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Hicksville Public Schools

Attendance Matters

Attendance Matters

Be Present.
School is better with you in it!

Regular school attendance is essential for student success. Each missed day is a lost learning opportunity, impacting not only the absent student but also the entire classroom. To emphasize the importance of attendance and meet the accountability standards of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Hicksville Public School District is introducing Be Present: School is better with you in it!—an initiative dedicated to improving student attendance across all schools.

The Hicksville Board of Education emphasizes that regular attendance is essential for academic success. The district’s attendance policy aims to reduce unexcused absences, encourage full attendance, track attendance patterns, and implement interventions as needed. The policy is communicated to students, parents, teachers, and administrators and is available in district publications.

A grid of portraits of diverse students, each with the text 'BE PRESENT' overlaid.

Did you know?
Missing a day at School here and there may not seem like much, but the absences add up!

    • They will miss 20 DAYS a year.
    • They will miss 30 HOURS of math over the school year.
    • They will miss 60 HOURS of reading and writing over the school year.
    • They will miss over 1 YEAR of school by graduation.

    • They will miss 40 DAYS a year.
    • They will miss 60 HOURS of math.
    • They will miss 120 HOURS of reading & writing.
    • They will miss over 2 YEARS of school by graduation.

    1. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school.
    2. Over 7 million U.S. students (1 in 7) miss nearly a month of school each year.
    3. Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. One in 10 kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent.
    4. Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back.
    5. By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
    6. Research shows that missing 10 percent of school days, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence.
    7. Students who live in communities with high levels of poverty are four times more likely to be chronically absent than others often for reasons beyond their control, such as unstable housing, unreliable transportation and a lack of access to health care.
    8. When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.
    9. Attendance improves when schools engage students and parents in positive ways and when schools provide mentors for chronically absent students.
    10. Most school districts and states don’t look at all the right data to improve school attendance. They track how many students show up every day and how many are skipping school without an excuse, but not how many are missing so many days in excused and unexcused absence that they are headed off track academically.

Summary of Hicksville Public Schools Attendance Policy 

    • Excused Absences include personal illness, family emergencies, religious observances, court appearances, medical appointments, approved college visits, military obligations, and other district-approved reasons.
    • Unexcused Absences include any other absences, tardiness, or early departures without valid justification.
    • Parental Responsibility: Parents must notify the school of absences and provide a written excuse upon the student’s return. If a student is absent for five consecutive days, a doctor’s note is required.

    • Attendance is recorded daily at the elementary level and for each class period at the secondary level.
    • Absence types (full-day absence, class cut, etc.) are coded in student records.
    • Designated staff (principals, assistant principals, and attendance officers) oversee attendance enforcement and updates.
    • Corrections to attendance records are made immediately when necessary, with notifications sent to relevant staff.

    • Elementary level: Recognizes students with perfect and near-perfect attendance each quarter.
    • Secondary level: Recognizes students with perfect attendance each quarter.

  • A progressive disciplinary approach is used, with increasing consequences for repeated unexcused absences:

    • Notifications to parents (written or oral)
    • Detention
    • Suspension from activities (sports, extracurriculars, proms, senior privileges)
    • In-school suspension

    • Class participation is a factor in grading. Any absence that is not made up will result in a loss of participation points.
    • Makeup Work: Students must consult teachers to make up missed assignments. If the absence is excused, participation points can be regained through assigned work.
    • School-Sponsored Absences: Students participating in activities like field trips or music lessons must arrange makeup work with teachers.
    • Credit Loss for Excessive Absences:
      • More than 9 unmade-up absences in a half-year course
      • More than 18 unmade-up absences in a full-year course
      • Students will not receive credit for these courses unless absences are made up.
    • Parent & Student Notification: Teachers and school staff contact families via phone and mail before students reach the 9 or 18 absence threshold.
    • Makeup Tests: Only students with excused absences may retake tests that factor into their final grades.

    This policy reinforces that attendance directly impacts student success and ensures that families are informed and engaged in supporting student attendance.

We're here to help!
Whether you have questions about attendance, need support, or require additional resources, don't hesitate to reach out. Contact the appropriate staff member below for guidance.

Family Partnership Program
With the Family Partnership Program, you'll find valuable information about your school, community, and available services—all with the compassionate support of someone who truly cares about you and your family.

Our Family Partnership Specialist is a dedicated advocate with the knowledge and experience to support your family. Committed to building a strong relationship, they are here to guide and assist you throughout your time in the district.

How to Track Your Child’s Attendance
Parents can view their child's attendance on the Parent Portal by logging into PowerSchool. 

Resources for Parents

  • Information on how attendance contributes to school accountability and student success under ESSA.

    • https://www.nysed.gov/accountability/every-student-succeeds-act-essa

  • Resources on school counseling, mental health, and attendance improvement.

  • Support for child well-being, family stability, and community engagement.

    • https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/family/

  • Programs and partnerships to support student mental health and reduce attendance barriers.

    • https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/schoolmentalhealth/

  • Parent-led support for improving attendance and student engagement.