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 Pascack Hills Attendance

High school attendance can sometimes be a confusing topic. Hopefully the information on this page can clear things up. As a public high school, The New Jersey Department of Education establishes state attendance regulations to which we, as a school district, must adhere. Additionally, Pascack Valley Regional HSD establishes a local attendance policy that aligns with the state regulations. This document will help explain the difference between an excused absence and an unexcused absence as defined by the State of New Jersey, and as defined by our local district policy.


Daily Attendance (State Policy):
We mark daily attendance in Genesis in accordance with what we must report to the state. Therefore, we must mark daily attendance under the following conditions.

  • Full day absent or present - The state does not recognize half day absences. A school day consists of at least 4 hours of instruction (not including lunch). On a “regular” school day, if a student misses more than half the day of instruction, they will be marked absent from school.
  • Excused absences - The following are excused absences recognized by the state. All other absences will be noted in Genesis, but will count as an unexcused absence.
    • Religious observance, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14, 15, and 16.
    • A college visit (for 11th or 12 grade students. Maximum of 3 per year).
    • Take children to work day.
    • Participation in observance of Veteran's Day.
    • The closure of a busing district that prevents a student from having transportation to the receiving school.
    • Civic event (limit of one day per year)
      • This can only be applied to an event sponsored by a government entity, a community-based organization, or a nonprofit. The civic event is required to incorporate an element of service learning and address a public issue or concern.

Classroom Attendance (District Policy):
Classroom attendance will be marked in Genesis in accordance with our district policy (5200). Classroom attendance will be marked under the following conditions:

  • A student that is late more than 20 minutes to a class will be considered absent from that class.
  • Excused class absences - The following are excused class absences recognized by the district policy.
    • Medical with a doctor’s note (to be submitted within 3 days upon return from absence)* 
    • Death in the Family 
    • Religious observance, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14, 15, and 16. 
    • Participation in observance of Veterans Day, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-13.2
    • Participation in district board of election membership activities, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-33
    • Court appearances – documentation required 
    • Administratively approved absences 
    • Suspension, in-school detention 
    • College visits- three for Juniors and Seniors per school year
    • Take Our Children to Work Day
    • Closure of a busing school district that prevents a student from having transportation to the receiving school
    • Civic event (limit of one day per year)
      • This can only be applied to an event sponsored by a government entity, a community-based organization, or a nonprofit. The civic event is required to incorporate an element of service learning and address a public issue or concern.
  • All other absences will be noted but will be counted as an unexcused absence
  • Tardies affecting class attendance - Every 5 tardies to class equals 1 absence.

Maintaining Credit:
Once students reach 19 or more unexcused absences from a full year course or 10 or more absences from a semester course, they could potentially lose credit for that class. If a student accrues 19 or more unexcused absences, parents and students have the opportunity to go through an attendance appeal process to receive credit for a course they passed.

Please communicate with the Attendance Office if your child will be late or absent to school. The following is the ways to communicate your child's attendance:

Send a note through Genesis:

  1. Click on STUDENT DATA (black ribbon at top)
  2. From student date - Click on ATTENDANCE (blue ribbon)
  3. From attendance - click NOTIFY ATTENDANCE OFFICE (Tab)
  4. From notify attendance fill out the form as follows:
    • Student will be: (choose from the drop down box: Absent, Tardy, Early Dismissal)
    • Pick the date (or multiple dates if applicable)
    • Supply a REASON for being out of school
    • (please note: the details of this message will be visible by the teachers/ staff.)

Send an email directly to the main office phdmo@pascack.org.

  • In the email please include your child’s name, grade, and the reason for their absence.

Leave a voicemail at 201-358-7020 Ext. 22000

  • Supply your name and call back number, your child’s name and grade, and the reason for their absence.

Regardless of how you report the absence, please be sure to include the following information:

  1. Your child's FULL name
  2. Grade
  3. Reason for missing school

Please be sure to report absences no later than 8:00 AM

**if you are picking your child up early from school, a parent or guardian will need to come to the security desk to sign them out**