Absences fall into two categories: Excused and Unexcused. Click here to read full Regulation 5200-Attendance.
Excused Absences
- The student’s illness supported by a written letter from the parent upon the student’s return to school.
- The student’s required attendance in court;
- Where appropriate, when consistent with Individualized Education Programs, the Individuals with Disabilities Act, accommodation plans under 29 U.S.C. §§ 794and 705(20), and individualized health care plans;
- The student’s suspension from school;
- Family illness or death supported by a written letter from the parent upon the student’s return to school;
- Visits to post-secondary educational institutions;
- Interviews with a prospective employer or with an admissions officer of an institution of higher education;
- Examination for a driver’s license;
- Necessary and unavoidable medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled at a time other than the school day (please provide documentation of visit);
- Take Our Children to Work Day;
- An absence considered excused by a New Jersey Department of Education rule;
- An absence for a reason not listed above, but deemed excused by the Principal upon a written request by the student’s parent stating the reason for the absence and requesting permission for the absence to be an excused absence.
Written documentation must be presented to verify all excused absences; and must be submitted within five (5) school days after returning.
This is not a permissive policy establishing or ―licensing a limit of days, which may be missed with no harm. Rather, it assumes absences will occur for personal illness, serious personal or family problems, religious holidays, quarantines, and professional appointments that cannot be scheduled in non-school times. Absences for any other reason not listed above must be acceptable to the administration, or the absence will be considered unexcused. Long-term or chronic illness will be considered individually by the administration and documentation of such should be on file in the nurse’s office as soon as possible.
Parents are to call the Attendance Office and report their child absent on the day of the absence.
908-638-2120
Unexcused Absences
Students are not required to bring parental notes to school following an unexcused absence. Parents/guardians, guidance counselors, and the Child Study Team will be notified of a student’s absence following the fourth (4) and seventh (7) unexcused absences in a semester course, and the seventh (7), tenth (10) and thirteenth (13) unexcused absence in a full-year course.
DAYS MISSED DUE TO FAMILY VACATIONS DO NOT QUALIFY AS EXCUSED ABSENCES.
District Procedure for College Visits
Seniors and second semester juniors are permitted to go on college visitations during the school day. For these days to be excused absences, the student must:
- Complete a college visitation form (College-Visit-Form) and submit to the Attendance Office at least three (3) days prior to the visit.
- The student must provide written verification of the visit on college letterhead within five (5) school days to the Attendance Office.
Loss of Course Credit
Students with the following unexcused absences will be subject to loss of credit in a course.
Students who miss more than three (3) classes in a nine-week course, more than six (6) classes in a semester course, or more than twelve (12) classes in a year course due to unexcused absences will have loss of credit.
Parents/guardians will be sent letters notifying them of a student’s loss of course credit. Guidance counselors and the Child Study Team will also be notified.
A student who loses credit because of excessive absences will have his/her grades recorded for each of the four marking periods listed on his/her report card but in lieu of final grades the designation of N/C (no credit granted) will be listed.
Review and Appeal Process
A student who has lost credit in a course must make all appeals for reinstatement of credit lost due to excessive absence in writing to the administration within ten (10) days of notification. The School Appeal Committee will consist of the Assistant Principal (Chair) and five (7) members of the teaching staff.
Making Up Work Following Absences
A student may make up work following any absence. Upon returning to school after an absence, the student will have two (2) days for each day of absence to make up work unless the student makes other arrangements with his/her teachers. However, all work should be made up within a maximum of ten (10) school days following the student’s return. In the event that illness or recovery limits a student’s workload, at the conclusion of the absence, parents may petition in writing the administrator in charge of attendance for an extension beyond the ten (10) days.
Credit Restoration Program
This program is for students who have received a passing grade for a course, but did not receive credit because of attendance issues. The program requires that students must successfully complete a research-based project and attend the mandated sessions. For a semester course, students must attend three (3) scheduled four (4) hour sessions; one session will be scheduled on each of three (3) consecutive weeks during the normal summer school program. For a year course, students must attend six (6) scheduled four (4) sessions; one session will be scheduled on each week of the normal summer school program. No grade improvement is possible, just credit restored. For each course in which credit restoration is requested, an individual successfully completed program is required.
