MHS Attendance Information

(As taken directly from MHS handbook - Page 8)

The Montgomery Township Board of Education requires students enrolled in
Montgomery Township schools to attend school regularly in accordance with
the laws of the state. The consistent contact of students in the classroom with
one another and their participation in a well-planned instructional activity under
the direction of our faculty is vital to our students’ success. Parents are
encouraged to work in partnership with their children and school to minimize
excessive or unnecessary absenteeism.

Attendance (Policy 5200)
The Montgomery Township Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to
provide a thorough and efficient education for every student within the district
in keeping with the prevailing laws of the State of New Jersey. In order for
administrators and teachers to successfully fulfill their responsibilities to
students, it is essential that all students accept their responsibility to attend
school as scheduled, and that parents/guardians support and reinforce their
child’s regular attendance.
To conform to state regulations requiring school districts to define “excused”
and “unexcused” absences:
An “excused absence” is a student’s absence from school for a full day or
portion of a day for one or more of the following reasons:
• New Jersey state approved religious holidays pursuant to N.J.S.A.
18A:36-14,
• Take Your Child To Work Day
• Montgomery High School curricular/co-curricular activities held
during the school day or requiring early dismissal,
An “unexcused absence” is a student’s absence for all or part of a school day
for any reason other than those listed above.
An unexcused absence can be categorized as either an unexcused absence not
counting toward truancy or an unexcused absence counting toward
truancy.
An “unexcused absence not counting towards truancy” which will not
impact student’s course credit, is a student absence for all or part of a school
day for one or more of the following reasons:
• Personal illness (health care provider documentation) * On official
office script pad or stationary-Must include duration of absences
to be excused, and date of appointment. * All doctor’s notes will
be subject to MHS validation of appointment date.

• Professional appointments that cannot be scheduled during non-
school hours (health care provider documentation),

• Court appearance (court notice to appear),
• Driver’s test (appointment card or license documentation),
• Family illness or death,
• College visitations; juniors and seniors only maximum 3 days
(documented by a statement from the admissions office),

• Where appropriate, when consistent with Individualized Education
Programs,
• Suspension from school,
An “unexcused absence counting toward truancy” is a student absence for
all or part of a school day that do not follow under the category of excused
absence or unexcused absence not counting toward truancy as listed above.
An “unexcused absence” is a student’s absence for all or part of a school day
for any reason other than those listed above. Though a student may be absent
with parental approval for reasons other than those listed above, the absence
will be defined as verified but “unexcused counting toward truancy.” It is
also recognized that the parents/guardians may not always take their child to
the doctor every time he/she is sick. The district assumes that the “unexcused”
absences will be used when it is necessary to miss school and documentation
cannot be provided.
An “unexcused absence counting toward truancy” is a student absence for
all or part of a school day that do not fall under the category of excused
absence or unexcused absence not counting toward truancy as listed above.
Notice to School of Student Absence
Parents should call the attendance line at 609-466-7610, (select #6, then #1) as
early as possible to report an absence. This does not “excuse” an absence but
informs the school that your child is absent with your knowledge. The
student’s absence will be deemed either “excused” or “unexcused not
counting toward truancy” or “unexcused counting toward truancy” “based
upon the documentation explaining the reason for the absence(s) that is
presented to the Main Office by the student following their return to school.
The school will make every effort to contact parents/guardians of any student
who is absent for whom a phone call from home was not received.
School Response to Unexcused Absences Counting Toward Truancy
N.J.A.C.6A:16-7.6, school staff responses for unexcused absences are as
follows:

For up to four cumulative unexcused absences counting towards truancy,
the school district shall: make a reasonable attempt to notify the student’s
parents of each unexcused absence prior to the start of the following school
day; make a reasonable attempt to determine the cause of the unexcused
absence, including through contact with the student’s parents; identify in
consultation with the student’s parents needed action designed to address
patterns of unexcused absences, if any, and to have the child return to school
and maintain regular attendance; proceed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 9:6-1 et
seq. and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-10, if a potential missing or abused child situation is
detected; and cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and
agencies, as appropriate.

For between five and nine cumulative unexcused absences counting
towards truancy, the school district shall: make a reasonable attempt to
notify the student’s parents of each unexcused absence prior to the start of the
following school day; make a reasonable attempt to determine the cause of the
unexcused absence, including through contact with the students’ parents;
evaluate the appropriateness of prior action taken; develop an action plan to
establish outcomes based upon the student’s patterns of unexcused absences
and to specify the interventions for supporting the student’s return to school
and regular attendance, which may include any or all of the following: refer or
consult with the building’s intervention and referral services team (I&RS),
pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-8; conduct testing, assessments, or evaluations of
the student’s academic, behavioral, and health needs; consider an alternate
educational placement; make a referral to or coordinate with a community
based social and health provider agency or other community resource; refer to a
court or a court program; proceed in accordance with N.J.S.A.9:6-1 et. Seq. and
N.J.A.C.6A:16-10, if a potentially missing or child abuse situation is detected:
and engage the student’s family. Cooperate with law enforcement and other
authorities and agencies, as appropriate.

For cumulative unexcused absences counting towards truancy of 10 or
more, a student, between the ages of six and 16, is truant, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, and the school district shall: make a determination
regarding the need for a court referral for the truancy; continue to consult with
the parent and the involved agencies to support the student’s return to school
and regular attendance; cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities
and agencies, as appropriate; and proceed in accordance with N.J.S.A.
18A:3828 through 31, Article 3B, Compelling Attendance at School, and other
applicable State and Federal statues, as required; and a court referral may be
made as follows: when unexcused absences are determined by school officials
to be violations of the compulsory education law, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-
25, and the district board of education’s policies, the parent may be referred to
municipal court; a written report of the actions the school has taken regarding
the student’s attendance shall be forwarded to the municipal court; or when
there is evidence of a juvenile-family crisis, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-22.g,
the student may be referred to Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part;
a written report of the actions the school has taken regarding the student’s
attendance shall be forwarded to the juvenile-family crisis intervention unit.
For a student with a disability, the attendance plan and its punitive and remedial
procedures shall be applied, where applicable, in accordance with the student’s
individualized education program, pursuant to 20 U.S.C 1400 et seq., the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; the procedural protections set forth
in N.J.A.C. 6A:14; accommodation plan under 29 U.S.C. 794 and 705(20); and
individualized healthcare plan and individualized emergency healthcare plan,
pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.3(b)5xii.

Absence and Student Activities

In order for any student to participate in after-school activities (clubs, team
practices, games, plays, concerts, etc.), he/she must be in school for four (4)
hours on the day of the activity. Any student who is absent or serving a
suspension on the day of a scheduled school event will not be allowed to attend
the school event as a participant or spectator.

Making Up Work Following an Absence

Upon returning to school, students must arrange with their teachers to make up
any assignments or assessments missed during the absence from school. Work
must be made up within a time equal to the class time absent. Responsibility
for making up work and scheduling any necessary assistance from the
teacher(s) rests with the student. Teachers shall make reasonable
accommodations to extend time for students.

Late Arrival to School

Students are expected to be in their first class block at 7:20 am during a normal
school day. Until 7:30 students should report directly to class where their
teacher will record their late. The consequences for late arrival to school under
10 minutes are the same as those listed in the section: Class Tardiness. Students
arriving after 7:30 am with documentation must sign in at the Main Office.
Students arriving after 7:30 am without documentation must sign in at the Main
Office by scanning their student identification card and printing their class
admittance pass.

NOTE: A student arriving in any class block after the first ten (10) minutes of
the class block will be recorded as absent for that class. If the reason for
arriving late is a result of any of the reasons defined as “excused” (see
“excused” absences) the absence will be recorded as an excused absence
providing that the student presents the appropriate documentation.

Class Tardiness

A student arriving to any class block within the first ten (10) minutes of the
class block without a pass or proper documentation will be considered tardy,
when students are tardy, they run the risk of jeopardizing their education.
Teachers plan a full eighty-four-minute lesson and it is imperative that students
be present for the entire class. Students are expected to be in their assigned
class when the bell rings to begin each class block. Students entering class late
should have a signed pass. To protect the education of all students, the
following policy is in effect:
1st Tardy: Student will be issued a warning by teacher.
2nd Tardy: Student will be issued a warning by teacher and be informed
that a 3rd tardy will result in a teacher detention.
3rd Tardy: Student will receive a teacher detention.
4th – 5th Tardy: Student will be issued a warning by teacher informing them
that a 6th tardy will result in an office referral.
6th Tardy and every subsequent third tardy: Student will be referred by
teacher to a vice principal and may be assigned an after
school detention and/or additional disciplinary
consequences.

Class Cut

A class cut occurs when a student is in school but absent from a class block
without the approval of an administrator or teacher whose class block is missed.
A class cut is considered an “unexcused absence.” The consequences for a
class cut may result in the student receiving a zero on an assignment and/ or
assessment. Additional consequences are found in the section: Pupil
Discipline/Code of Conduct of this handbook.

CLASS CUTS

A cut is defined as absenting oneself without permission from scheduled periods,
including classes, lunch, or activities such as assemblies. Students demonstrating a
pattern of missing class time, including but not limited to, time during class or at
the end of class, will receive a cut.

Administrative action as it relates to a cut from an assigned instructional or non-
instructional period will be addressed as outlined below:

1st Occurrence:
 Written parental notification
 Teacher detention or restorative practice of attending after school extra
help session
 Documentation in student file
2nd Occurrence:
 Verbal parental notification
 All work missed must be made up for a grade of no more than 50% of
total credit for the assignment
 Documentation in student file
3rd Occurrence:
 Parental notification
 Administrative Detention
 Attendance Contract
 All work missed must be made up for a grade of no more than 50% of
total credit for the assignment
 Documentation in student file
Early Dismissal from School Procedures
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to schedule doctor/dentist appointments after
school hours. However, personal circumstances may arise requiring a student
to be released early from school. To ensure the smooth and safe handling of
such situations, parents/guardians must send a note requesting permission for
the student to be released early from school. Students must present this note
to the Main Office prior to the start of school at 7:45 a.m. Parents must
include the reason (doctor/dentist appointment- doctor’s/dentist’s name,
appointment time and telephone number, etc.) and a telephone number
where the parents/guardians may be reached during the school day. The
student will be given an Early Dismissal Pass for the time specified in order to
present to their teacher at the appropriate time. The school recognizes that
certain situations exist that create a legitimate need for release from school and
as a result student will be allowed to make up all work missed. Parent/
Guardians are required to meet their child in the Main Office at the time
indicated in their note. The student must present his/her approved Early
Dismissal Pass to their teacher before reporting to the Main Office. The
parent/guardian will sign out their child in the Main Office. Students
returning to school after signing out earlier in the day must re-enter via the
Main Office and sign back in. If someone other than the parent or
guardian is to meet the student, a note is required indicating the person
has parent/guardian permission to pick up that particular child.

NOTE: Please refer to the section on Health Services for early dismissal
due to unexpected illness.

Denial of Course Credit

A student may be denied course credit when he/she exceeds ten (10)
“unexcused absences” in a full year course or five (5) “unexcused absences”
in a semester course. The student’s parent/guardian will receive written
notification of their child’s loss of course credit due to attendance. If a student
and their parent/guardian believe there are extenuating circumstances that have
prevented the student from attending school on a regular basis they may be
awarded the opportunity to appeal the loss of credit due to attendance. This is
not a permissive policy establishing or licensing a limit of days that may be
missed with no harm.

Credit Appeal Process

This process grants a student the right to appeal the loss of credit due to
attendance. Students must submit appeals to the office of the administrator in
charge of attendance no later than five (5) school days after receipt of no credit
status. The appeal should state the reasons for admitted “unexcused absences”,
documentation that would reduce the number of absences, and reasons why
they should receive course credit. A Credit Review Committee comprised of a
teacher, school nurse, school counselor, and child study team caseworker may
evaluate the student’s appeal. The Credit Review Committee will consider each
appeal on a case by case basis and if deemed necessary develop an appropriate
credit recovery plan. Keep in mind that appeals deal with the attendance record
of the entire semester or the entire year.