P.S. 112Q • Dutch Kills School
ATTENTION PARENTS
REMINDERWE FOLLOW THE CHANCELLOR’S REGULATION A-210 ATTENDANCE POLICY
No Absences — School starts at 8:10 am — Be punctual!
- Must attend every day unless fever, diarrhea, or vomiting.
- Everyday Attendance: All enrolled NYC public school students are expected to attend school every single day, full-time.
- What Counts as Chronically Absent: If a student misses 10% or more of the school year (roughly 2 to 3 days a month), they are considered chronically absent under Chancellor’s Regulation A-210. Schools keep a close eye on these numbers and will reach out to offer extra support if your child starts falling behind.
Excused vs. Unexcused Absences
- Excused Absences: Reasons like illness, family emergencies, religious holidays, or court dates are excused if you send in a parent note or doctor’s note. Just keep in mind that even when an absence is excused, it still shows up as a missed day on your child’s official record.
- Unexcused Absences: Any absence without an explanation or proper note is marked as unexcused — this includes vacation during school time. Please take vacation during holidays or during the summer when school is NOT in session.
Punctuality & Drop-Off/Pick-Up
- How Schools Handle Frequent Lateness: Schools keep careful track of every late arrival. If your child is late often or brings unexcused late notes, the school will reach out—just as they do for regular absences. This may include sending attendance letters home, giving you a call, or scheduling a quick meeting with a counselor or attendance staff member to see how they can help.
- How Lateness Affects Grades: Under Chancellor’s Regulation A-210, a school cannot lower a student’s grade or fail them simply because they were late. However, missing class time regularly makes it harder to complete the work and learn the material, which can hurt their overall grades if they fall too far behind.
Medical & Doctor Appointments
- Schedule all appointments on weekends or after 2:30 PM when school ends.
- Early Departures (Early Pick ups) Equivalency to Lateness: Early departures are governed similarly to late arrivals under the regulation’s framework. Schools must track early departures, and frequent unexcused early picks require administrative follow-up and intervention.
- Legitimate Grounds: Early dismissals are generally only permitted for validated reasons such as documented illness, necessary medical/legal appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours, or approved religious instruction programs. Habitual early pickups without valid cause are treated as irregular attendance patterns and can prompt home visits or intervention from district attendance personnel.





