SCHOOL

1
SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE
POLICY
Regents EMSC Committee
April 23, 2001
2
Today's Goal
Consensus on
Intent of
Attendance Policy
3
School Attendance Policy
must include
VISION
REGULATIONS
GUIDELINES
4
Vision for School Attendance
Critical Factor in School Success

• Attendance

• Consistent School Attendance
• Academic Success
• School Completion

Positive Correlation
Right and Responsibility

• School Attendance

5
Success of
School Attendance Policy
Quality of School Culture
Accurate Recordkeeping
Analyses of Data
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Goal of
School Attendance Policy
Encourage Students to Come to School Ready to
Learn
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SED Role
Provide guidance to schools for creating positive
school climates

• Positive physical and psychological environment
• Presence of strong adult role models
• Respectful and nurturing interactions between
  adults and students
• High level of student bonding to school

Require schools to

• Collect data through accurate recordkeeping
• Analyze and use data to design programs and
  services for attendance improvement

8
Draft Regulations
KEY FEATURE
Comprehensive Attendance Policy
IMPLICATIONS

• Developed with Stakeholders
• Specific, strong, reflect local values and needs
• Two year implementation period

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Draft Regulations
KEY FEATURE
Record and Report Attendance at Building Level

• Daily at elementary
• Period by period at secondary

IMPLICATIONS

• May increase recordkeeping
• Provide data to improve attendance
• Highlight problems not addressed
• Attendance rates may decline

10
Draft Regulations
KEY FEATURE
School District to Define/School Building to
Record Absences as

• Excused
• Unexcused

IMPLICATIONS

• Paperwork burden for NYC and other large, high
  need districts
• Reflect local needs/Philosophies

11
Draft Regulations
KEY FEATURE
Flexibility for local policies for attendance for
course credit
IMPLICATIONS
Ability to differentiate between excused and
unexcused absences to determine pupil eligibility.
12
May 2001

• Regents Discussion
• Rochesters Approach to Attendance Improvement

June 2001

• Regents Discussion
• Draft Regulations

July 2001
NEXT STEPS

• Regents Approval
• Attendance Regulations

Fall 2001

• SED Guidance to Schools
• Districts Begin Implementation

By July 2003
Districts Operationalize New Attendance Systems