We track attendance daily and notify parents via email, SMS, and phone calls whenever a child is absent from school.  

Please be advised that the Prospect Park Board of Education policy for student attendance (Policy 5200) is in accordance with NJ School Law and explicitly states that,  

“An excused absence” is a student’s absence from school for a full day or a portion of a day for the observance of a religious holiday pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14 through 16, or any absence for the reasons listed below:  

• A documented communicable illness;

• The student’s required attendance in court;

• Where appropriate, when consistent with Individualized Education Programs, the Individuals with Disabilities Act, accommodation plans under 29 U.S.C. §§ 794 and 705(20), and individualized health care plans;

• The student’s suspension from school;

• Family illness or death supported by a written letter from the parent upon the student’s return to school;

• Necessary and unavoidable medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled at a time other than the school day;

• Take Our Children to Work Day;

• Religious observance, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14 through 16;

• Participation in observance of Veterans Day, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-13.2;

• An absence considered excused by the Commissioner of Education and/or a New Jersey Department of Education rule;

• Participation in observance of Veterans Day, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-13.2;

“An unexcused absence that counts toward truancy” is a student’s absence from school for a full or a portion of a day for any reason that is not an “excused absence” as defined above.

After the 4th and 8th Unexcused Absences, you will receive a letter notifying you of the Unexcused Absences and of our concern for your child's attendance. After the tenth Unexcused Absence, you will receive another letter notifying you of the Unexcused Absences and of a Truancy referral to the Prospect Park Municipal Court, according to law.

Subsequently, following our policy and state law, absences due to illness (except for a communicable disease) are not excused.  Unless your child has a communicable disease that is diagnosed by a medical professional, their absence will not be excused.  For a medical appointment to be considered an excused absence, the medical note must indicate that the student has a communicable illness, is hospitalized, or is immobile.  Medical notes that meet this requirement must be submitted within 5 days of the absence(s).  Documents dated more than five days before the absence will not be accepted.  All other medical notes or appointments will not excuse the absence.  

All communicable illness medical notes must be immediately emailed to nurse@prospectparknj.com .  Communicable illnesses include:

• Hepatitis A

• Hepatitis B

• Hepatitis C

• Influenza (Flu)

• Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Measles

• Respiratory Illness

• RSV

• Strep

The original, signed communicable illness medical note can then be dropped off at the main office after the student returns to school. 

We expect that your child will attend school each day.  Regular attendance at school is a key indicator of a student's ability to access and obtain proficiency in the NJ Student Learning Standards.  Should your child have issues with regular attendance, our counselors or Child Study Team will be available to provide assistance and guidance and attempt to remedy the attendance issue.