Opinion
1345
June 3, 2003.
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.
Ronnie Dane, for Giancarlo P.
Elizabeth A. Adinolfi, for respondent-respondent.
Marta Ross, for petitioner-appellant.
Before: Nardelli, J.P., Tom, Andrias, Lerner, JJ.
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 A.D.2d 368;Matter of Jennifer N., 173 A.D.2d 971, 972). 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.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.