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Student Attendance Policy

POLICY

Cape May Special Services Board of Education Section:
Pupils 5200ATTENDANCE (M)
Date Created: January, 2007 Date Edited: January, 2007 5200

ATTENDANCE (M) M

The Board of Education requires the pupils enrolled in the schools of this district attend school regularly in accordance with the laws of the State. The educational program offered by this district is predicated on the presence of the pupil and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation. The regular contact of pupils with one another in the classroom and their participation in a well-planned instructional activity under the tutelage of a competent teacher are vital to this purpose.

Attendance at school may be excused for certain absences as defined by the Board. All absences for reasons other than excused, shall be unexcused.

Pupils absent from school for any reason are responsible for the completion of assignments missed because of their absence. No pupil excused for a religious holiday shall be deprived of an award or eligibility to compete for an award or the opportunity to make up a test given on the religious holiday.

Prolonged or repeated absences, excused or unexcused, from school or from class, deprive the pupil of the classroom experience deemed essential to learning and may result in retention at grade level or loss of credit toward the high school diploma in accordance with policies of this Board.

Pupils shall be subjected to the school district response for unexcused absences during the school year as outlined in N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.8(a)4 and Regulation 5200. In addition, unexcused absences from school or from classes within the school day shall subject a pupil to the disciplinary rules of the Board, which may include the denial of a pupil’s participation in co-curricular activities and/or athletic competition. Repeated truancies that interfere with efforts of this Board and its staff in the maintenance of good order and the continuity of classroom instruction may result in the suspension or expulsion of any pupil from the course of study during which absences have occurred or the suspension or expulsion in accordance with Policy Nos. 5610 and 5620.

The Superintendent shall calculate and monitor the average daily attendance rate for the district and for each school in the district. Whenever the average daily attendance rate for the district or for a school in the district does not meet the New Jersey Department of Education requirements the Superintendent or designee shall develop performance objectives to improve pupil attendance pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:32-12.2(a)3. If a pupil is absent five consecutive school days within a school year, the Cape May County Schools For Special Services will notify the sending district.

N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14 et seq.; 18A:38-25 et seq. N.J.S.A. 34:2-21.1 et seq. N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.8 Adopted: 16 January 2007 © 2009 Strauss Esmay Associates, LLP 1886 Hinds Road, Suite 1, Toms River, NJ 08753 ph: (732)255-1500 fax: (732)255-1502