Wyandanch Union Free School District

The Wyandanch Union Free School District takes school attendance very seriously. Because daily school attendance is so crucial in student achievement, and in response to increased accountability measures under The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the District is focusing on improving student attendance at all grade levels.  The purpose of ESSA, the nation’s guiding education law for all public schools, is to provide all children the opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. A critical focus area of ESSA is improving attendance.

Poor attendance, also referred to as chronic absenteeism, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. Research shows that students who consistently miss school are at risk of lower academic achievement, failure and even dropping out of school.Students benefit in many ways from being in school: in their academic growth, in their social-emotional growth, and in the supportive relationships they build with their peers, teachers, and other staff members.

Attendance matters in a student's success starting as early as kindergarten. Missing even two days every month -- chronic absence -- causes students to fall behind. By sixth grade, chronic absence is a leading predictor that a student will drop out of high school. By ninth grade, regular attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than eighth-grade test scores.

 Here are some facts:

• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, experiencing bullying behaviors, or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
• Missing just a few days of school each month can have an impact on academic achievement, including reading and math skill deficits.
• By 9th grade, student attendance is a better predictor of graduation than 8th-grade test scores.

Late or absent: the rules

The district follows state law, which requires a parent or guardian to give the school a written excuse for every absence or late arrival. The excuse must be signed and dated by a child’s parent or legal guardian, and include the dates and reasons for the absence or lateness. 

Excused absences/lateness

A child’s absence or late arrival is excused in the following circumstances:

• Student illness or family illness or death
• Unsafe travel conditions
• Religious observances
• Medical appointments
• Required court appearances
• Participation in a school-sponsored activity
• Approved college visits
• Approved work programs
• Academic enrichment

Absences and late arrivals are tracked every day in every school. Each school has a committee responsible for monitoring overall attendance; that committee also is responsible for identifying specific students who frequently miss or are late to school.

To support the importance of school attendance, families will now receive a letter from their child’s school once he or she accumulates five absences. Please note: under ESSA, the District will not distinguish between unexcused and excused absences for this purpose.  For example, doctor’s appointments are referred to as excused absences, but they are no longer treated differently.  Board of Education or school-approved events do not count toward the five-day mark.  Notes for all absences must still be provided. Absences beyond five days may result in additional support for the student.

Make plans now to ensure your child is at school each day:

• Build regular routines for bedtime and pack backpacks the night before.
• Talk about the importance of regular attendance and about how your child feels about school.
• Don’t permit missing school unless your child is truly sick.
• If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to school staff for advice on how to make him or her feel comfortable and excited about learning.
• Avoid medical appointments and vacations when school is in session.

Missing school hurts kids

The future is bleaker for students who miss too much school. And frequent absences without a valid reason are known as truancy.

Truancy is an early warning sign for a student headed toward school failure and dropping out. Truant students also are at greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, and delinquency.

In Wyandanch, truant behavior includes:

• Being absent because of sickness for more than five days without a note from the doctor
• Missing classes without a valid excuse
• Missing whole days of school without a valid excuse
• Frequently being late for school

Helping your child with attendance

Parents can help their kids make the right choices about school. Here’s how.

• Keep open the lines of communication between you and your child’s principal or teacher. For middle and high school students, keep in touch with your child’s guidance counselor.
• Be sure your child is at school on time every day. Set a routine for getting homework done.
• Limit late-night activities. Have a regular, reasonable bedtime and stick to it on weeknights.
• Don’t allow other activities to take priority over school and school work.
• Make sure your child knows that every day in school counts. Make education a priority by emphasizing that doing well in school and graduating gives them a better chance of getting what they want in life.
• Increase your child’s involvement in school by having him or her participate in after-school clubs, sports, or both. To find out what’s available, call your child’s school.

The Wyandanch Union Free School District is committed to working with families and community partners to remove barriers to good attendance.