Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE POLICY

In addition to the requirements for courses, student products, and standardized tests, all students must meet the following requirements for attendance:

Any student with more than three unexcused absences in a marking term, or more than twelve unexcused absences for the year, will receive a grade of "NC" (no credit) if the student has otherwise earned a passing grade. If the student has not earned a passing grade, he or she will receive an "F".

If, at the end of the year, the student has not exceeded twelve unexcused absences, any "NC" for a marking term will be changed to the letter grade he or she has earned.

Within one marking term following receipt of an "NC" for the year, a student may earn credit and a letter grade by passing a citywide final exam for the course.

EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Students must bring in a note after each day they are absent. The note must include the date absent, the reason for the absence, a phone number where a parent or guardian can be reached, and the parent or guardian's signature.

Students will be provided with the opportunity to make up work for excused absences. Excused absences may include:

A doctor, school nurse, or parent-verified illness or injury that prevents the student from attending school

A death in the immediate family or other significant personal or family crisis

Court appearances

Religious holy days

Other reasons as agreed to by the School Site Council.

ATTENDANCE REVIEW PANELS

Elementary students with six or more unexcused absences will be referred by their teacher to their cluster's Attendance Review Panel. The panel will review each case and develop a plan with the parent to help the student and his or her family to improve attendance.

STUDENTS IN BILINGUAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

Students in bilingual programs, and students with disabilities, must also meet requirements for promotion. However, they may receive special accommodations. For example, Spanish speaking students with limited English proficiency may be able to take the MCAS in Spanish if they meet certain criteria.

For students with special needs, their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will describe the conditions by which the student will take standardized tests and alternative classroom tests and assessments.

For more information contact us at:

110 Beachview Road, East Boston, MA 02128 telephone 617-635-8422 fax 617-635-6927

email bradley@bostonpublicschools.org