The Board of Education, in the interest of the educational welfare of its pupils and the integrity of its program, will not grant credit for courses when a pupil has an excess of excused and unexcused absences as defined in this regulation. Pupils are encouraged to provide documentation during the school year for each absence from school.

Definition of Terms:

Late to Homeroom. Any pupil who arrives after the beginning of homeroom but before the end of homeroom. This will not affect pupil attendance and will be handled through the disciplinary process.

Late. Any pupil who arrives after homeroom but before the end of the school day. If a pupil is present less than four hours s/he will be considered absent. If a pupil is present more than four hours s/he will be considered absent against the LRHSD Attendance Policy unless that pupil is present more than four hours and is Late due to a reason defined as Excused.

Early Release. Any pupil who is signed out of school after homeroom but before the end of the school day. If a pupil is present less than four hours s/he will be considered absent. If a pupil is present more than four hours s/he will be considered absent against the LRHSD Attendance Policy unless that pupil is present more than four hours and the Early Release is due to a reason defined as Excused.

Excused Absence. The following reasons may be considered an Excused Absence upon verification of documentation (documentation should be submitted immediately following an absence – one note per occurrence):

1. Illness (requires an original note from a physician with date and diagnosis, copies will not be accepted)
2. Funeral/Death in family
3. Religious Observances pursuant to N.J.S.A 18A:36-14 through 16
4. IEP Exempt – Where appropriate, Individualized Education Programs pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § § 1400 et seq., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, accommodation plans under 29 U.S.C. § § 794 and 705(20), and individualized health care plans, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.3(b)2ix
5. Take Child to Work Day
6. Post-secondary Education Visits (requires a note from the Post-secondary institution with date)
7. Court
8. Out of School Suspension or any other form of short-term or long-term suspension, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.23 and 7.3
9. Approved Home Instruction (see LRHSD BOE Policy 2412)
10. Driver's Test (this would excuse a partial day absence)
11. Written Parental Permission
• Limited to one parent-note per semester (note may excuse a series of consecutive days absent)
• Parent-note must be approved by the Principal or designee
12. Exclusion (The Superintendent of Schools or the Principal may exclude a student due to change of placement or failure to comply with immunization or physician clearance requirements for attendance in a public school.)

Total Days. The number of excused plus unexcused absences from school.

No Credit Status. Requires a student to attend the LRHSD Credit Completion program to be awarded high school credit for completed courses. Any pupil who exceeds 4 unexcused absences will be on No Credit for single semester courses and any pupil who exceeds 9 unexcused absences will be on No Credit for full year courses.

Credit Appeals. A Credit Appeal Committee at each high school will conduct a review of pupils on No Credit status at the end of the first semester for first semester courses only and at year-end for full year and second semester courses. Pupils who are not in attendance for the stipulated number of school days, after the appeal process, will be given a grade for their subjects but no credit will be awarded until a contract is signed with the Principal and the pupil successfully completes the Credit Completion Program. See subsection D for complete details on the Credit Appeal process and subsection F for complete details on the Credit Completion Program.

1. School staff responses for any absence from school:
1. The parent/guardian will have access to daily attendance via an online student information system.
2. The parent/guardian will receive a phone call the day of the pupil's absence from school unless that student is on an approved Home Instruction program.
3. The phone call shall state the date of the student's absence.
4. The phone call shall remind the parent/guardian to promptly supply the school with documentation in the event the absence should be Excused.
2. School staff responses for any Unexcused absence from school:
1. 4 cumulative unexcused absences:
1. A letter from the principal will be sent to the parent/guardian warning that the pupil will be on No Credit status for any single semester courses once the pupil reaches 5 cumulative unexcused absences.
2. The letter will remind the parent/guardian to promptly supply the school with documentation in the event that any of the absences should be Excused.
2. 5 cumulative unexcused absences:
1. A letter from the principal will be sent to the parent/guardian stating the pupil is on No Credit status for any single semester courses.
2. The letter will remind the parent/guardian to promptly supply the school with documentation in the event that any of the absences should b eExcused.
3. The school counselor in conjunction with the parent will develop an action plan designed to address patterns of unexcused absences and to have the pupil return to school and maintain regular attendance.
3. 5 consecutive unexcused absences:
1. The school counselor shall investigate the absences by contacting the parent. If the investigation leads the District to have reasonable cause the student has been abused or neglected, the counselor shall contact the Division of Youth and Family Services and the Principal.
4. 9 cumulative unexcused absences:
1. A letter from the principal will be sent to the parent/guardian warning that the pupil will be on No Credit status for any full year courses as well as single semester courses once the pupil reaches 10 cumulative unexcused absences.
2. The letter will remind the parent/guardian to promptly supply the school with documentation in the event that any of the absences should be Excused.
3. The revised action plan may include any of the following:
1. Referral to the building's Intervention and Referral Services team,
2. Conduct testing, assessments or evaluations of the pupil's academic, behavioral and health needs, and
3. Consider alternate educational placement.
5. 10 cumulative unexcused absences:
1. A letter from the principal will be sent via certified and regular mail stipulating:
1. The parents must have a mandatory meeting with the principal within 5 school days.
2. The pupil is required to resume regular attendance.
3. The pupil is on No Credit status for any full year courses as well as single semester courses.
4. There will be a mandatory referral to the court program requiredby the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts for pupils under the compulsory school age (below 16 years of age) (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 through 31); and failure to comply with the provisions of the law may cause the parent to be deemed a disorderly person and the parent be subject to a fine (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 through 31).
2. A mandatory referral to the building's Intervention and Referral Services team.
3. The counselor, in conjunction with the parent, will evaluate the appropriateness of the action plan developed as a result of 5 cumulative unexcused absences. The counselor and parent will continue to consult with the involved agencies to support the student's return to school and regular attendance.
6. 10 consecutive absences:
1. A letter from the principal will be sent via certified and regular mail stipulating:
1. The parents must have a mandatory meeting with the principal within 5 school days.
2. The pupil is required to return back to school immediately.
3. There will be a mandatory referral to the court program required by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts for pupils under the compulsory school age (below 16 years of age) (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 through 31); and failure to comply with the provisions of the law may cause the parent to be deemed a disorderly person and the parent be subject to a fine (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 through 31).
4. Notification for a pupil who is 16 years or older (above the school compulsory age) that failure to meet with the principal (within 5 days as stipulated in this section) and failure to resume attendance within 10 days of this letter the pupil will be dropped from the school register. Once a pupil is withdrawn from the school register they may be permitted to re-enter only after a meeting with the principal.
2. A mandatory referral to the building's Intervention and Referral Services team.
3. The counselor will continue to consult with the parent and the involved agencies to support the student's return to school and regular attendance.
3. School staff response for Excessive Absences:
1. Any pupil who reaches 25 total days absent:
1. A letter from the principal will be sent via certified and regular mail stipulating:
1. The parents must have a mandatory meeting with the principal within 5 school days.
2. A warning that if the pupil reaches an excess of 30 total days absent then Credit Completion will be mandatory for a minimum of 1 week.
2. Verification of medical excuses by the school medical inspector.
3. Review by Child Study Team.
2. Any pupil who reaches 31 total days absent will be sent a letter from the principal (via certified and regular mail) stipulating:
1. Credit Completion is required for a minimum of 1 week.
2. Warning will be issued that if the pupil reaches 41 total days absent then Credit Completion will be required for a minimum of 2 weeks.
3. Any pupil who reaches between 41 and 45 total days absent will be sent a letter from the principal (via certified and regular mail) stipulating:
1. Credit Completion is required for a minimum of 2 weeks.
2. Warning will be issued that if the pupil reaches 46 total days absent then Credit Completion will be required for a minimum of 3 weeks.
3. Warning will be issued that if the pupil reaches 46 unexcused days absent then credit will not be issued for courses passed during the school year; the pupil will not be allowed to attend Credit Completion and will need to repeat the year.
4. Any pupil who reaches 46 total days absent will be sent a letter from the principal (via certified and regular mail) stipulating:
1. Credit Completion is required for a minimum of 3 weeks.
2. Warning will be issued that if the pupil reaches 46 unexcused days absent then credit will not be issued for courses passed during the school year; the pupil will not be allowed to attend Credit Completion and will need to repeat the year.
5. Any pupil who reaches 46 unexcused days absent will be sent a letter from the principal (via certified and regular mail) notifying the pupil that no credit will be issued for courses passed during the school year; the pupil will not be allowed to attend Credit Completion and will need to repeat the year.
4. Credit Appeals
1. Each high school will conduct a review of pupils on No Credit status at the end of the first semester for first semester courses only and at year end for full year and second semester courses.
2. The high school committee will conduct a paper review of all written documentation provided by the parent/pupil.
3. The high school committee shall be comprised of:
1. High School Principal
2. Counseling Supervisor
3. Assistant Principal – of pupil appealing
4. School Counselor – of pupil appealing
5. Case Manager- if applicable
4. Pupils who remain on No Credit status after the appeal process may appeal to the high school principal. All credit appeals conducted at the building level must be completed prior to the start of the Credit Completion Program.
5. A decision of the principal can be appealed to the superintendent of schools and/or assistant superintendent.
6. A decision of the superintendent can be appealed to the Board of Education.
7. The Board of Education may utilize its members in any way it wishes to conduct a personal hearing of the case.
8. A pupil may appeal the decision of the Board of Education to the Commissioner of Education.
9. The official transcript will reflect the number of excused and unexcused number of absences as well as the total number of absences.
5. For students with disabilities, the attendance plan and punitive and remedial procedures set forth therein shall be applied, where applicable, in accordance with the students' Individualized Education Programs, pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § § 1400 et seq., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, the procedural protections set forth in N.J.A.C. 6A:14; accommodation plans under 29 U.S.C. § § 794 and 705(20), and individualized health care plans, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.3(b)2ix
6. Credit Completion Program
1. Students who remain on No Credit status upon completion of the Credit Appeals process are required to attend the Credit Completion Program.
2. The Credit Completion Program will be administered by the high school principal/designee. Students are required to observe the school district code of conduct while in attendance.
3. The time of required attendance will be tabulated using the following chart or by subsection C of this regulation for excessive absences:

   CREDIT COMPLETION TABULATION CHART
   # DAYS UNEXCUSED	9-16 (5 – 16)*	17-23	24-30	31-37	38-45
   # OF WEEKS TO BE SERVED	1	2	3	4	5

7. Senior-Only Credit Completion Option

A senior who is on No Credit status may not participate in their graduation ceremony

unless they attend the Senior-Only Credit Completion Option. This option allows

seniors to fulfill their attendance obligations prior to graduation. Seniors on No Credit

status who successfully complete the Senior-Only Credit Completion Option would be

permitted to participate in graduation.

 

The chart below indicates the number of weeks required for Summer Credit Completion

and the equivalent days required by the Senior-Only Credit Completion option. The

dates of the Saturdays and afternoons will be established by the District after the credit

appeal process.

 

Summer Weeks to be Served	Senior-Only Option
1 – 2 weeks	1 Saturday (8:00 AM to Noon) & 2 Afternoons (Noon to 4:00 PM - Total 12 Hours)
3 or more weeks	2 Saturdays (8:00 AM to Noon) & 4 Afternoons (Noon to 4:00 PM - Total 24 Hours)

 

8. Perfect Attendance
1. Perfect attendance requires a student to be in attendance every day that school is in session. A student who has attended a partial day must have been in attendance for a minimum of four hours and met the criteria listed as Excused as defined in this regulation.