Absences

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ABSENCES:  Attendance is recorded on a period-by-period basis; therefore, each class is considered on an individual basis. A student who has an injury or a serious illness which requires an absence of fifteen (15) days or more may be may be placed on home/hospital teaching with the proper home/hospital form signed by a medical doctor. Such a student shall not have those days counted in the cumulative total of absences.

EXCUSED ABSENCES: The Attendance Office personnel will notify the school counselors and/or assistant
principal when a student has reached 5 or more excused absences in a quarter. The school designee will
meet with the student to discuss reasons for absences and make parent contact. When a student exceeds 3
concurrent absences, verification of illness by a healthcare professional may be required in order for three
consecutive absences to be excused. Excessive absenteeism may lead to the student’s suspension from
participation in athletics, co-curricular programs, and school activities. 

California Education Code § 48205 defines when a pupil shall be excused from school. This includes when the absence is:

(1) Due to the pupil’s illness.

(2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.

(3) For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.

(4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the pupil’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.

(5) For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.

(6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent, including absences to care for a sick child for which the school shall not require a note from a doctor.

(7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization when the pupil’s absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.

(8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.

(9) For the purpose of spending time with a member of the pupil’s immediate family who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Section 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.

(10) For the purpose of attending the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.

(11) Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.

(b) A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefor. The teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence.

(c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester.

(d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments.

(e) “Immediate family,” as used in this section, means the parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the household of the pupil.

 

All students absent from school under any of the above-stated reasons are entitled to complete all assignments and tests missed during the period of absence. Completion must be within a reasonable period of time and shall be given full credit.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: The Attendance Office personnel will generate absence notification letters for
students who have accumulated 3 or more unexcused absences. A “School Attendance Review Team”
(SART) a meeting may be scheduled and the student and parent/guardian will sign an “Attendance Contract”
indicating they are aware of the consequences of further unexcused absences. Outcomes of this meeting may
include but are not limited to assigning after-school detention, Saturday School detention, alternative
educational placement as well as suspension from participation in athletics, co-curricular programs, and/or
student activities. California defines a student as truant if he or she has any combination of:

● Three unexcused absences;
● Three unexcused tardies; and/or
● Three absences exceeding 30 minutes

ATTENDANCE INTERVENTIONS:

SATURDAY SCHOOL: Any pupil who is required to be reported as a truant pursuant to Ed Code Section 48260 or 48261 may be required to attend makeup classes conducted on one day of a weekend pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 37223. Upon speaking to the student and parent/guardian a Saturday Day School may be assigned after 3 or more unexcused absences. The Assistant Principal or a designee will meet with the student and discuss attendance interventions. Failure to attend assigned Saturday School may lead to additional assigned Saturday School, and/or the student’s suspension from participation in athletics, co-curricular programs, and school activities.

SART (School Attendance Review Team)
The law further requires that after a student has been reported as a truant three or more times in one
school year and after an appropriate school employee has made a conscientious effort to hold at least
one meeting with the parent and the student, the student is deemed a habitual truant. The goal of a
SART meeting is to identify possible solutions to improving the students' attendance and/or behavior. During
the meeting, the student agrees to abide by the directions of the School Attendance Review Team (SART) as
outlined below.
 Attend school regularly and on time each day.
 Abide by school rules and regulations.
 Obey the directions of my teachers and administrators.
 Complete class assignments.
 Develop a positive attitude about school.
 Participate in other school-based supports
Parent(s) agree to abide by the directions of the School Attendance Review Team (SART) as outlined below.
 Cooperate with school officials.
 Ensure my (son/daughter)’s compliance with SART directives.
 Comply with SART’s assignments of specific parental responsibilities.
 Notify the attendance office when my (son/daughter) violates the agreement.
 Obtain medical notes when my (son/daughter) is absent for more than one day.
 Attend classes with my (son/daughter) after the next incidence of truancy/misbehavior.
 Pick up, or make arrangements to have picked up, my (son/daughter)’s homework if (he/she) will be out of school for more than two days.
 Bring my (son/daughter) to school daily and on time.
 Talk with my (son/daughter) in positive terms about school.
 Comply/participate in other school-based supports.

California Education Code Section 48263—If any minor in any district of a county is a habitual truant, or is irregular in attendance at school, as defined in this article, or is habitually insubordinate or disorderly during attendance at school, the pupil may be referred to a School Attendance Review Board. Failure to attend the initial SART meeting may result in a referral to the district School Attendance Review Board (SARB). Parents who know their child will be out for an extended period of time may contact the Attendance Office to inquire about Limited Independent Study (non-medical issues) or home/hospital instruction (medical issues).