Brandt Attendance Family Letter

• Stronger academic outcomes and steady progress toward grade-level goals

• Deeper social and emotional connections with peers and teachers

• Growth in responsibility, routine, and time-management skills

• A greater sense of belonging in our school community

Under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, all children ages six through sixteen must attend school regularly. New Jersey defines a student as chronically absent once they miss 10% or more of the school year (18 days for a full school year) for any reason, including illness. A student with 10 or more cumulative unexcused absences is considered truant under state law. Only the following are considered excused absences under NJDOE guidelines:

• Religious observance

• College visit(s), up to 3 days per school year for students in grades 11 and 12

• “Take Our Children to Work Day”

• Participation in observance of Veterans Day

• Participation in district board of election membership activities; and Participation in one “civic event” for students in grades 6-12 and can only be applied to an event sponsored by a government entity, a community-based organization, or a nonprofit.

ALL other absences, including illness, are unexcused but should still be documented with a doctor's note within 3 days of the visit, and all other documentation within 3 business days. Documentation provides the school administration with important information needed when determining if truancy needs to be filed.

By 8:30 AM on each day your child is absent, please email brandtattendance@hoboken.k12.nj.us and your child's homeroom teacher with: your child's name, the reason for absence, expected return date, and any supporting documentation.

Please be sure to read the Tier System of the Support carefully as there are new requirements and procedures that we will be following. The Hoboken Public School District follows the NJDOE's tiered framework for attendance, moving from support for all students to more individualized help as needed. Families are automatically notified at 4, 8, and 12 absences regardless of the reason, so no one is caught by surprise. These letters are generated from OnCourse and use standard language. Please do not be offended. Everyone receives the same letter.

TIER 1 · Universal Support for All Students

0% – 4.9% of the school year absent

What We Do

• Greet and welcome every student and family

• Send a same day notification alert for every absence via school messenger

• Track attendance data and share school-wide attendance goals

• Celebrate strong and improved attendance

TIER 2 · Targeted Support for Students At Risk of Chronic Absence

5% – 9.9% of the school year absent

What We Do

• Continued OnCourse notifications at 4, 8, and 12 absences

• Personal phone call from the school guidance counselor

• Mandatory attendance meeting with administration, the attendance officer, and family

• Individualized Attendance Improvement Plan with specific goals and supports Referral to school and community resources

TIER 3 · Intensive Support for Chronically Absent Students

10%+ of the school year absent

What We Do

• Formal Attendance Contract signed with the school's attendance committee

• Required weekly check-ins to monitor progress

• Academic Support Plan to close learning gaps from missed instruction

• Referral to community support agencies

• Learning Recovery Lab (two 1-hour sessions) to make up lost instructional time for each day absent following the Learning Recovery Lab Matrix

• Summer school if the student is below grade level, per Linkit benchmarks (July, Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–12:30 PM)

• At 10+ cumulative unexcused days, formal truancy referral to the NJ court system, which may lead to court proceedings, fines, or a referral to the Division of Children and Family Services

If your child has a chronic or temporary medical condition or will have an upcoming surgery, please contact brandtattendance@hoboken.k12.nj.us to schedule a meeting with our attendance team including our school nurse, so we can best come up with a plan to support your child’s needs either through home instruction, a medical 504 or an individualized health plan.

If a child is absent for more than 10 consecutive days without proper documentation or home instruction arrangements, the student will be un-enrolled from school. If you are planning extended travel, including overseas trips, please connect with your child's principal regarding the unenrollment and re-enrollment process to ensure a smooth transition back to school. This is not negotiable and is required as a part of our extended absence procedures.

We know families sometimes face real barriers to daily attendance, and we would rather partner with you early than intervene later. Please reach out anytime attendance becomes a challenge. We are here to help your child stay connected, supported, and in school.

Brandt Attendance Team

Mr. Steve Dickerson

Dr. Robin Baskinger

Jessica Hosbach

Cassandra Nuovo

Madison Burns

Kim Pala

Mr. William James

School Attendance Improvement Plan Sample

Family Support Services

Sample School Attendance Contract

Learning Recovery Lab Matrix