EDINBURG COMMON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Student & Parent Handbook
ATTENDANCE
Parents are to notify the school each time a child is absent. Attendance is important for student success in school. Attendance is taken daily and every student is expected to be on time. A student absence may be excused for the following reasons:
1. Illness
2. Sickness or death in the family
3. Unsafe travel conditions
4. Religious observance or instruction (pursuant to Policy 5182)
5. Doctor appointments
6. Quarantine
7. Required court appearances
8. Participation in a school-sponsored activity
Any other pupil absence, tardiness or early departure is considered by the Board of Trustees to be unexcused. Each absence, tardiness and early departure shall be accounted for by the attendance officer in the record of attendance as excused or unexcused.
It is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to notify the office by telephone on the morning of the absence, tardiness or at the time of early departure as to the reason so the attendance record can be corrected. An absence is recorded illegal if an excuse is not received. As a follow-up to any verbal notification to secure the safety of your child, parents or guardians shall provide a written excuse for a record and documentation within two school days containing the date and reason of the absence, tardiness or early departure.
Students shall comply with the following:
1. All excuses for part of a day and all day absences must give the reason for the absence as well as have the date and parentās/guardianās signature.
2. The Superintendent or his/her designee must approve all excuses from school.
3. If students know in advance that they are going to be on an authorized absence for an extended period of time, they will be held accountable for all assignments missed while absent. It is the studentsā responsibility to collect assignments from their teachers. If the assignments are not completed by the teachersā specified deadline(s), the student may be assigned to detention until all back assignments are completed.
4. If a studentās absence is due to illness or is unexcused, he or she will not be allowed to participate in school activities during the day and all evening activities (i.e., basketball games, movie night, etc.).
1. The school will call parents after two days of absence. Students who are absent for five days due to illness must present a written explanation from their doctor, as well as a note from their parent(s)/guardian(s). If such students fail to present both written notices, the Superintendent will contact the parent(s)/guardian(s), and request an explanation for the absence. If the nurse/attendance officer believes the explanation is inadequate, or if he/she does not receive an explanation within five days, the Superintendent will take appropriate action. Schools are directed by Child Protective Services to report extended/frequent absences that affect the studentās academic progress or physical/emotional health.
2. Students excused from physical education will only attend recess with written parent permission. Students must have a doctorās excuse if they request to be excused from physical education more than two times a week.
3. Students absent from school due to illness will not participate in after-school athletic activities.
8. If students are absent, they are excused from a concert the day of absence. If they are present in
school, they are expected to participate in the concert.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND PROMOTION/RETENTION
The Board of Trustees recognizes that regular attendance in classes is essential to the total learning process. A class absence may be unavoidable; each student is expected to make every effort to attend school. The reason for this expectation is that classroom attendance/participation is vital for optimum academic achievement.
Any pupil who is properly excused and has performed any assigned make-up work shall receive graded credit for work completed. It shall be the studentās responsibility to obtain all make-up work.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
For any absences, tardiness or early departure that is excused, the attendance officer shall record the reason. All other absences, tardiness or early departure shall be considered unexcused. An absence, tardiness or early departure shall be assumed to be unexcused until the school receives written confirmation with an appropriate reason. The attendance officer shall record all arrivals and departures.
Students with unexcused absences will not be allowed to participate in any extracurricular activity taking place on the day they are absent from school.
Notice will be sent to the pupilās parents or guardians regarding absences and the potential for denial of academic credit as follows:
a. On the fifth unexcused absence from school in one semester (two consecutive marking periods), the nurse shall speak to the teacher and notify the Superintendent who shall then send a letter home, advising the parents or guardians of the number of absences.
a. On the seventh unexcused absence in one semester, the nurse shall speak to the teacher and notify the Superintendent who shall then send a second letter home, advising the parents or guardians of the number of absences. The Superintendent shall also meet with the student, the studentās parents or guardians and the studentās teacher.
b. On the tenth unexcused absence in one semester, the student may be considered for retention. The Superintendent shall so notify the studentās parents or guardians by letter.
In-school suspension, for which the student is assigned, and out-of-school suspension, where the student takes advantage of alternate educational services provided by the District, shall not count as absences from class under this section of the policy. All students who have been absent from school without excuse will be subject to the compulsory attendance law.
INCENTIVES AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS
The Board of Trustees recognizes that pupil attendance may be positively affected by the use of incentives to encourage pupil attendance and disciplinary sanctions to discourage unexcused pupil absences, tardiness and early departures from school.
In this regard, the school shall make available to pupils the following incentives to promote pupil attendance:
į Perfect attendance award presented each quarter
į Perfect attendance award presented for one year
STUDENT MAKEUP OF WORK
Students who are absent shall be given reasonable time to make up assignments missed during their absence. When necessary and applicable, assignments may be sent home and teachers shall be available to render necessary assistance. Students whose misconduct is directly related to the studentās academic performance (e.g., plagiarism) may be denied the opportunity to make up work.
TARDINESS
Every student is expected to be on time and attend all classes, except in those instances listed in policy 5160, Student Absences and Excuses. Attendance is taken by teachers each day. To be marked present, a student must report to school and be present for at least one period of instruction. A student is not to be counted present and immediately excused. If the student arrives after attendance is taken the parent must notify the nurse, so the attendance record can be corrected. An absence is recorded as illegal if an excuse was not received.
Tardiness after 8 a.m., whether the fault of the child or parent, may only be excused for the reasons cited above. A note explaining the cause of lateness is required. According to the NY State Register of Attendance (page 2) excuses are required for all absences and tardiness. Such
excuses as ćvisiting, away, vacation, shopping, needed at home, caring for baby, work, no shoes, overslept, etc., are illegal; the student is considered truant by the NY State Registry of Attendance (page 3). Every effort should be made to have students in school every day and on time (Policy 5161).
STUDENT DISMISSAL
No student may be released from school to anyone other than the parent, guardian or child protective services personnel and law enforcement officers pursuant to law, unless the individualās name seeking release of the student appears on a list provided by the parent or guardian.
There are any number of legitimate reasons for students arriving late, leaving early, or leaving and returning during the course of the school day. We ask that if your child enters late, leaves early, or leaves and returns, you sign him/her out in the sign-out book at the office window. Please do not go directly to the classroom. We will summon the student to the office at your request. Parents or visitors must report to the office window, sign in, and wear a visitor label for identification purposes. A student is not to be counted present and immediately excused. If the student arrives after attendance is taken, the parent must notify the nurse or office, so the attendance record can be corrected. An absence is recorded as illegal if an excuse was not received.
DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS
Every effort should be made to schedule doctor and dentist appointments outside of school hours. However, if it is necessary for a student to be excused during the school day, a written statement should be sent to the school office. Parents should arrange to pick up their child in the school office
at the appointed time and sign them out.