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.