To contact the Attendance Office, please call 609-625-2249 ext. 4234

Attendance Policy At a Glance

Regular attendance is critical to all students’ successful academic and career preparation.  We are committed to preparing students for higher education and/or entry level employment, which requires learning academic and career-specific skills, knowledge and attitudes along with academic concepts and technical applications. Students CANNOT learn all they need to know unless they are in school on a daily basis.  Our attendance policy reflects this philosophy in that zero days of unexcused absence are allowed.  In fact, the District cannot recognize student absences from school for any reason not specified in New Jersey Statutes, Title 18A: 38-26. 

Consistent attendance is critical to a student’s success in a CTE program.  Too many absences (whether excused or unexcused) impact a student’s ability to benefit from the program of study and may cause the student to be returned to their resident school district (ACVSD Policy: 5115). 

 

Excused Absences (non-truant)

The only legal (excused) reasons for a student to be absent from school are listed below. All other absences constitute unexcused, such as absences that occur because of family responsibilities, an illness not requiring a doctor, or vacations.

1. Personal illness with proper medical verification, original note only or faxed from the doctor's office and must be submitted within 14 days after student returns. This will be verified

2.   Death in the immediate family - 1 day.. (Immediate family is defined as a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, or other relative residing in the immediate household.)

3.   Religious holiday as specified by the New Jersey State Department of Education.  (Religious retreats are not excused).

4.   School administrative requirement or school sponsored activity with written documentation.

5.   Court appearance where the student is summoned. (with a copy of summons).

6. Take Our Children to Work Day

7.   A college visit (up to 3 days per school year, only for students in grades 11 and 12)

8. Participation in observance of Veterans Day

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

10. Participation in one “civic event” for students in grades 6-12 - can only be applied to an event sponsored by a government entity, a community-based organization, or a nonprofit. The civic event is required to incorporate an element of service learning and address a public issue or concern. 

11. Participation in district board of election membership activities

All excused absences are subject to review by the Principal and/or designee and may be deemed unexcused upon review.

 

ALL students registered in the State of New Jersey and enrolled at our high school are required to attend school all days and all hours that school is in session (18A: 26 – 36). Therefore, selective absence from individual classes/courses by students is not permitted. Students who are found to be illegally absent from class will be subject to truancy penalties.

 

Parents will be notified by the Attendance Coordinator through a written letter for 5 Periods Absent for the semester/year and 9 Periods Absent for the semester/year.

1.   Students must be in homeroom by 7:45 a.m. Anytime after that is considered late.
2.   Students must be in school prior to 10:00 a.m. in order to receive credit for the entire day.
3.   Students must be in class for more than half of the period to receive course credit for the day.
4. Under the terms of the district attendance policy, (9) nine unexcused tardies will result in the student being assessed (1) one unexcused period absence.  Any student who must leave early is required to sign in/out in the Guidance office.

 

For more information or for student absences of 10 or more periods per course, please refer to the Student Handbook.