District Policy 5200 - Attendance

The Board of Education requires that 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 Policy - #5200 located on the District Website

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:   

a. “An unexcused absence that counts toward truancy” is a student’s absence from school for a full or a portion of a day for any reason that is not an “excused absence” as defined below.

b. “An excused absence” is a student’s absence from school for a full day or a portion of a day for any absence for the reasons listed below. Although an absence may be excused, it may count against a student’s 90% attendance requirement and thus cause diminished success and/or academic loss.

  1. The student’s required attendance in court; 

  2. Where appropriate, when consistent with Individualized Education Programs, the Individuals with Disabilities Act, accommodation plans under 29 U.S.C. §§ 794 and 705(20), and individualized health care plans; 

  3. The student’s suspension from school; 

  4. College visits, up to three days per school year, for students in grades 11 and 12; 

  5. Interviews with an admissions officer of an institution of higher education; 

  6. Examination for a driver's license; 

  7. Necessary and unavoidable medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled at a time other than the school day with documentation from the doctor’s office; 

  8. Take Our Children to Work Day; 

  9. Religious observance, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14 through 16;

  10. Participation in observance of Veterans Day, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-13.2;

  11. Participation in district board of election membership activities, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-33;

  12. Closure of a busing school district that prevents a student from having transportation to the receiving school;

  13. An absence considered excused by the Commissioner of Education and/or a New Jersey Department of Education rule.

  14. An absence for a reason not listed above, not to exceed two days, 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.

For necessary and unavoidable medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled at a time other than the school day, documentation from the doctor’s office must be on an official office script pad or stationery and must include the duration of absences to be excused and the date of appointment. * All doctor’s notes will be subject to the school’s validation of the appointment date. 

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.

Notice to School of Student Absence

Parents should report all absences through Genesis or call the attendance line by following these steps as early as possible.  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” 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.