Res 0361-2022

Whereas, Attendance is vital to academic success and lost education poses a potential risk of under achievement; and Whereas, Protecting the safety and wellbeing of students through reporting and monitoring of absenteeism is the responsibility of both parents/guardians and schools; and Whereas, Schools need to know when and why a student is absent and parents/guardians need to know if their child is not at school; and Whereas, Prompt communication also promotes daily school attendance; and Whereas, Early morning notification of a student's absence allows time for the parent or guardian to respond in a proper and timely fashion; and Whereas, Technology is available that would allow Department of Education (DOE) to maximize the chance of reaching a parent/guardian, close the feedback loop with a parent/guardian more quickly and allow DOE to contact parents/guardians not only about student absence but also period absence and tardiness; and Whereas, The Chancellor is responsible for setting the standards for school-based attendance programs and issuing guidelines related to attendance issues and services; and Whereas, Principals are responsible for ensuring that their school's attendance program meets the standards for attendance services, as mandated by state requirements and as required by this regulation and other DOE guidelines; and Whereas, The last time the DOE changed its Standards for Attendance Programs was September 28, 2017; and Whereas, The DOE should mandate that notification of a student's absence should be no later than 9am for elementary schools and 2nd period for middle and high school students; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Department of Education to update its student absence notification protocols. LS #9702 MMB 10/01/22; 2:07 p.m.