5100

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The North Shore Schools recognize that regular school attendance is a major component of academic success. The purpose of this policy is to reduce the level of unexcused absences, tardiness, and early departures, encourage full attendance by all students, maintain an adequate attendance record keeping system, identify patterns of student absences and develop effective intervention strategies to improve school attendance.

To be successful, it is imperative that all members of the school community are aware of this policy, its purpose, procedures, and the consequences of non-compliance. To insure that student, parents, teachers and administrators are notified of and understand this policy, it will be included in student handbooks and be reviewed with students at the start of the school year. A consolidated high school summary of the policy is outlined below. Further, a district-wide summary of the policy will also be available on the district web site. When a student is absent, tardy, or leaves early from class or school without excuse, designated staff member(s) will notify the student’s, parent(s) by phone or mail of the specific unexcused absence and remind them of the attendance policy.

All faculty and staff will receive a copy and will meet at the beginning of each school year to review the attendance policy to clarify individual roles in its implementation. Copies of this policy will also be made available to any community member upon request.

1. Excused and unexcused absences

The following are excused absences-

· Illness of the student (4 days or less)

· Extended illness of 5 days or more requires a doctor’s note

· Serious illness of immediate family member

· Death in the student’s family

· Serious, contagious, or epidemic disease in the household where the pupil resides

· Emergency doctor or dental appointments

· Mandated attendance in a court of law or related court proceeding

· Documented college visits (high school students only)

· Religious observance

· Dangers imposed by weather conditions

5100

The following are unexcused absences –

· Visiting relatives or friends

· Vacationing/traveling

· Making motor vehicle department appointments excluding road tests with documentation of appointment

· Babysitting or helping at home

· Working

· Shopping

· Oversleeping

· Experiencing vehicle breakdown (subject to administrative review)

· Leaving school during the day, including lunch (for grade K through 9), without proper notification

· Non Emergency Medical or Dental appointments

Attendance at school sponsored programs (e.g. Field trips, assemblies) and suspensions are not considered absences.

2. General Procedures/Data Collection

Parent and Student Responsibilities

If a student is absent from school for all or part of a day, his or her parent/guardian is responsible for:

Telephoning the morning of the absence. If the parent/guardian is unable to speak with a school official to explain the absence, he or she shall be responsible for sending in a note explaining the absence, upon the student’s return to school.

· High School – 277-7020 or 7021 Sea Cliff School – 277-7511

Middle School – 277-7311 Glenwood Landing– 277-7611

Glen Head School – 277-7711

The student is responsible for:

· Presenting the parent’s note to the Attendance Office, in those cases in which the parent has not contacted school officials to explain the absence.

· Making up work for each class missed to each teachers’ expectations

School Responsibilities:

· Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the elementary and middle school day, and at the beginning of each class period during the high school day.

· All attendance information shall be compiled and provided to the designated staff member(s) responsible for attendance.

· The school shall make every effort to contact the parent/guardian at all available contact numbers in the event that a student is reported absent.

· The nature of the absence shall be coded on a student’s record (Excused, Unexcused, Tardy, Absent)

· Student attendance data shall be available to and should be reviewed by the building principal or his or her designee in an expeditious manner.

· Where additional information is received that requires corrections to be made to a student’s attendance records, such correction will be made immediately.

· Notice of such a change will be sent to appropriate school personnel subject to applicable confidentiality rules.

· Attendance data will be analyzed periodically to identify patterns or trends in student absences.

· Where consistent with other school practices, teachers and staff shall report students in the hallways, who are absent from a class period without excuse.

· Continuous monitoring will be conducted to identify students who are absent, tardy, or leave class or school early.

3. Attendance/ Grade Policy

The North Shore Schools value the learning that occurs as students and teachers interact in a classroom setting. It is impossible to recapture that experience.

Nonetheless, students are expected to make up all work missed due to absence.

Classroom participation as well as student’s performance on homework, tests, papers, projects, are all considered in establishing grades. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes for at least 85% of the scheduled days of instruction in order to receive credit for the course. To ensure that parents and students are aware of the implications of this minimum attendance requirement, the teacher or other designated staff member(s) will advise the student and contact the parent(s) by telephone and mail at appropriate intervals prior to the student reaching the maximum number of permitted absences.

4. Strategies for intervention at each level

Grades K through 8

At grade levels K through 8, meetings will be held at the 14th and 21st day of absence with the Principal and Instructional Support Team to discuss student lateness and nonattendance. (Ramifications may include implementing a PINS Petition, or initiating a CPS Referral).

Parents are expected to call the school the morning of each absence or lateness. A written explanation of the absence should be sent to the school with the child on the day following the absence, in those cases in which the parent/guardian has not been able to contact the school to explain the absence. Chronic lateness will be addressed in the same manner as excessive absence.

Grades 9 through 12

Full year courses:

· Parents will be contacted by the school each time their child is illegally absent from a class.

· On the fourteenth absence, a letter will be mailed home describing the mandatory attendance requirement for course credit and the ramifications for noncompliance.

· On the twenty-first absence, a second letter will be sent home reiterating the attendance requirements for course credit and the consequences of non-compliance. At this point, parents are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Principal to discuss the problems of non-attendance and excessive absence. Off campus privileges will be revoked for a minimum of four weeks.

· At twenty-eight absences a final letter of notification will be mailed to parents stating that their child will not receive credit for the course. In order for a student to take the course for credit in summer school or repeat the course the following year they must continue to attend daily. Off campus privileges will be revoked for a minimum of four weeks.

Half-year courses:

· On the sixth absence a letter will be mailed home describing the mandatory attendance requirement for course credit and the ramifications for noncompliance.

· On the tenth absence, a second letter will be sent home reiterating the attendance requirements for course credit and the consequences of non-compliance. . At this point, parents are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Principal to discuss the problems of non-attendance and excessive absence. Off campus privileges will be revoked for a minimum of two weeks..

· At fourteen absences a final letter of notification will be mailed to parents stating that their child will not receive credit for the course. Off campus privileges will be revoked for a minimum of four weeks. In order for a student to repeat the course for credit in summer school or repeat it the following year they must continue to attend daily. If the student continues to miss class, each day absent will be treated as a cut, detentions will be assigned and the student may become ineligible for summer school

Physical Education: Half-year course ¼ credit

· On the third absence a letter will be mailed home describing the mandatory attendance requirement for course credit and the ramifications for noncompliance.

· On the sixth absence, a second letter will be sent home reiterating the attendance requirements for course credit and the consequences of non-compliance. At this point, parents are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Principal to discuss the problems of non-attendance and excessive absence.

· At eight absences a final letter of notification will be mailed to parents stating that their child will not receive credit for physical education. In order for the student to repeat the course for credit in summer school or repeat it in the following year, he or she must continue to attend daily. If the student continues to miss classes, each day absent will be treated as a cut, detentions will be assigned and students may become ineligible for summer school.

5. Appeals

Any student facing disciplinary action, failure or denial of credit has a right to a hearing with parents/guardians present. Appeals of such circumstances must be submitted in writing to the school Principal. Examples of days that can be earned back may include: extended illness, bereavement, or family crisis.

6. Sanctions for unexcused absences

In the high school, class cuts are treated independently of the attendance policy. The sanctions for cutting a class will apply at the same time as the interventions and other corrective action of the attendance plan, meaning each cut will also count as a class absence.

7. Annual Review

The Board of Education shall annually review building-level student attendance records and, if such records show a decline in student attendance, the Board shall revise this comprehensive attendance policy and make any revisions to the plan it deems necessary to improve student attendance.

Ref: Education Law §§1709; 3024; 3025; 3202; 3205-3213; 3225

8 NYCRR §§104.1; 175.6

Adoption date: June 15, 2006

Reviewed: December 13, 2007

Approved: January 17, 2008



		5100 STUDENT ATTENDANCE The North Shore Schools recognize that regular school attendance is a major component of academic success. The purpose of this policy is to reduce the level of unexcused absences, tardiness, and early departures, encourage full attendance by all students, maintain an adequate attendance record keeping system, identify patterns of student absences and develop effective intervention strategies to improve school attendance. To be successful, it is imperative that all members of the school community are aware of this policy, its purpose, procedures, and the consequences of non-compliance. To insure that student, parents, teachers and administrators are notified of and understand this policy, it will be included in student handbooks and be reviewed with students at the start of the school year. A consolidated high school summary of the policy is outlined below. Further, a district-wide summary of the policy will also be available on the district web site. When a student is absent, tardy, or leaves early from class or school without excuse, designated staff member(s) will notify the student’s, parent(s) by phone or mail of the specific unexcused absence and remind them of the attendance policy. All faculty and staff will receive a copy and will meet at the beginning of each school year to review the attendance policy to clarify individual roles in its implementation. Copies of this policy will also be made available to any community member upon request. 1. Excused and unexcused absences The following are excused absences- · Illness of the student (4 days or less) · Extended illness of 5 days or more requires a doctor’s note · Serious illness of immediate family member · Death in the student’s family · Serious, contagious, or epidemic disease in the household where the pupil resides · Emergency doctor or dental appointments · Mandated attendance in a court of law or related court proceeding · Documented college visits (high school students only) · Religious observance · Dangers imposed by weather conditions 5100 The following are unexcused absences – · Visiting relatives or friends · Vacationing/traveling · Making motor vehicle department appointments excluding road tests with documentation of appointment · Babysitting or helping at home · Working · Shopping · Oversleeping · Experiencing vehicle breakdown (subject to administrative review) · Leaving school during the day, including lunch (for grade K through 9), without proper notification · Non Emergency Medical or Dental appointments Attendance at school sponsored programs (e.g. Field trips, assemblies) and suspensions are not considered absences. 2. General Procedures/Data Collection Parent and Student Responsibilities If a student is absent from school for all or part of a day, his or her parent/guardian is responsible for: Telephoning the morning of the absence. If the parent/guardian is unable to speak with a school official to explain the absence, he or she shall be responsible for sending in a note explaining the absence, upon the student’s return to school. · High School – 277-7020 or 7021 Sea Cliff School – 277-7511 Middle School – 277-7311 Glenwood Landing– 277-7611 Glen Head School – 277-7711 The student is responsible for: · Presenting the parent’s note to the Attendance Office, in those cases in which the parent has not contacted school officials to explain the absence. · Making up work for each class missed to each teachers’ expectations School Responsibilities: · Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the elementary and middle school day, and at the beginning of each class period during the high school day. · All attendance information shall be compiled and provided to the designated staff member(s) responsible for attendance. · The school shall make every effort to contact the parent/guardian at all available contact numbers in the event that a student is reported absent. · The nature of the absence shall be coded on a student’s record (Excused, Unexcused, Tardy, Absent) · Student attendance data shall be available to and should be reviewed by the building principal or his or her designee in an expeditious manner. · Where additional information is received that requires corrections to be made to a student’s attendance records, such correction will be made immediately. · Notice of such a change will be sent to appropriate school personnel subject to applicable confidentiality rules. · Attendance data will be analyzed periodically to identify patterns or trends in student absences. · Where consistent with other school practices, teachers and staff shall report students in the hallways, who are absent from a class period without excuse. · Continuous monitoring will be conducted to identify students who are absent, tardy, or leave class or school early. 3. Attendance/ Grade Policy The North Shore Schools value the learning that occurs as students and teachers interact in a classroom setting. It is impossible to recapture that experience. Nonetheless, students are expected to make up all work missed due to absence. Classroom participation as well as student’s performance on homework, tests, papers, projects, are all considered in establishing grades. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes for at least 85% of the scheduled days of instruction in order to receive credit for the course. To ensure that parents and students are aware of the implications of this minimum attendance requirement, the teacher or other designated staff member(s) will advise the student and contact the parent(s) by telephone and mail at appropriate intervals prior to the student reaching the maximum number of permitted absences. 4. Strategies for intervention at each level Grades K through 8 At grade levels K through 8, meetings will be held at the 14th and 21st day of absence with the Principal and Instructional Support Team to discuss student lateness and nonattendance. (Ramifications may include implementing a PINS Petition, or initiating a CPS Referral). Parents are expected to call the school the morning of each absence or lateness. A written explanation of the absence should be sent to the school with the child on the day following the absence, in those cases in which the parent/guardian has not been able to contact the school to explain the absence. Chronic lateness will be addressed in the same manner as excessive absence. Grades 9 through 12 Full year courses: · Parents will be contacted by the school each time their child is illegally absent from a class. · On the fourteenth absence, a letter will be mailed home describing the mandatory attendance requirement for course credit and the ramifications for noncompliance. · On the twenty-first absence, a second letter will be sent home reiterating the attendance requirements for course credit and the consequences of non-compliance. At this point, parents are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Principal to discuss the problems of non-attendance and excessive absence. Off campus privileges will be revoked for a minimum of four weeks. · At twenty-eight absences a final letter of notification will be mailed to parents stating that their child will not receive credit for the course. In order for a student to take the course for credit in summer school or repeat the course the following year they must continue to attend daily. Off campus privileges will be revoked for a minimum of four weeks. Half-year courses: · On the sixth absence a letter will be mailed home describing the mandatory attendance requirement for course credit and the ramifications for noncompliance. · On the tenth absence, a second letter will be sent home reiterating the attendance requirements for course credit and the consequences of non-compliance. . At this point, parents are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Principal to discuss the problems of non-attendance and excessive absence. Off campus privileges will be revoked for a minimum of two weeks.. · At fourteen absences a final letter of notification will be mailed to parents stating that their child will not receive credit for the course. Off campus privileges will be revoked for a minimum of four weeks. In order for a student to repeat the course for credit in summer school or repeat it the following year they must continue to attend daily. If the student continues to miss class, each day absent will be treated as a cut, detentions will be assigned and the student may become ineligible for summer school Physical Education: Half-year course ¼ credit · On the third absence a letter will be mailed home describing the mandatory attendance requirement for course credit and the ramifications for noncompliance. · On the sixth absence, a second letter will be sent home reiterating the attendance requirements for course credit and the consequences of non-compliance. At this point, parents are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Principal to discuss the problems of non-attendance and excessive absence. · At eight absences a final letter of notification will be mailed to parents stating that their child will not receive credit for physical education. In order for the student to repeat the course for credit in summer school or repeat it in the following year, he or she must continue to attend daily. If the student continues to miss classes, each day absent will be treated as a cut, detentions will be assigned and students may become ineligible for summer school. 5. Appeals Any student facing disciplinary action, failure or denial of credit has a right to a hearing with parents/guardians present. Appeals of such circumstances must be submitted in writing to the school Principal. Examples of days that can be earned back may include: extended illness, bereavement, or family crisis. 6. Sanctions for unexcused absences In the high school, class cuts are treated independently of the attendance policy. The sanctions for cutting a class will apply at the same time as the interventions and other corrective action of the attendance plan, meaning each cut will also count as a class absence. 7. Annual Review The Board of Education shall annually review building-level student attendance records and, if such records show a decline in student attendance, the Board shall revise this comprehensive attendance policy and make any revisions to the plan it deems necessary to improve student attendance. Ref: Education Law §§1709; 3024; 3025; 3202; 3205-3213; 3225 8 NYCRR §§104.1; 175.6 Adoption date: June 15, 2006 Reviewed: December 13, 2007 Approved: January 17, 2008