5160R
STUDENT ATTENDANCE REGULATION
1. Subsequent School Years
a. Students will be required to have no more than eighteen (18) absences from a full year course or nine
(9) absences from a semester course.
b. For the purpose of these attendance procedures, physical education shall be considered a semester
course.
2. There is no differentiation between types of absences for class attendance procedure purposes.
3. The consequences of failure to meet the required class attendance are as follows:
a. unless the student has made up for class absences pursuant to the makeup opportunities provided
below, no credit shall be given for a course and the student shall receive an “Incomplete”.
b. Written assignments, quizzes, examinations or other course work submitted by the student after failing
to meet the class attendance requirements will not be graded unless the student obtains a favorable
resolution on appeal from the denial of credit pursuant to the appeal procedures described in section
11 of these procedures (below); and
c. The student must remain in class for the minimum requirement outlined in section 10(b) and (c)
(below).
4. An absence from class shall be defined as entering a class late by missing twenty (20) minutes or more OR
missing the entire class.
5. A student shall be considered in attendance if the student is:
a. physically present in the classroom;
b. working under the direction of the teacher outside the classroom; or
c. received homebound instruction
6. This procedure is intended to be administered in each individual course by each teacher. When a student is
absent from class, the appropriate action as identified in section 7 (below) will be administered. Individual
teachers must document each absence in their records. Teachers will record student attendance on the report
card each quarter for all students.
7. Notification Procedure
a. Subsequent School Years – Full Year Course
1st Notification – on 5th absence – a letter to responsible parent/guardian, initiated by teacher, and sent
home by appropriate administrative office, with copies to guidance;
2nd Notification – on 10th absence – a letter to responsible parent/guardian, initiated by teacher, with
copies to appropriate administrator and counselor, sent home and student contact made by counselor;
3rd Notification – on 15th absence – conference with student, parent/guardian, teacher(s), guidance
counselor, Assistant Principal or Principal. Guidance counselor will initiate conference; and
4th Notification – on 19th absence – certified letter deliverable only to responsible parent/guardian, sent
home stating student shall receive an “Incomplete” for the course, subject to appeal to the Principal.
b. One Semester Course
1st Notification – 4th absence;
2nd Notification – on 7th absence (same as 3rd for full year course); and
3rd Notification – on 10th absence (same as 4th for full year course)
8. The administration reserves the right to refuse to let a student sit for any Regents or local examination in a
particular course when a student fails to meet the attendance requirements.
9. Opportunity to make Up Class Work
a. When a student is absent, the teacher will make every effort to help him/her catch up with the class.
However, it is the student’s responsibility to check with his/her teacher to determine what work has to be
made up and to make arrangements for extra help, if necessary.
If a student becomes ill and foresees that he/she will not return to school for several days, the student
should call the guidance office and ask to have teachers list assignments, and arrange to have a parent or
schoolmate bring the home. Students will be expected to have these assignments completed when they
return to school.
If a student has an extended illness or injury requiring an absence from school, the student will inform the
school as soon as he/she is well enough to read and to receive visitors. The school will arrange for tutors
who will visit the student at home. It is important that these arrangements be made promptly so the student
does not go without instruction any longer than necessary.
Whenever an absence is prearranged (e.g. field trip, music lessons or an absence/early dismissal due to
medical, court appointment, or other reason) the student should make every effort to prearrange class make
up time/work/activities with his/her teacher.
If a student goes on vacation out of town while school is in session, either with or without family, he or she is
obligated to notify teachers a week in advance before leaving to ask for assignments and class work. The
student will be expected to have these assignments completed when he/she returns to school. The
student’s absence will not be an excuse for not knowing the material covered during the absence. Upon
returning to school, the student is expected to make up whatever additional work the teacher considers
necessary. NOTE: These absences are considered Truancy or Unlawful Detention for school attendance
purposes.
b. The following options are available and acceptable as opportunities for the student to make up class
absences. All class make up time/work/activities will be determined by the teacher. All teachers will provide
for class make up opportunities for absences as follows:
1. Attendance at another class during the day when the student has an open period;
2. Attendance for extra help from 2:35 – 3:05 pm;
3. Work may be sent home, completed by the student and returned to the teacher;
4. Homebound instruction for long term disabilities; or
5. Other at the option of the classroom teacher
c. A student who makes up all missed work to the satisfaction of the individual classroom teacher will not have
that absence counted toward the maximum absenteeism allowed before credit is denied for a course. Except
as noted in section 9 (a) (above), a student will be given from one to ten schools days, at the discretion of the
classroom teacher, form the date he/she returns to class to complete these assignments.
d. A student’s misconduct that is directly related to his/her academic performance (e.g. plagiarism, cheating on a
test, avoiding an exam to secure more time to study, secure more time to complete assigned work) may be
reflected in the student’s grade.
10. A student not fulfilling the attendance requirements will have the option of attending summer school under the
following conditions:
a. The course is offered in summer school;
b. The student has attended a full year course at least through the end of the first semester prior to receiving
an “Incomplete” for the course;
c. The student has attended a semester course at least through the end of the first marking period prior to
receiving an “Incomplete” for the course; and
d. A student who becomes disruptive in class after having been notified that due to their attendance they will
receive an incomplete can be removed from the course and denied the opportunity to retake the course in
summer school.
11. Parents of a student who may have been denied credit in a course as a result of the attendance procedures may
appeal the denial of credit to the Building Principal on the grounds that there are extenuating circumstances,
which warrant special consideration. Requests for appeal should be made to the Building Principal in writing
within three (3) days from the date of the signed return receipt request on the certified letter (see 4th notification
above). The Building Principal will establish an Appeal Panel to review such appeals. This panel, prior to
rendering a decision on an appeal from the parent, shall consult the teacher(s) involved.
Adopted on: April 23, 2003