Case Name: In the Matter of Giancarlo P., a Child Alleged to be Neglected. Maria P., Respondent; Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2003-06-03
Citations: 306 A.D.2d 28
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Giancarlo P., a Child Alleged to be Neglected. Maria P., Respondent; Commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 306
Pages: 28–29

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Giancarlo P., a Child Alleged to be Neglected. Maria P., Respondent; Commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services, Appellant.
[761 NYS2d 165]

Opinion:
—Order, Family Court, New York County (Helen Sturm, J.), entered on or about May 8, 2002, dismissing a child protective proceeding alleging educational neglect, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The child's prolonged, unexcused absence from school does not, ipso facto, establish either the parental misconduct or the harm or potential harm to the child necessary to a finding of neglect under Family Ct Act § 1012 (f) (i) (A) (see Matter of Jessica Y., 161 AD2d 368 [1990]; Matter of Jennifer N., 173 AD2d 971, 972 [1991]). A preponderance of the evidence shows that respondent was actively engaged with school authorities in the process of securing an appropriate and specific special education placement for the child, and there is no evidence that the child's education was adversely affected by his absence from school. Concur — Nardelli, J.P., Tom, Andrias and Lerner, JJ.