Newton Board of Education Approves Plan to Address Chronic Absenteeism

NEWTON, NJ – The Newton Board of Education approved a corrective action plan or CAP to address chronic absenteeism at their July meeting.  Newton, like most districts in Sussex County and many in the state, is taking on the issue of students missing too many days of school.

In July Newton Superintendent Joseph Piccirillo sent a letter to district parents and families to ask for their cooperation and support in making sure students get to school.

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The New Jersey Department of Education requires school districts to provide 180 days of instruction for students, of not less than four hours per day. The NJ DOE expects students to attend school for at least 90% of those 180 day.

The NJ DOE considers a student to be “chronically absent” if they miss more 10% or 18 days. Schools are considered to have chronic absenteeism if 10% or more of the enrolled students are chronically absent.

“Going to school is so important,” Piccirillo said in his letter. “All the research suggests that students benefit greatly from going to school regularly; and not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and developmentally.”

The letter included a link to a parent survey. They are asking all families to take the survey, which can be submitted anonymously.

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The survey is part of the requirements of the NJ DOE for school districts with chronic absenteeism.

The August agenda includes revisions to the mandated Regulation 5200 Attendance.  The required revisions update the information about what the state considers to be an “excused” absence.

The district’s regulation will slightly differ from the recommended language because of a question about what the New Jersey Commission of Education considers a “civic event.”  Newton’s resolution will say “may” be excused, not “will” be. The new list of NJ DOE excused absences includes attendance at a civic event with five days’ notice to the school of the student’s intended absence.

The state recognizes seven “excused” absences. Newton can also have a list of excused absences. When calculating absences, however, the NJ DOE is not concerned with the reason why, just the number of absences.

• Religious observances
• Observance of Veterans Day,
• Participation in district board of election activities,
• Take Our Children to Work Day,
• College visits – up to three per school year in grades 11 and 12 supported by a letter from the institution
• Closure of busing school district that prevents student transportation to receiving school – “a snow day,”
• Attendance at a civic event – one day per year. There are several details about this excused absence outlined in the regulation including notification of the school five days in advance.

Newton also recognizes additional excused absences but they are not recognized in the NJ DOE’s calculation.

• Student illness, supported by a doctor’s not within two days of the student’s return to school
• Student mandatory  attendance  in court supported by a copy of the court notice.
• IDEA accommodations,
• Suspension from school,
• Death in the family supported by a parent’s note  within two days of student’s return to school
• Interviews with prospective employers or admissions officers,
• College visits – up to three per school year in grades 11 and 12 supported by a letter from the institution
• Driver’s license examination,
• Necessary and unavoidable medical/dental appointment with proof of appointment

Another difference between Newton’s regulation and the state is at Halsted Middle School, “a child is considered chronically absent after 14 absences. On the 15 absence, court intervention may occur,” according to the 2024-2025 student handbook.

Additionally, Halsted families will be asked to review an attendance pledge, “emphasizing the importance of daily school attendance.”

According to the published draft of the  Newton High School 2024-2025 student handbook, a student “will not be granted any credit for a scheduled course after cumulative/unexcused absences exceed” 18 days for a full year course and 9 days for a half year or semester course. In such a case the student will receive a grade of “EA” or excessive absence.

The high school handbook also defines an absence to include full day as well as a partial absence from a class that results in missing 20 minutes of the period. Policy 5200 addresses many aspects and consequences of absences and truancy.

The regulation and handbooks encourage cooperation and communication between the school and family to support student attendance.

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