West Islip Attendance Objectives:
- To ensure every student has the opportunity for academic success and promote college and career readiness.
- To reduce the percentage of students who are chronically absent and/or tardy. Chronic absenteeism or tardiness is defined as missing 10 percent or more of school days for any reason.
- To determine the district’s average daily attendance for State aid purposes.
- To verify compliance with compulsory education laws.
- To know the whereabouts of every student for safety and educational reasons.
- To identify attendance patterns to support students at-risk for being chronically absent and/or tardy.
- To close gaps in student performance.
- To increase school completion.
Unexcused absences are absences, tardiness, and early departures unrelated to school activities. Unexcused absences include, but are not limited to:
- truancy (unlawful absence or irregular absence)
- family vacation
- cutting class
Students missing school or class due to an unexcused absence many result in a grading penalty.
Excused absences are absences, tardiness, and early departures which include but are not limited to:
- medical appointment (doctor’s note)
- quarantine
- illness (four or more consecutive absences due to illness require a doctor’s note)
- death in family
- religious observances
- college visitation to a maximum of three (3) days. Signed documentation and proof of visitation is required.
Excused absences require written documentation within three days of the students return to school. *
Exempt absences are absences, tardiness, and early departures which are initiated by the school or a legal obligation, including but not limited to:
- pre-scheduled counseling appointment
- authorized school-initiated activity
- in-school suspension; out-of-school suspension
- school-initiated field trips
- pre-scheduled instrumental classes
- pre-scheduled nurse and physical appointments
- attendance at a CSE
- subpoenaed court appearance
- military program *
* Students missing school or class due to an excused or exempt absence will be provided an opportunity to make-up any missed work.