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PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
New York State Education Law requires that the students enrolled in the
West Islip School District attend school every day. The educational
program offered by this district is predicated upon the presence of the
student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom
participation. The regular contact of students with one another in the
classroom and their participation in a well-planned instructional
activity under the tutelage of a competent teacher are vital to this
purpose. Absences have a highly adverse effect on the student as well as
the entire educational program. Therefore, the Board of Education urges
all parents to make every effort for their children to be in attendance.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the West Islip School District Attendance Policy are
as follows:
1. To determine the district’s average daily attendance for State aid
purposes.
2. To verify compliance with compulsory education laws.
3. To know the whereabouts of every student for safety and other
reasons.
4. To identify attendance patterns to design improvement efforts.
5. To close gaps in student performance.
6. To increase school completion.
ATTENDANCE & COURSE CREDIT (for high school and middle school credit bearing courses)
Regular attendance is expected in all classes, and is considered
essential for student success for purposes of this policy, classroom
participation means that a student is in class and prepared to work.
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Consistent with
the importance of classroom participation, any absence from class which
is not made up shall result in the loss of 2 points from the student’s
class participation grade for the marking period. Making up the class
will not remove the absence from the total attendance count.
A lateness of up to twenty minutes
will count as ½ an absence. A lateness greater than twenty minutes will
count as a full absence.
Any student who absents himself/herself from more than twenty seven
classes in a full year course, thirteen classes in a half year or
alternating day course, or forty classes in a lab course will not
receive credit for the course. Note: For seniors loss of credit could
jeopardize graduation.) However, where a student earns a passing grade,
credit will not be denied for the course(s).
Transfers and students re-enrolling after having dropped out will be
expected to attend a minimum of 85% of the scheduled class meetings
during their time of enrollment as a condition for course credit
pursuant to this policy. Absences will be prorated according to the
possible number of class meetings.
Students will be considered in attendance if the student is:
a) Physically present in the classroom or working under the direction of
the classroom teacher during the class scheduled meeting time; or
b) Working pursuant to approved independent study program; or
c) Receiving approved alternative/home instruction.
The following is a list of absences that will count/not count towards
loss of course credit:
REASONS FOR ABSENCES:
Student Initiated and/or Unexcused
(count towards loss of course credit) |
School Initiated and or Excused Absences
(will not count towards loss of course credit) |
| Illness/Family Illness |
Suspension (In & Out of school) |
| Death in family |
Religious observance |
| Doctor/Dentist appointment |
Field trip |
| College visitation |
Music lesson |
| Family vacations |
Guidance appointment |
| Truancy / Class cut |
Group / Individual counseling |
| Required court appearance |
Physical / nurse appointment |
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Standardized testing |
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Attendance at CSE or other school initiated meetings |
*Students who have frequent absences due to a chronic medical condition
may apply for a waiver from the attendance policy as long as the illness
is substantiated in writing by a physician. However, this exception will
become void if a student voluntarily cuts class.
If a student identified as having a disability by the Committee on
Special Education (CSE) does not meet the attendance requirements,
he/she will be referred to the CSE before any other action is taken.
Students who are absent from class due to their participation in a
school sponsored activity are to arrange with their teachers to make up
any work missed in a timely manner as determined by the student’s
teacher.
Any student who misses a class is expected immediately upon his or her
return to identify the material covered. Make up opportunities will be
provided for all students absent from class, except for absences due to
cutting or truancy. The student will have the opportunity to make up the
classes and work missed in accordance with procedures established by the
classroom teacher.
Upon completion of the assigned make up work, the student will be given
credit for classroom work as well as classroom participation.
To assure due process, the implementation of this minimal attendance
policy will be in accordance with rules and regulations as developed by
the administration. Further, the District shall vigorously publicize and
disseminate this policy in order to ensure faculty, student, and
parental/guardian awareness.
SUMMER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Summer school attendance will follow the 85% guideline set forth in this
policy for attendance during the regular school year. A student who has
more than three absences will lose credit and be dropped from the
course.
BOCES ATTENDANCE
Loss of credit in a BOCES program will be determined by the attendance
policy established by Eastern Suffolk BOCES.
APPEALS PROCESS
Should a parent/guardian believe that extenuating circumstances exist an
appeal in regard to loss of course credit can be made directly to the
building principal.
SANCTIONS/INCENTIVES TO BE UTILIZED TO IMPROVE
ATTENDANCE SANCTIONS
1. Cut policy - range of penalties from detention to out of school
suspension.
2. Suspension or withdrawal of parking and lunch privileges for seniors.
3. Loss of course credit - refusal of summer school.
INCENTIVES
1. Attendance component of Renaissance program.
NOTIFICATION OF PARENTS
1. The attendance policy will be included in student handbooks and will
be reviewed with students at the start of the school year.
2. Parents will receive a plain language summary of this policy by mail
at the start of each school year. Parents will be asked to sign and
return a statement indicating that they have read and understand the
policy.
3. A back-to-back event will be held at the beginning of each school
year to explain this policy and stress the parent’s responsibility for
their ensuring their children’s attendance.
4. School newsletters and publications will include periodic reminders
of the components of this policy.
5. The District will provide a copy of the attendance policy and any
amendments thereto to faculty and staff. New staff will receive a copy
upon their employment with the District.
6. The District will provide a copy of the attendance policy to any
other member of the community upon request.
To ensure that parents and students are aware of the implication of the
District’s minimum attendance policy, the teacher or other appropriate
school personnel will counsel the student, and contact the student’s
parents by mail, at appropriate intervals prior to the student reaching
twenty-seven absences in a full year course, thirteen absences in a half
year or alternating day course, or forty classes in a lab course.
When a student cuts class or is absent, tardy, or departs early without
proper excuse, designated staff members will notify the student’s
parents in writing.
The District will periodically review attendance data to identify any
patterns or trends in student absences, and the District will take
appropriate action to remedy any such patterns or trends in student
absences if any are identified.
Some examples of group attendance are as follows:
1. Consistent absence of a group of students from a particular period
(e.g., first period, period after lunch, last period)
2. Consistent absence of several athletes on post game mornings that
does not coincide with any school sanctioned activity.
The nature of the group and the specific patterns will be identified
through the process of a review of attendance records by the responsible
individual in the District. Individual students may also engage in
pattern absences as well.
STRATEGIES TO MEET OBJECTIVES
(Some duplication of items already mentioned)
1. Daily attendance calls.
2. Identification of absence patterns.
3. Period by period attendance.
4. Communication with parents.
5. Certified letters.
6. Packet of information available to parents detailing places to seek
help.
7. Social Worker/Psychologist home visits
8. Parent conferences/case conferences.
9. Instructional Support Team referral.
10. Committee on Special Education referral.
11. School security personnel.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR REVIEW OF ATTENDANCE RECORDS
The Principal of each elementary school, the Principal and Assistant
Principal at each middle school, the Principal, Associate Principal,
Deans, and Guidance Counselors at the high school, as well as the
district’s attendance clerk shall be responsible for reviewing
attendance regulations and initiating any necessary actions.
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