(s)/ guardian(s) to advise them of the declaration, as well as confirm the age of majority and emancipation.  Any parent wishing to object to such a declaration may do so in writing to the Pennsville High School Principal. 

LATENESS TO SCHOOL

Students who report to school after 7:40 am must obtain a pass.  There are very few acceptable excuses for lateness, and students should anticipate disciplinary action.  Oversleeping, car troubles, missed rides, are not acceptable reasons for lateness. 

Not Reporting to Assigned Class (Class Cut)

Students may anticipate severe penalties for each class “cut.” Field trips, class or club meetings, guidance interviews, etc., must be recognized by the affected teachers prior to the student missing the class. Failure to get approval will be considered a “cut.”  Any student who goes to the nurse’s office without the written permission of his/her classroom teacher will be subject to the above enforcements. Spending class time in the lavatory, rather than with the nurse, when ill is considered a “cut.” Students are to be in supervised situations throughout the school day. A “cut” class will count against the student’s attendance. 

REPORTING TO SCHOOL

In appreciation of our neighbors and in an effort to extend simple courtesies, please do not congregate, park, or loiter on the properties adjacent to the school.  The area by the cafeteria and Pat’s Pizzeria is off limits.

Link to attendance policy from www.psdnet.org: Pennsville BOE Policy 5113:  Attendance