1. Attendance
Overview
Attending school every day is required for student academic success. In fact, even having a 90% attendance rate means a student is missing 18+ days of school. That’s a month of missed instruction and puts a student at risk of dropping out. That is simply unacceptable. That is why our goal is to help every student reach 100% attendance.
An Absence Defined
A student who is not in school for at least one instructional period is marked absent for the day. Attendance is recorded daily for each period of scheduled instruction.
Excused Absence
An Absence is unexcused if it is unexplained. An excused absence includes students unable to attend due to illness/injury, religious observation, family emergencies or pre-arranged appointments. Excused absences will not be counted when attendance is calculated for school attendance recognition, or for eligibility in sports (PSAL) or other school activities. Families are expected to notify the school whenever a student is unable to attend school, either in advance of the absence (preferred) or following the absence.
Unexcused Absences
Without explanation of a reason, an absence is considered unexcused. When a student is unable to attend school due to lack of appropriate immunizations the absence(s) are considered unexcused. Families should plan vacations and trips are also considered unexcused. Families should plan vacations and trips when school is not in session. If students do miss school, families must work with the school to develop plans for take-home and make-up work
Lateness
Students are considered late if they are not in their first period class by 8:00am. Lateness can be excused for the same reasons mentioned before. Parents will be contacted if their child arrives late for three consecutive days in the same week.
Notification of Absences & Lateness
Every family of a student who is not in school by 10am will be notified by an automated phone call, email or text message. After two consecutive days of absence, school staff will call the student’s family. Even if families provided a documented reason and the absence is considered excused, a phone call may still be made.
The principal will share a weekly attendance summary with parents via text message on Mondays indicating how many times their child was absent, late to school, late to class during the prior week as well as their year-to-date attendance rate.
Leaving Early
Leaving school early must be arranged in advance. A student who is leaving school early can be released to the family or a person who has been identified on NYCSA and/or the Blue Card and verified as authorized for pick up by the school secretary. Anyone picking up a student must come to the main office and provide a photo ID. Students over 18 must have their families speak with the school secretary before the student can sign out. Students over 18 who have IEPs must be picked up by an adult authorized in NYCSA and/or the Blue Card. Students under age 18 may not leave school early without an adult authorized for pick up.
2. Grading
Overview
At Bushwick Leaders’ High School we believe that it is critical to the academic success of students that grades accurately reflect mastery of standards & skills, that they motivate students to learn and that they are non-biased. For these reasons we have adopted a research-based approach to grading that ensures the grades students and families receive meet these three expectations.
Grading Practices
Below is our grading policy organized by our three expectations shared above.
Ensure Accuracy
- 100% of a student’s report card grade will be based on assessments. An assessment includes exams, quizzes, essays, presentations, individual projects and any other type of assessment that measures a student’s mastery of standards and skills at the end of a unit of study. Homework, classwork and group projects are still important, but they are the means (how we learn) to the end (what we’ve learned). As such, only assessments that measure what students have mastered at the end of a unit of study will be included in a report card grade. Students will still receive a grade or feedback on any assignment but only assessments will be included in a report card grade.
- A student’s grade will be based on individual assessments only. For example, a grade from a group project will not be used to determine a student’s grade since a group grade does not accurately reflect what an individual student knows or doesn’t know.
- The most recent assessment information will be used to determine a student’s grade. For example, if a student performs well on a new assessment that measures standards and skills from an older assessment, the information from the new assessment will be used to determine a student’s grade.
- An assignment or assessment cannot be given a zero. Including a zero from an assignment or an exam in a student’s grade does not accurately reflect what a student knows and does not motivate learning. Instead of a zero the student will be given a grade of “No Evidence” or a 55.
- Extra-credit cannot be included in a grade. Any work that does not measure mastery of standards and skills cannot be included in a student’s grade. Any opportunity to assess mastery of standards and skills should be provided to all students and be mandatory, not optional.
Spark Motivation
- Retakes and Redos are allowed. Students will be given an opportunity to retake an assessment or redo an assignment to demonstrate their mastery of standards and skills. However, students must receive support needed to be successful when they retake/redo an assignment or assessment. This includes completing outstanding assignments needed to master standards and skills as well as participating in tutoring when needed.
- More written feedback will be provided. Students will be provided with written feedback as often as possible to explain what standards and skills they have mastered and to provide clear and actionable steps they need to take to improve their academic performance.
- Students will be provided with information that clearly explains what they know and don’t know. This can be done through the use of rubrics for example and checklists that are directly tied to standards and skills students are expected to master.
Remove Bias
- Soft skills will not be included in a student’s grade. Soft skills include things like effort, how responsible you are, ability to meet deadlines, how collaborative you are and how much you participate in class. Although soft skills can help students succeed in college and careers, they do not reflect what academic standards and skills a student has mastered and often penalize students for things outside of their control (e.g. home environment). Assessing a student’s soft skills can also introduce bias into a student’s grade because it is subjective.
- An alternative approach will be taken when managing academic dishonesty. We know students don’t always make the right decisions. We also recognize that some students (e.g. male, Black, brown, students with special needs) have been disproportionately subjected to very punitive consequences that further puts them at a disadvantage. Therefore, we believe it is important to take restorative (non-grade) approaches to helping students understand the consequences of their action, most importantly, how their learning is affected and get them back on the right track. Our approach also includes enlisting parents and families in getting the support students need to be academically successful. Failure is not an option.
Grading Scale
Bushwick Leaders’ High School grading scale is on a 0-100 Point System for report card grades. Refer to the table below for a translation of grades from one scale to another.
| Point System | Letter Grade | Grade Point Average | Standards/Mastery-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | A | 4.0 | Exceeds Standards |
| 85 | B | 3.0 | Above Standards |
| 75 | C | 2.0 | Meeting Standards |
| 65 | D | 1.0 | Approaching Standards |
| 55 | F | 0.0 | No Evidence/Below Standards |
3. Dress Guidelines
Overview
We acknowledge that students are individuals who have the right to express and affirm their varied identities (e.g. race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression) by determining their own dress. We also recognize the importance of providing students with a safe and welcoming learning environment where high quality teaching and learning takes place. To this end we have devised dress guidelines that seeks to maintain the right of students, promotes equity, and ensures the security of our students and staff.
Please note that Bushwick Leaders High School reserves the right and final authority to decide what is deemed appropriate. If clothing is dangerous, interferes with the learning process, identified by law enforcement as promoting unlawful activities and does not follow the guidelines below we will take appropriate action.
What to Wear
- School swag. Although there is no uniform, we encourage students to show school pride every day.
- Wear pants, skirts, and dresses that come above the hips and reach down to the student’s longest fingertip when arms are extended and down at their sides.
- Wear shirts, blouses, dresses with necklines that are at or above the top of the armpits and cover the midriff or abdomen.
- Wear shoes that have at least one strap over the back of the foot.
What Not to Wear
- Clothing that exposes undergarments and/or are see through.
- Clothing that mentions drugs, tobacco, alcohol, weapons and vulgar/obscene/profane captions.
- Any article of clothing, accessory or paraphernalia that is used to signify gang affiliation.
- Any accessory, object or ornament that is capable of being used as a weapon or for storing and/or consuming drugs, tobacco and alcohol.
- Any clothing item or accessory that covers or obscures your eyes.
- Bandanas, curlers, scarves (unless it is connected to deep religious beliefs).
- Hoodies with hoods worn over the top of head. Hoodies can be worn if the hood is always worn down.
Non-Compliance and Discipline
Failure to comply with the dress guidelines above will be dealt with in a way that maintains the dignity of the student, minimally disrupts their education and is proportional to the frequency and severity of the student’s non-compliance. However, if the clothing worn by a student interferes with the learning process or poses a threat to the safety and security of students and staff they will be removed from class until the dress violation is remedied, or the student’s parent/guardian can pick them up from school. For a list of all possible non-compliance measures see the list below.
- Written Warning
- Written Assignments
- Restorative Conferences
- Removal from the learning environment
- Parent contact by a staff member
- Parent Pick-Up
- Parent Conference
- In-School Suspension
- Out-of-School Suspension
4. Use of Electronic Devices
Overview
To create an environment conducive to learning by minimizing distractions caused by cell phones and other personal internet-enabled electronic devices, ensure the safety and focus of all students during school the school day, and follow Education Law §2803, effective August 1, 2025, all New York State schools are required to adopt a policy that prohibits the use of personal internet-enabled devices during the school day on school grounds. An “internet-enabled electronic device” is defined as an electronic device capable of connecting to the internet and enabling the user to access content on the internet. Examples of such devices include cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, tablets, iPads, and portable music and entertainment systems.
Bushwick Leaders’ High School has an “Away for the Day” policy on the use of internet-enabled electronic devices, including cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, tablets, iPads, and portable music and entertainment systems. Although students are permitted to bring internet-enabled electronic devices to school they must be powered down and stored in a school provided Yondr pouch as they enter the building for the duration of the school day. Devices that cannot fit in a Yondr pouch such as a tablet or laptop must be stored in the student’s assigned locker.
Cell Phone Storage Process
At the beginning of the school year, every student will be assigned a personal Yondr Pouch, similar to being assigned a textbook. While the Yondr Pouch is considered school property, it is each student’s responsibility to bring their pouch with them to school every day. Students that lose their yondr pouch will be required to pay
Building Entrance
As students enter the building, they will:
- Turn their phone off.
- Unlock their empty Yondr Pouch using an Unlocking Base at the Building Entrance(s).
- Place their phone inside the pouch and securely close it and store it in their backpack in front of school staff.
Each student will maintain possession of their cellphone inside their Yondr Pouch for the duration of the school day. The Yondr pouch has enough space to also store a smart watch and air pods. Note that students will not be permitted to go to class without complying with entry procedures for storing their internet enabled devices and their parent/guardian will be contacted.
Building Exit
As students exit the building at the end of the school day, they will:
- Unlock their pouch using an Unlocking Base at a Building Exit(s).
- Remove their phone from their pouch.
- Securely close their empty pouch and place it in their backpack for the next day.
Procedure when a Student Does Not Have their Yondr Pouch
If for whatever reason a student does not have their Yondr pouch they will be required to hand in their phone when they enter school. The phone and other internet-devices will be powered down and placed in an envelope with the student’s name written on it. The envelope will then be given to the main office staff who will hold the phone until the end of the school day.
The student can pick up their devices from the main office staff at the end of their day. Students that consistently forget/lose their pouch will have a parent meeting scheduled to come up with a plan to address the issue.
Exceptions to the Away for the Day Policy
Students may be permitted to use a cell phone or other internet-enabled electronic devices in the following situations:
- The student’s parent/guardian requests an exception to this policy in writing to the school principal. The parent must provide a compelling reason (e.g. medical monitoring/treatment) for allowing their child to use the internet-enabled device. The principal will make a final decision after reviewing the parent’s request and any relevant information provided. If the child is permitted to use an internet-enabled device, the parent and student will sign a memorandum of understanding indicating that if the student is caught using their internet-enabled device in a manner that is not consistent with our behavior expectations, the student may not be allowed to use the device any longer.
- During field trips, with explicit permission by school staff.
- During non-academic extracurricular activities with explicit permission by school staff.
- During special school events with explicit permission by school staff.
Replacing a Stolen, Lost or Damaged Yondr Pouch
Students will need to pay $10.00 for every stolen, lost or Yondr pouch that is damaged to the point where it cannot be used to securely store their phone. Parents will be notified when a student needs to replace their Yondr bag. Students who develop a pattern of losing or damaging their Yondr pouch will have a parent meeting scheduled to understand why the student is losing or damaging their Yondr pouch, develop a plan for addressing the problem and discussing consequences should the pattern continue, including disciplinary responses that are consistent with the NYCDOE discipline code.
Emergency Communications
In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, parents or guardians can call the main office at 718-919- 4212 to reach their child. Additionally in case of emergency or exigent circumstances, students may access phones in the main office, Principal’s office, Assistant Principals’ office or their school counselor’s office.
Lastly, in case of emergency or exigent circumstances, the school will use Power School (formerly known as Kinvolv) to communicate information to parents or guardians. Parents do not need to download any application to receive communications from the school. However, it is important that parents ensure that the school has the most up-to-date contact information. Parents can review and update their contact information using the NYC Schools Account here: https://www.schoolsaccount.nyc/. For information on how to set up your NYCSA account see here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/setup-guide.
Non-Compliance and Discipline
Students who use electronic devices in violation of the NYCPS Discipline Code, the school’s policy, Chancellor’s Regulation A-413, and/or the NYCPS Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy (“IAUSP”) will be subject to progressive discipline. This means that the disciplinary responses will escalate based on the nature and frequency of the violation. As provided in the State law, a student may not be suspended solely on the grounds that the student accessed a personal internet-enabled device in violation of school policy. Repeated incidents of insubordination (i.e. refusal to surrender or store device) may result in a suspension if approved by the Office of Safety and Youth Development.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a focused and productive learning environment. If you have any questions or need further clarification regarding these policies, please do not hesitate to contact Principal Garcia, Assistant Principal Wilson or Assistant Principal Beauford. For more information about the NYCDOE’s policy on the use of electronic devices please see Chancellor’s Regulation A-413.