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Key Laws and Regulations Regarding Attendance

The key laws and regulations which direct the day-to-day activities and decisions about student attendance are provided here. They have been grouped into 15 categories with links to the relevant document(s). The specific reference within each document is enlarged and emphasized in bold. Click on the topic in which you are interested to access the related law(s) and/or regulation(s).

This document has been provided for your convenience and should not be used as a substitute for the legal advise provided by your own attorney.
 

Index:
 
Key:  EL = Education Law; CR = Commissioner's Regulations; CD = Commissioner's Decision
 
Category Description Citation
Attendance Course Completion Policies Comprehensive Attendance Policy - Nine (9) required elements for board-approved policy CR 104.1(i)
  Absence from alternative instruction CD - Matter of Ackert

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Attendance Law Enforcement Counseling professionals in the field of school attendance EL 3213
  Parameters of probation orders Family Court Law 353.2

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Attendance Records Who takes attendance EL 3024
  Oath of accuracy EL 3025
  More on who takes attendance EL 3211
  Record of student telephone #s EL 3212-a
  Notification upon absence EL 3213-c
  Notification when deemed absent EL 3213-d
  Attendance Teacher Certification CR 80.3
  Attendance record keeping CR 104.1
  Release time for religious instruction CR 109.2
  Absence from alternative instruction CD - Matter of Ackert
  Retention of student attendance records SED Policy - ED1

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Census Census - NYC, Buffalo, Rochester EL 3240
  Census - Cities <125,000 EL 3241
  Census - School District EL 3242
  Census of native children EL 4113
  Census of children with handicaps to age 21 EL 4402.1(a)

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Compulsory Attendance Who must attend school EL 3205
  Alternative instruction to compulsory age students suspended for disciplinary reasons CD - Matter of McMahon
  Amendment to the Education Law in Relation to Compulsory Attendance Text of Memo

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Educational Entitlement General categories of who can attend school EL 3201
  Student entitlement EL 3202
  Who can be dropped for non-attendance EL 3202.1-a
  Education of incarcerated youth EL 3202.7
  Instruction required EL 3204.1 and 2
 

Rules for educating homeless children

 EL 3209
  Education of native children EL 4103
  Rules for educating homeless children CR 100.2(x)
  How to determine who lives in the district CR 100.2(y)

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Employment of Minors When it is legal for students to work - casual employment EL 3215
  Who issues working papers EL 3215(a)
  Types of working papers EL 3216
  Requirements to get working papers EL 3217
  Proof of age EL 3218
  Parental/guardian permission for full-time working papers EL 3219
  Certification of physical fitness EL 3220
  Pledge of employment EL 3221
  Duties of Employers EL 3223
  Keeping work papers at the work site EL 3224
  Working papers for a farm EL 3226
  Newspaper Carrier EL 3228
  Children as models Arts and Cultural Affairs Law -  35.05
  Children as performers LL 150-153
  Modeling permits for children CR 190.2
  Work exempt from requirement for working papers (casual employment) CR 191.1
  Retention of student employment certificate records SED Policy - ED1

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Home Hospital Instruction Health and welfare services to all children EL 912
  Provisions for tutoring Indian children EL 4117
  More provisions for tutoring CR175.21
  Units of Study and Units of Credit CR100.1(a) & (b)
  Alternative Assessment strategies for students with disabilities CR100.1(t)(2)(iv)
  Alternatives to specific Regents and local diploma requirements CR100.5(d)(i)(ii)(iii)
  Homebound/hospital instruction for nonpublic students CD - Matter of Scales
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Home Schooling (by parents) Required instruction EL 3204.2
  Who must be provided instruction EL 3205
  Minimum expectations for instruction EL 3210.2
  Attendance records EL 3211
  Minimum expectations of parents EL 3212.2(d)
  Home instruction by parents CR 100.10

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Immunizations Immunization Law EL 914
  Information about required immunizations and parental responsibilities Immunization Guidelines

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Length of School Day/Year Minimum length of instructional year EL 1704.2
  Minimum hours of instruction per day EL 3205
  Minimum instruction for part time day EL 3206
  Night school EL 3207
  Minimum attendance expectations for students EL 3210
  No school Saturdays or Holidays EL 3604.8 & 8(b)
  Release time for religious instruction CR 109.2
  Minimum hours in a school day CR 175.5
  Superintendent's Conference Day's EL 3604.8

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Parental Involvement Filing an appeal to the Commissioner

EL 310            
Instructions
  Program to prevent abduction of elementary school children EL 3213.2(c)
  Expectation of student attendance EL 3210
  Expectation of parental support of student attendance EL 3212.2(d)
  Consent to quit school for full time work EL 3219
  Required immunization for school enrollment

EL 914            
PHL 2164

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Pre-Kindergarten Pre-K program eligibility EL 3602(e)(12)
  Pre-school eligibility EL 4410.5
  Universal pre-K eligibility CR 151.1(d)

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Residency Public School Entitlement for residents of the district EL 3202
  When property line intersects more than one district EL 3203
 

Rules for educating homeless children

 EL 3209
  When homeless children must be educated CR 100.2(x)
  How to determine which district your child(ren) may attend for free CR 100.2(y)
  Matter of Pinto - residency Decision No. 12,499
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School Registration Enrollment Immunization requirements prior to school enrollment EL 914
  School Registration Enrollment EL 3208.5(a-d)
  Parental relations and duties to support the school EL 3212
  Enrollment of youth released from Residential Placements CR100.2(ff)
  Diagnostic Screening CR 117.1-3
  Who may attend universal pre-K CR 151.1(d)
  Child Name Change NYS Supreme Court Decision
  Enrollment of youth released from Residential Placements SED Policy Memo
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Student Discipline Instructions for suspension and hearings EL 3214
  Policy on School conduct and discipline CR 100.2(l)(1)
  Code of conduct CR 100.2(l)(2)
  Prohibition of corporal punishment in public schools CR 100.2(l)(3)
  Parental notification of student suspension CR 100.2(l)(4)
  After School Detention SED Policy Memo
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Student Suspension Required instruction EL 3204.2
  Who must get alternative instruction when suspended EL 3205
  Instructions for suspension and hearings EL 3214
  Management of suspended students EL 3214.3 and 3(2)
  Parental notification of student suspension CR 100.2(l)(4)
  Absence from alternative instruction CD - Matter of Ackert

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