SUBJECT: Attendance (K-12)
EFFECTIVE: March 4, 2002
REVISED: August 2005; January 2012; August 2013; September 2023
PURPOSE: Regular attendance is mandatory for all students enrolled in public schools, as per the Education Act, Section 15 (1). Attendance and absenteeism will be monitored and regulated to ensure everyone may be guaranteed the same opportunities for a basic education and a productive future.
REGULATION:
- Students and parents/guardians are responsible to comply with this regulation. On the occasion of each absence, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to enter all absences into School Messenger.
- When a student has missed five days at K-8 or five or more periods in the same course at 9-12, the homeroom/subject teacher must contact the parent/guardian with details of the number of days missed in addition to the importance of attending school.
- When a student exceeds ten days, the homeroom/subject teacher will notify school administration. Administration will contact the parent/guardian to schedule a meeting for all parties to be involved. All parties will be involved in developing an attendance plan and must sign it.
- When a student exceeds fifteen days/periods the student may remain home until a meeting is held with parents/guardians, school administration, EST-G, EST-R and possibly a district representative.
- When a student has exceeded twenty days/periods, and all appropriate interventions have been attempted, this student is, in effect, non-compliant with school rules. It is at the discretion of school administration to explore further interventions with EST-R and EST-G. Such interventions may include removal from course(s) at the high school level (9-12). Possible retention of grade from K-8 may also be an option, should absenteeism continue to occur.
APPENDIX A
Regular attendance is mandatory for all students in ASD-N schools. Research has shown a clear link between school absence and academic achievement. Students who regularly miss school may also feel more socially isolated as a result. ASD-N has developed this plan to ensure your child’s success.
| K-8 – days absent 9-12 – classes absent (by period) | School Actions |
| 5+ | Teacher contacts parent/guardian,Teacher informs school administration of contact. |
| 10+ | School administrator contacts parent/guardian,Parent/guardian invited to meeting,Administration, with the support of EST-Guidance, EST-R and/or other relevant staff, in addition to the student and parent/guardian, will develop a student attendance intervention plan,An academic support plan (arranged through EST-Resource) may be required to assist the child. |
| 15+ | Formal case conference will be held with parent/guardian, student, district personnel and school administration,School may request student to remain at home until conference is held,Interventions may include alternate education scheduling and/or programming options for the student,Ongoing absenteeism may result in grade retention,High School: at 20 days, there may be consequences that result in failure to obtain credit in the course. |
Attendance is compulsory in New Brunswick, as per the Education Act & Family Services Act