Schalmont CSD, Rotterdam, NY

[ BACK ]

Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy

In order to provide a deliberate plan to insure the provision of Education Law 3205 regarding compulsory attendance in New York State schools, the Schalmont High School administration shares these common beliefs.

Regular class attendance is one of the most important aspects of a student’s education program.
The educational process requires a continuity of instruction and active classroom participation.
The interaction between students and teachers in the classroom is an integral component of learning.
There is strong correlation between consistent class attendance, parental involvement and academic success.

These beliefs support the need for daily attendance and are the basis for the compulsory attendance policy. It is the policy of the Schalmont Board of Education to provide full-time academic instruction to all eligible students and to establish firmly defined parameters of attendance for students in grades 9 through 12 in the following manner:

Class Attendance: Students will attend all assigned classes, including BOCES during both the regular and/or extended school day for the entire time the classes are in session. A student will be considered in attendance if that student is (a) physically present in the classroom and/or working under the direction of the classroom teacher, (b) working pursuant to an approved independent study program, (c) receiving homebound instruction, or (d) in one class and a required curricular activity (including testing), and is physically present in the class or activity which the building principal has determined to be the assigned class or activity for that class period.

Absences from the regular or extended school day or BOCES classes may constitute insubordination and may be the subject of discipline in accordance with the school district policy and pursuant to Section 3214 of the Education Law.
Students who are legally absent shall be permitted to make up written assignments, quizzes, examinations and other course work missed due to absence. Such opportunity shall not extend to the lecture or other oral instruction provided by the teacher. Opportunities to make up the work shall not alter the attendance record.
Credit for any given course is contingent upon (a) meeting the attendance requirements, and (b) obtaining a passing grade.
Students who are absent for 20 consecutive school days may be dropped from enrollment after compliance with the procedures set forth in section 3202 (1-a) of the Education Law.

It is the responsibility of the school administration and staff to adhere to a commonality of procedures, which will provide continuity and consistency district wide. The Board of Education clearly defines the following statements of implementation for attendance and potential academic consequences:

A student missing more than twenty per cent (36 days for a full year, 18 days for a half-year course) of the number of days a class is in session will lose credit for the course. The student will remain in the course until its completion, and will receive the grade earned based on work completed. This will allow the student to repeat the course in summer school.
In unusual cases of prolonged illness, the student will receive home tutoring and will be considered in attendance.

LEGAL ABSENCES:
The school is allowed to consider the following as legal reasons for absence:

Sickness
Quarantine
Sickness or death in the family
Approved college visit
Impassable roads or weather
Military obligations
Religious observance
Requirement to be in court
Approved cooperative work programs
Attendance at health clinics

*All other reasons are considered to be illegal. Regardless of whether absences are legal or illegal, all absences apply to the Board of Education Policy on attendance.

Students who are absent from school may not attend after school activities on the day they are absent.

ILLEGAL ABSENCES:
TRUANCY - a student absent from school without knowledge of the parent/guardian.

UNLAWFUL DETENTION - a student absent from school for a non-legal reason with the knowledge of the parent or guardian. (This includes vacations, baby sitting, missing the bus, overslept, etc.)

Students who are illegally absent will not be allowed to attend or participate in after school activities. Students who are illegally absent or who cut a class are subject to a “zero” grade in class work due to be handed in or performed in class that day.

Attendance Procedures:
When a student has been absent or late to school, the parent must provide a written note explaining the reason the day following the absence or lateness. The note is turned in to the first period teacher the day of the return. The parent may also call the Main Office in lieu of a note. Any student who fails to provide an excuse for an absence or lateness to school (providing telephone contact has not been made with a parent or guardian) may be referred to the Assistant Principal for disciplinary action. Parents are encouraged to contact the school by phone (355-6110) if they know the student will be absent.

Occupational Education Students: Students going to BOCES Shift I must sign in on the Vo-Tec bus at 7:35 A.M. before leaving the high school. Attendance for scheduled BOCES classes is required, and an illegal absence from BOCES will be treated as class cutting. BOCES students will lose credit for their course work based upon excessive absences.

Daily Attendance:
The coding of the attendance registers is to be completed by the designated attendance secretary. Building-wide absence lists are to be developed by the attendance secretary daily. Attendance information will be made available to instructional staff. Teachers will take attendance period by period via the computer. Band Students: Students attending music lessons, should report to their scheduled class for attendance and then go to their lesson.

The building principal or designee shall investigate reasons for student absences and make parental contacts where appropriate. A home contact may be made sometime during the day of the absence.

Late Arrival:
Students who are late to school (after 7:40 a.m.) must sign in at the front desk and receive an Admit Slip. After the second late in a month, the student will receive a detention notice, and will continue receiving detentions for every late during the month. Failure to attend detention will result in further disciplinary action, up to and including out of school suspension.

Students who arrive late to school cannot participate in after school activities on that day.

Students who arrive late to school due to a doctor or dentist appointment are required to provide a note from the doctor or dentist’s office. The student will be recognized as legally late and will be able to participate in after school activities for that day.

Home Tutoring:
For any student who is legally absent for a prolonged period of time, (ten consecutive school days or chronically absent)home-tutoring can be arranged through the guidance counselor. Parents must communicate this need to their child’s guidance counselor. A physician’s note is required to receive home tutoring.

This page is maintained by Mellissa Braham, Communications Specialist, according to web publishing guidelines used by the Schalmont Central School District. All rights reserved. This web site was produced in cooperation with the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service. © 2005