Attendance is the collaborative responsibility of students, parents, and school personnel. The Board of Education Attendance Policy states in part, “The frequent absence of pupils from classroom learning experiences disrupts the continuity of the instructional process and limits the ability of pupils to complete the prescribed curriculum requirements successfully.” Absences from school jeopardize the pupil’s ability to satisfactorily complete prescribed courses of study and violate New Jersey Statutes 18A:25-31 that requires children of the school compulsory age to attend school regularly.

In order for students to receive credit for a class/course and the maximum instructional time, the following written attendance reporting procedures have been adopted district wide:

• First (1st) Student’s Unexcused Absence – The homeroom class/period one reporting instructor/teacher is to report all student absences to the Attendance Secretary after the teacher has attempted or made initial contact with the parent or legal guardian and is on record regarding the student’s first absence from class.

• Note: All school instructors/teachers are to report daily attendance and absences of students enrolled in his or her class electronically to the Attendance Secretary by 9:00 a.m. each day school is in session.

• The Attendance Secretary records both excused and unexcused absences in the GENESIS system. The Attendance Secretary notifies the parent or the legal guardian on record of a student’s unexcused absence within 24 hours of the unexcused absence(s) through the generation of an automated phone call (Global Connect).

• Third (3rd) Student’s Unexcused Absence – The homeroom class/period one reporting instructor/teacher is to report the third absence to the Attendance Secretary after the teacher has attempted or made initial contact with the parent or legal guardian on record about the student’s third absence from class. Written documentation of parent contact by the instructor/teacher must be recorded in the grade book or on an identified parental contact log with dates and comments about the student’s absence(s).

• The Attendance Secretary – After receiving notification of absence from the instructor/teacher, the parent is notified within 24 hours of the third absence by the Attendance Secretary, School Social Worker, Dropout Prevention Specialist, School Counselors and/or Family Liaison that the student has not reported to school. A verification letter of absence is required by the parent explaining the student’s cumulative third absence with the parent’s signature and/or the submitting of a doctor’s note if the student’s absence is due to illness.

The Attendance Secretary records both excused and unexcused absences in the GENESIS system which notifies the parent or the legal guardian on record of a student’s unexcused absence within 24 hours of the unexcused absence(s) through the generation of an attendance letter.

• Follow up with parent/guardian is made by the Attendance Secretary, School Social Worker, Dropout Prevention Specialist, School Counselors and/or Family Liaison to determine reasons for the student’s absences. Home visits should be conducted by the School Resource Officer, School Social Worker, Dropout Prevention Specialist, Family Liaison and/or School Counselors in addition to follow up calls that address the student’s attendance.

After a student has had a minimum of five (5) unexcused absences within a calendar month, it is expected that the school principal or designee advise the parent or the legal guardian on record of the student’s unsatisfactory absences and begin to provide services to prevent the truancy referral.

• Sixth (6th) Unexcused Student Absence – The homeroom class/period one reporting instructor/teacher is to report the sixth absence to the Attendance Secretary after the teacher has attempted or made initial contact with the parent or legal guardian on record about the student’s sixth absence from class. Written documentation of parental contacts by the Instructor must be recorded in the instructor’s grade book or on an identified parent contact log with dates and comments about the student’s absence(s).

The Attendance Secretary records both excused and unexcused absences in the GENESIS system which notifies the parents or the legal guardian on record of a student’s unexcused absence within 24 hours of the unexcused absence(s) through the generation of an attendance letter.

• The Attendance Secretary – After receiving absence notification from the instructor/teacher, the parent is notified within 24 hours of this sixthabsence by the Attendance Secretary, School Social Worker, Dropout Prevention Specialist, School Counselors and/or Family Liaison that the student has not reported to school. A verification letter of absence is required by the parent explaining the student’s cumulative six absences with the parent’s signature and/or submit a doctor’s note if the student’s absence is due to illness. The school and district will work collaboratively and be responsible for parent contacts, home visits, coordination of parent and student conferences, to review and address the sixth student absence and possible consequences.

• Monitoring and Notification of Attendance Consequences must be documented by student services personnel and school administrator and/or designee that clearly identify and outline the progressive strategies and interventions put into place as appropriate for the student’s excessive absences from school and documented in the GENESIS technology system. Note: The types of consequences should be thoroughly reviewed with both the student and parent, so that all parties clearly understand the consequences and expectations.

• Ninth (9th) Unexcused Student Absence – The homeroom class/period one reporting instructor/teacher is to report the ninth absence to the Attendance Secretary after the teacher has made an initial contact with the parent or legal guardian on record about the student’s ninth absence from class. Written documentation of parent contact by the instructor/teacher must be recorded in the grade book or on an identified parental contact log with dates and comments about the student’s absences.

• The Attendance Secretary – is to notify the Truancy Social Worker and Truancy Attendance Officer of the ninth absence from school. 

The Attendance Secretary records both excused and unexcused absences in the GENESIS technology system which notifies the parent or legal guardian on record of a student’s unexcused absence within 24 hours of the unexcused absence(s) through the generation of an attendance letter.

• The Truancy Social Worker and/or Truancy Attendance Officer – is to meet with the student’s school counselor and school administrator and/or designee to address and recommend appropriate attendance service interventions where applicable. 

• Fifteenth (15th) Student Absence – The homeroom class/period one reporting instructor/teacher is to report all cumulative student absences to the Attendance Secretary after the instructor/teacher has attempted or made contact with the parent or legal guardian on record about the student’s fifteenth absence from class.

• The Attendance Secretary records both excused and unexcused absences in the GENESIS technology system which notifies the parent or legal guardian on record of a student’s unexcused absence within 24 hours of the unexcused absences through the generation of a Truancy Letter addressing the cumulative fifteenth unexcused absence. 

• The Attendance Secretary – Notifies the student services team with a request that the potential truant student be referred to the Truancy Child Study Team and school administrator and/or designee.

Note: Parents have five (5) school days beginning the day after the student’s absence to provide written substantiation as prescribed by state law as an excused absence.