SUMMARY OF H.T.H.S. ATTENDANCE POLICY (#5114)
School attendance is mandatory in the state of New Jersey. All students enrolled in public schools
in New Jersey are required to attend school "all the days and hours that the public schools are in session in
the school district except for absences which are excused" (see below). The fact that a parent approves an
absence and writes an excuse does not make the absence lawful or approved. STUDENTS ARE LIMITED
TO A TOTAL OF 30 ABSENCES IN A SCHOOL YEAR (THIS LIMIT INCLUDES APPROVED, EXCUSED
AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCES). STUDENTS WITH MORE THAN 30 ABSENCES WILL BE PLACED
ON NO-CREDIT STATUS.
DEFINITIONS
1. Approved absences -- for which there are no penalties are limited to those authorized in writing
by a physician, dentist, judge, college official, motor vehicle official, or school official. Parental
notes are accepted for religious observance, family trips (approved two weeks in advance), and
death in the immediate family. Such absences are approved. (Absences for attendance at funerals
for non-family members are classified as excused absences).
N.B. THERE WILL BE A LIMIT OF FIVE DAYS ABSENCE APPROVED FOR FAMILY TRIPS
DURING ONE SCHOOL YEAR. FAMILY TRIP NOTES WRITTEN BY 18 YEAR OLDS MUST BE
VERIFIED BY PARENTS/GUARDIANS. MEDICAL NOTES OR OTHER OFFICIAL
DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED MORE THAN FIVE SCHOOL DAYS AFTER
THE DATE OF THE ABSENCE. STUDENTS WITH MORE THAN EIGHT NON-CONSECUTIVE
MEDICAL ABSENCES MAY BE REFERRED TO THE CHILD STUDY TEAM FOR AN
EVALUATION TO DETERMINE IF A CLASSIFICATION OF CHRONICALLY ILL IS
WARRANTED.
2. Excused Absences - for which there is a limitation of twelve in full year courses including those
which are authorized by parental/guardian notes. Illnesses authorized by notes from doctors are
categorized as approved. Illnesses covered by parental/guardian notes only are categorized as
excused. On the occasion of the thirteenth absence, the student will be dropped from that class
and can audit or report to study hall.
3. Unexcused Absences (cuts) - for which there is a limitation of two in full year courses are those
occasions when the student is absent without the foreknowledge of a parent/guardian or school
official.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
1. Absences are to be reported as early as possible in the morning (or the night before) by telephone
to the Attendance Office.
2. Students who are absent must bring in written verification (signed by their parent or guardian) to
the Attendance Office prior to 7:40 A.M. upon the first day of their return, explaining the absence.
The note must include the following information: (I) date of absence, (2) full name of child, (3)
grade and homeroom of child, and (4) specific reason for absence. It is recommended that
students who are absent from school for three or more consecutive days provide a doctor's note.
3. When students are absent, they may not attend after school and/or evening activities without
administrative approval.
TARDINESS TO SCHOOL OR CLASS
Any student who is late for school must report directly to the attendance office and will be recorded
as tardy on all school attendance records. This applies to all students entering school after the late bell.
The tardy offense will be recorded and the student will be issued an admission slip to homeroom or the
class in session at that time.
Only a medical note (signed by a doctor or verified by a nurse), or a note from a dentist, court
official, college official, motor vehicle official, or school official can approve a lateness. For an unexcused
lateness, a detention will be assigned for that day. The fact that a parent approves a lateness and writes an
excuse does not make the lateness approved. Students are granted one (1) "free" lateness to school per
marking period to accommodate 'situations' (oversleeping, car trouble, etc.) that arise during the school
year. Excessive tardiness will result in Saturday detentions or suspension and may result in loss of credit.
Two lateness’s to a class equal one absence for Attendance Policy purposes.
Students who are more than ten (10) minutes late to class shall be regarded as cutting class unless a note
is provided. Parents should provide a note when a student is more than ten minutes late in order to excuse
the student's absence from class.
LOSS OF CREDIT (Grades 9-12)
When a student has accumulated a total number of absences in excess of the number allowed by policy
(listed below), the student will be dropped from the course and placed on NO-CREDIT status. The student
will be assigned to a study hall for the remainder of the course. Summer school make-up is not permitted.
However, the student may elect to audit the course for the balance of the school in which case summer
school make-up is permitted provided the student's attendance record from the date of the violation
contains no class cuts or unexcused absences for the balance of the school year.
NO-CREDIT STATUS WILL BE ASSIGNED WHEN. A STUDENT ACCUMULATES THE LISTED
NUMBER OF ABSENCES:
UNEXCUSED EXCUSED/ TOTAL
(CUTS) UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
FULL YEAR COURSE 3 or 13 or 31
PHYSICAL EDUCATION 3 or 10 or 24
SEMESTER COURSES 2 or 7 or 16
QUARTER COURSES 2 or 4 or 8
APPEALS (Grades 9-12)
The Haddon Township Board of Education is cognizant of possible unforeseen factors which may
create hardships relating to the operations of the attendance policy.
Petition for Hearing - A written petition for a hearing must be presented to the high school
principal by the parent/guardian no later than five (5) school days after the receipt of
notification of loss of credit status. Any and all material to be considered as basis for an
appeal must be delivered to the principal prior to an assigned hearing date. Data should
include documentation for all days absent, not just for those days in excess of the policy.
ABSENCE PLANNED IN ADVANCE
Students who wish to leave school early or to be excused in advance for a day's absence must
report to the attendance office before the date or time of dismissal. It is strongly suggested that medical or
dental appointments be made only after school hours. Students who leave school without permission from
the attendance office are subject to serious disciplinary consequence.
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