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The Public Schools of Westchester County New York

THE FOX LANE HIGH SCHOOL Bedford, New York

TO: Bruce Dennis

FROM: Attendance Policy Subcommittee for the Site-Based Committee

RE: Attendance Policy for 1995-95

DATE: June 29, 1995

Guiding principles have brought about the discussions related to student attendance:

1. We envision the Bedford Central Schools providing an environment which builds the foundation for life-long learning and responsible citizenship.

2. Our students will learn to act responsibly by being accountable for one's actions.

The attendance policy and procedures are based upon the following points:

-all class work and assignments must be done by all students all of the time.

-credit is earned for a complete unit of study. To complete a unite of study, a student must pass the course and/or Regents exam and not have absences in excess of 18 in a year-long course or 9 in a semester course.

-the school personnel are responsible for accurate attendance record keeping by period, consistent administration of detentions for illegal absences, and for communicating this information to the parents or guardians.

-the responsibility for,good class attendance and completed work rests with the student.

-the school personnel are responsible for providing the opportunity to make up work for legal absences.

How does, the policy_ work?

When a student returns from an absence he/she should show the teacher a note excusing the absence. If the absence is due to one of the State's defined legal absences, or was due to a school reassigned activity (i.e. field trips, rotationals, school-wide testing, Student Government, suspension, sectionals, States, and P.P.S. appointments), the period absence is recorded as excused. In the case of an absence due to a school activity, the absence does not get added to the total credit bearing absences. All other absences, either-legal or illegal, accumulate.

When the accumulated absences exceed 18 in a year-long course or 9 in a semester length course the student will be removed from the class and assigned to the attendance center. The student grade for the course is withdraw-attendance. This action should not come as a surprise to either the student or parent. To assure that there are no surprises:

-if the accumulated absences are at five or more (two or more for semester courses) at the time of interim reports or report cards, a notation should be made on the report.

-if the accumulated absences reach ten (four in semester courses) a warning notice must be mailed home (an NCR form will be available).

-if the accumulated absences reach fifteen (six in semester courses) a last notice must be mailed home (an NCR form will be available).

-when the accumulated absences exceed 18 (9 in semester courses) the teacher must file a "remove from course due to excessive absences" notice with the Dean. The Dean, with the Guidance Counselor,, will process the withdrawal and the placement of the student into the Attendance Center.

Illegal Absences - Cuts.

Each cut must be addressed. From the first cut a student must understand the seriousness of the act. Each cut must be met with a detention assigned by the teacher, that for the first cut is served with the teacher with the encouragement that all cuts be served with the teacher. If the student will not attend the makeup, a referral must be made to the Dean. The Deans will utilize the school-wide detention center for this and other purposes.

Appeal

If a student or the parent/guardian thinks there is an unfairness or inequity as a result of the attendance policy, the following steps should be taken:

-student discusses the situation with the teacher within five days. -if the complaint is not resolved to the student's satisfaction, the department coordinator should be consulted.

-if the complaint remains unresolved, the student may submit in writing, within five days, a grievance to the Principal, which should include the name, class schedule, home address and telephone number of the grievant; name of parent/guardian; a brief statement of the facts; why there is an unfairness or extenuating circumstance that merits exception from the rule; name of teacher and when that teacher was consulted; name of coordinator and date consulted; and the date of filing grievance.

-Principal will convene a review panel composed of the Executive Council President, Junior Vice President, a teacher member of the Site Committee, and another teacher to determine the outcome.

The student remains in the class until the Appeal is completed. Consequence

A student removed from a course for excessive absences will not receive a grade and cannot receive credit. The student will stay in the attendance center for the remainder of the year or until a new course starts.