Attendance Policy

Here are some basic things you should know about attendance in New York City schools:

• Schools must take attendance to show whether a student is in school or not; it’s the law.
• Schools can mark an absence as “excused” for religious reasons, illness, or some other reasons, but they are still absences and must be part of the student’s record.
• Teachers can make attendance part of a class grade, but it cannot be the only reason for a failing grade or not being promoted or graduating.
• Schools must tell families when students are absent or late. Does your school have the right information to contact you? (See Updating Blue Cards.)

What if my child is absent?
Please call the school if your child will be absent. Please also send a note with your child on the day they return to school, explaining the absence, include doctor’s note if one was obtained. 

If a child is absent for three days or more due to illness, please bring a doctor’s note when the child returns to school.

If your child will be absent for an extended period of time, please contact the school office, 718-429-5700 ext. 1343, and speak to Ms. Julissa Cuesta. Arrangements can be made for homework assignments to be picked up.

Lateness:
Attendance will be taken by classroom teachers daily at 8 am. If a student is not at their line/table/classroom at the time the teacher is taking attendance, he/she will be marked absent. If your child arrives after 8:00 am, they will be issued a late pass to be handed to the teacher and attendance will be adjusted and marked as late.

Frequent lateness will be reported to the attendance officer.  Late arrivals often put your child behind for the rest of the morning and are disruptive to the class.  This is also a lifelong habit that needs to be established early in a child’s life.