Attendance
Need to report an absence?
Call the Attendance Hotline: 973-334-6369
OR
Email Us at: BCAttendance@mlschools.org
Attendance Policy and Procedures
Policy
Maximum learning occurs for most students through regular attendance in classes. Excessive absence can result in poor performance. Therefore, a student may not be absent from class for more than TWENTY (20) days during the academic year. Consideration may be given for certain exceptions and extenuating circumstances, including, but not limited to, bereavement, religious observance and legal requirements.
Student absences for reasons related to school-sponsored or school-sanctioned activities are exempt from the attendance policy. A note from a physician that indicates illness as the reason for an absence does not necessarily deem the absence exempt from this policy. An administrator may extend this limit if extenuating circumstances are involved (e.g., long-term illness, hospital stay, etc.). A student must be present in school a minimum of four (4) hours of instructional time to be given credit for a day of attendance. Students who are absent from school, sign out early, or who do not meet the minimum four (4) hour instructional time requirement, are not eligible to participate in any practice, game, meet, special program, evening activity event, or program scheduled for that day without the prior written approval of the school administration. Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not limited to, family emergency, funerals, religious obligations or observations, etc.
Tardiness to School
A student who is tardy to school shall report to the main office for an admission slip. A student should have a note signed by a parent explaining the tardiness. If the student does not have a note, the tardiness will be recorded as unexcused. Excessive tardiness will result in parent notification by the attendance officer or appropriate action by the building administrator.
Tardiness not covered by the causes listed as valid reasons for late arrival or early dismissal shall be cumulative, and will be handled accordingly:
- 3 unexcused tardies: letter home.
- 4 or more unexcused tardies: detentions (recess or after school)
- 10 or more unexcused tardies and each time thereafter: letter home; additional detentions (or community service); potential loss of class trips and participation in clubs/activities; I&RS referral.
The following circumstances justify a student’s late arrival. The list is not meant to be exhaustive, and the principal should use his/her best judgment in determining whether or not there is good cause for a student’s late arrival.
- The student’s disability from illness or injury, including any necessary emergency
- visits to a physician or dentist.
- A bona fide family emergency.
- The observance of a religious holiday.
- Religious instruction.
- Medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled at a time other than
- during the school day.
- The student’s required attendance in court.
Excuse from Class Attendance
Procedures
Notification of Absence and Truancy
Parents are required to notify the School of a student’s absence. If your child will be absent, you MUST call the Student Absentee Line at (973) 334-6369 or email bcattendance@mlschools.org by 7:55 a.m. on the day of the absence.
Truancy is defined as a student who absents himself by either not coming to or pre-maturely leaving school without the prior consent of a parent or guardian. Therefore, a student whose absence has not been verified by his or her parent or guardian is truant on that day and will earn a “0” for his or her class work in addition to being subject to disciplinary action. A student who is absent without consent of a parent or guardian
more than four times will be referred to the I&RS team. After the 10th absence without parental consent, the District will coordinate with community based social or health provider agencies, other community resources, as well as the juvenile/family crisis intervention unit (“FCIU”) as further attempts to have the student attend school. As a last resort, the District may inform the municipal court in writing the steps it has taken regarding the student’s attendance. 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.