Back To School: Attendance Facts Every Parent Should Know

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Your kids are in public school??? You should know that the public schools are a political entity. They get money for students attendance. They receive money for the number of students attending. They get bonuses based on their ability to keep a clean record and more importantly money is distributed depending on how they are ranked among other schools.

Have you felt that now-a-days a lot more inner city school students are medicated based of the school concerns more so than ever before... Well did you know that they get paid even more money for the kids who have special needs and need psychotropic medication?

Well I know this and I'm sharing the information because parents are constantly threatened and SOME, not all but there are some of these parents are threatened by schools when their child misses a day or two, here and there. I had the fortunate experience and had an Assistance Principal(AP) try to intimidate me by blurting out her face that she is a part of the attendance things and certain things can happen, "Like an ACS case"... I responded with OK.

Notice she never explained the why or how; they never do. Their goal is to intimidate me or any parent so they'll be frightened to keep their child home even if it is in his/her best interest. I am aware that this happens all to frequently so I will explain what they aren't that way you can manage your child's attendance to suit your child's and your family's need. However before we get into the Attendance breakdown according to the DOE and NYC I want to stress the importance of making them aware of why your child is out as soon as you can. That way they can not say you never told them. Find away to email them and document such exchanges because remember like most things politics they aren't always. Don't think twice that they won't deny speaking to you if it fits their needs. Email them all day. Write letters take a picture with your cell phone. If claim they lose the letter at least you have proof of it.

To review this regulation in full CLICK Here and scroll down to Series 200, Click on A210: Standards for attendance

Above this passage you will see a screen shot I took with my cellphone. It is a section of "Regulation of the Chancellor", I have scrolled down to the section that explains when and how a school is allowed to fill up form 407. Which is really a referral for outreach IN THE EVENT That you failed to notify and/or communicate with the child's school pertaining to their absences. They can try to claim educational neglect but when you have reported to the school and documented contact, have proof and witnesses as of to why the child was not present; and the send out ACS to investigate and it is unfounded, at which point you inquire how to report the school for a false report. They will explain to you what can be done.

Also if you noticed there has to be a huge chunk of days missed with no communication before they can call on you.

Be aware of the fact that there are educational lawyers that can explain to you further of what steps can be done to protect yourself. They will also help you identify if you are being harassed; some schools are obsessed with their records and will try to harass parents and BULLY them by threatening them with ACS. Additionally it is against the rules for a school to tell you before hand that they are calling. Once you have open communication and their only concern is attendance. Let's say your child is not starving,your child has no signs of being physically abused and you explained to school officials the situation be it medical, or death in the family or some other issue they should be working with you not making threats like the assistant principal has recently done to me. As Parents we should stand up when we notice this treatment and increase awareness of such horrific treatment given when there are real situations that your family is dealing with.