Attendance

I.S. 68 Middle School Attendance Policy

Daily attendance is essential for academic progress, social growth, and student success.
The NYC DOE and I.S. 68 require a minimum attendance rate of 90% to meet promotion standards.
Missing 18 or more days across a school year drops a student below the 90% benchmark, placing them in chronically absent status.
A student is defined as present for the day if they attend at least one instructional period or designated portion of the school day.
I.S. 68 is responsible for maintaining accurate daily and period attendance records.

Excused Absences: Include personal illness, medical or dental appointments, family emergencies, religious observances, or required court appearances. These require a written note or proper documentation (such as a doctor's note) upon return. Excused absences still count as days missed on official records.
Unexcused Absences: Include unexplained absences, family vacations or travel taken during school days,and missing school without official documentation.
Impact on Recognition: Excused absences do not count against student eligibility for school attendance awards or participation in PSAL sports and extracurricular activities.

Unplanned Absences: A parent or guardian must call the school on the day of the absence. Upon returning to school, the student must submit a written note explaining the absence to their homeroom teacher.
Planned / Pre-Arranged Absences: Must be approved in advance by the principal or designee. Families must bring a written note to the pupil secretary three (3) days prior to any pre-arranged absence.
Make-Up Work: Students are responsible for coordinating with subject teachers to make up missed tests, quizzes, and class assignments.

Prompt Arrival: Students are expected to arrive on time every day and remain for their entire scheduled program.
Class Transitions: Students are allowed a reasonable amount of time to move from one class to the next.
Pass Requirement: Any student entering class late must present a signed pass; without a pass, the student will be marked as an unexcused late.
Teacher Outreach: The subject teacher will contact home whenever a student is late to class three (3) or more times.
Academic & Classification Impact: Habitual lateness causes loss of instructional time, adversely affects subject grades, and can be classified as class cutting.

Students must remain in school for all scheduled daily hours.
Leaving school early requires advance arrangement and official sign-out through the school office.

Daily Absence Alerts: If a student is absent from school, an automated call or staff outreach to the home will take place.
Unexcused Behavior Alerts: Parents will be notified regarding class cutting, unexcused lateness, or unexcused absences.
Contact Information: Parents and guardians must ensure current home phone numbers and addresses are updated with the school office.

Student promotion and grades are based on mastery of course content, but poor attendance directly impairs academic performance.
Class lateness or cutting results in lost instructional time, missed participation, and missed assessments, which lower class averages.
Course grading policies outline options and make-up opportunities to assist students in keeping up with coursework.

Students maintaining at least 90% attendance remain eligible for after-school activities, school events, and PSAL sports.
Perfect attendance and significant attendance improvements are recognized through school incentives and celebrations.

Guidance & Office Support: Excessive absences or lateness will be investigated by the Attendance Office and Guidance Department to determine root causes and implement intervention plans.
Chancellor's Code of Conduct Infractions:
- Infraction B01: Unexcused absence from school.
- Infraction B03: Cutting classes.
- Infraction B04: Being late for school or class.

Zero Tolerance for Cutting: Class cutting is strictly prohibited. Consequences include parent outreach, in-school actions, loss of privileges, or Principal Suspension for serious or repeat infractions.
Shared Responsibility: Ultimate responsibility for regular school attendance lies with the student and parent/guardian.

I.S. 68 maintains official attendance records in the electronic system per Chancellor's Regulation A-210.
The official school calendar, outlining key events and testing schedules, is published and maintained by the school administration.

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