The Attendance Department fulfills a vital role in the strategic plan for the Buffalo Public Schools. With New York State Education Law as framework, Attendance Teachers promote regular school attendance by providing support services to students, their parents and classroom teachers. The Attendance Department is committed to the district’s instructional blueprint for meeting the requirements of the revised New York State Learning Standards.

• The Attendance Teacher is an integral part of the instructional team and assists students in the attainment of their educational goals and seeks out ways to enable regular school attendance while enforcing state and district policies dealing with chronic or sporadic absence.
  

• In their work with young people, Attendance Teachers communicate openly and honestly with students, their parents and classroom teachers and administrators in this unique relationship between Attendance Teachers, children and their parents that reinforces the link between academic success and regular school attendance.
  

• The Attendance Teacher also functions as a liaison and resource person and encourages communication and partnerships with families and community agencies. This is accomplished primarily through home visits, student and parent conferences, and the referral process.
  

• As stakeholders in the future of our society, students, families, teachers, administrators, and local agencies, must work cooperatively to help young people prepare for the challenges of the 21st Century. The Attendance Department believes that consistent student attendance is imperative if our students are to achieve success in the new millennium.