Attendance Policy

In accordance with the regulations of the Sharon Springs Central School Board of Education, students will be admitted to Kindergarten in September only if they have  reached or will reach the age of five years on or before December 1 of the school year in  question. Any child reaching the age of five years after December 1, must wait until the  following September to enter Kindergarten. 

The State Education Law (3205) (3202) 1 requires that: 

1. Children who turn six (6) on or before December 1 of the school year must  attend school from the start of classes in September of that school year. Children who turn six (6) after December 1 must begin school no later than the first day of  session the following September. 

2. Children who turn seventeen (17) during the school year must remain in  school until the end of that school year. 

3. Children should be entering or leaving school at the beginning or  end of a school year. (Chapter 198 of the Laws of 1992). 

4. Under New York State Education Law, Section 3205, parents are responsible  for the regular attendance of their children for instruction. 

   • In accordance with  NYS Law, after a student has been absent from school, a written excuse  should be sent to the school upon his/her return. New York State Law defines  truancy as a student who is absent from school without the consent of a parent or  guardian. Therefore, in order for a student not to be considered truant, parental  contact must be established with the school nurse, or in extenuating  circumstances, school administration. This may be in the form of a note or a phone call. A phone message may also be left on the nurse’s voice mail. Even if an absence is unexcused, it will not be considered a truancy unless no note nor phone call has been received. If an absence is considered a truancy, it will be  subject to disciplinary action.

If your child has a scheduled appointment with a physician or dentist, please inform  the school prior to the appointment. After the appointment, please bring a note from  the physician/dentist to the school nurse. 

1. EXCUSES: The law requires that upon return to school from an absence,  an excuse be submitted. This is shown to the homeroom teacher and then  turned in immediately to the attendance office. The excuse should state the student’s name, reason for his/her absence, days and dates absent from  school and the signature of the parent/guardian. The excuse must be brought in within three (3) school days.

2. LEGAL ABSENCES: The following are considered by the State of New  York to be legal absences: 

   •  sickness 

   •  serious illness or death in the family 

   •  impassable road or weather conditions 

   •  religious observance 

   •  quarantine 

   •  court appearance 

   •  attendance at health clinic 

   •  approved cooperative work program 

   •  approved college visits 

   •  approved education trips 

   •  military obligations

3. ILLEGAL ABSENCES: Most absences not mentioned as a "legal absence" are  interpreted under the law as illegal absences. The two categories of illegal  absence are unlawful detention and truancy. 

   • 1. Unlawful Detention – Unlawful detention occurs when the pupil is  absent with the knowledge and consent of his/her parent or guardian, for other than legal reasons (e.g. visiting, vacation, work,  needed at home, etc.). 

        • Parents should be advised that unlawfully detaining their children from school could result in the child not receiving credit for the work missed on the days of unlawful detention. 

     2. Truancy – A student who is absent from school without the consent  of a parent or guardian is considered to be truant. Truancy from school is assumed anytime a student is illegally absent for two or more consecutive class periods.

Our school protocol is that you should not send your child to school if he/she had:  

• Fever in the past 24 hours 

• Vomiting in the past 24 hours 

• Diarrhea in the past 24 hours 

• Chills 

• Sore throat 

• Rash 

• Strep Throat - must take an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school • Bad cold (upper respiratory infection) with a very runny nose or bad cough especially if it has kept the child awake at night. 

• Head lice - must be treated according to the nurse or doctor's instruction and are completely nit (egg) free, before returning to school 

• Eye infection - must take an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school

• To be eligible to participate in an after school event (i.e., games, practices, clubs), a student must be in attendance for at least 4 full periods (10th period does not include a full period) and have an excused reason for being tardy.

• Any student who is not in attendance (excused or unexcused) for at least 4 full periods (10th period does not include a full period) the day prior to a weekend, conference day, or holiday game must have a signed doctor's note to participate any weekend school actives (i.e., dance, musical, athletics, ect...). 

The Administration and Faculty of Sharon Springs Central School believe that regular  attendance in classroom instruction is an essential part of the learning process. The  insistence on good attendance provides students with a clear reminder of the importance  of classroom instruction and its relationship to academic achievement. Therefore, to receive credit for courses at Sharon Springs Central School students must fulfill the  necessary academic requirements of the course and comply with the following attendance  requirements: 

1. A pupil must be in attendance a minimum of eighty-five percent (85%) of the  total number of days a course is in session during an academic year in order to  receive credit for that course.

2. The eighty-five percent (85%) rule of attendance means that:

   • In a full year, one credit course, a student must not be absent from  class more than twenty-seven (27) days (either legally or illegally). 

   • In a full year, one-half (1/2) credit course, a student must not be  absent more than fourteen (14) days (either legally or illegally). 

   • In a half-year, one-half (1/2) credit course, a student must not be  absent more than fourteen (14) days (either legally or illegally). 

   • In Physical Education, a student must not be absent more than  fourteen (14) times when scheduled every other day (either legally or  illegally). 

3. Each absence from a specific class will be considered individually for that class  and will determine whether a student fulfills the attendance criteria for that  specific class. Not fulfilling the attendance criteria in a specific class could result in a student not receiving credit for that specific course. 

4. Any student who is absent from school but is enrolled in a school approved  tutorial program shall be considered as present for instruction. The tutorial  program will operate with the same attendance regulations as all other classes. Parents who know that their child will be absent for a prolonged period  of time (two weeks or more) should immediately submit a notice from the child’s  physician stating the nature of the illness and the duration so that the student will  be marked legally absent. Parents of any student absent for any prolonged period  of time must request home tutoring in writing from the principal. Students who  are absent and wish to request missed work must do so by 8:30 a.m. Work may  be picked up after 2:00 p.m. on the day of request. Any request received after  8:30 a.m., may not be filled until the following day. In this instance students will  be considered absent but will still have the opportunity to fulfill their assignment  criteria for the course(s). 

5. Excessive absences will result in the Administration conducting an attendance  hearing. The parties invited may include the student, his/her teachers, counselor,  parent(s) and administrator. This will likely occur after the 20th absences for full year classes and 10th absence for semester based courses. 

 The outcome(s) of the attendance hearing may result in: 

• A determination if extenuating circumstances justify the excessive  absences or if course credit should be denied. 

• A discussion of the responsibility of student and parents in regard  to future pupil attendance and to plan for makeup provisions in accordance with Commissioner’s Rulings if needed. 

• An establishment of consequences for future absences 

• A discussion of intervention strategies

• A discussion of a PINS Diversion petition being filed if student is  under the age of 17 or of an Educational Neglect Report. 

Should the student exceed the 85% attendance rule and course credit is denied, the  student will receive a “No Grade” for his/her class. The student will remain in the  scheduled class as an audit, and participate as deemed appropriate by the  teacher. The student who successfully audits the course will receive a minimum  grade of 55, per remaining quarter, for the purpose of not prohibiting admission to  summer school. If the course has a Regents exam attached, the student will be  allowed to take the Regents exam if he/she has met all requirements to do so.

1. Category 1: Perfect Attendance- No minutes missed…no absences,  tardiness, or early dismissals for any reason with the exception of a school  sponsored field trip or college visitation. 

2. Category 2: No absences. All tardiness and/or early dismissals excused  because of medical or dental appointment(s). A written excuse from the doctor or dentist must be supplied upon return. 

3. Category 3: A combined 1-3 absences, being tardy, and/or dismissals, regardless  of reason. A student may also submit a written appeal to be recognized for this  award if his/her absence is due to an extenuating medical condition. 

*NOTE: Any single response or any combination of administrative responses may be applied, dependent upon student’s record of behavior, the severity of the infraction, and the frequency of repetitions of an infraction.

Coming Tardy to School (illegal/unexcused 3 times)

• Administrative Responses

• Indicate on permanent record

• After lunch detention 

• Loss of on-campus parking privileges & upperclassman lounge area (for 5 school days)

• Social Worker Counseling

• Parental involvement (and potential report of "educational neglect"

Late to Class 3 Times

• Administrative Responses

  • Lunch detention 

  • Referral for counseling

  • Parental involvement

  • Potential In-school-suspension