Information - Attendance

According to New York State Education Law, minors from the age of six to sixteen must regularly attend school for full-time instruction.  Students over the age of sixteen need not attend school if they so decide, but if they do attend they are subject to the laws and regulations requiring regular attendance.  Regular attendance in classes is essential to the total learning process.  While some class absence is unavoidable, each student must make every effort to attend each assigned class. 

Students who are absent for any reason will be required to make up work missed in the class.  It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all make-up work from his/her teacher immediately upon return to school. 

Whenever a student is absent, parents are requested to call the school prior to 9:00 a.m.  After that time, the attendance officer will call the home of any child who is absent and has not called in.  On the day following an absence, the student is expected to submit a written explanation, signed by the parent or guardian, stating the reason for the absence.  This is to be submitted to the homeroom teacher. 

The policy of the Board of Education states that all high school students must be enrolled in at least five courses per year plus physical education.  In order to receive credit for a course, it is important that a student attend scheduled class meetings.  Students who are absent for any reason will be required to make up work missed in each class.  It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all make-up work from his/her teachers immediately upon return to school.  If a student has a question whether or not he/she has a valid educational reason to miss class, they should consult with the teacher.  All activities that take the student from the classroom will be carefully scrutinized. 

It is the policy at Rensselaer Middle High School that all teachers include class participation when determining quarter grades and final grades.  In most cases, class participation accounts for 20 percent of a student’s grade.  Frequent absences from class, therefore, can severely reduce the class participation grade, which will have a negative impact on the student’s overall performance.