Attendance

School Attendance

Every minute of a child’s time at school is important. Children who are absent for even one day, or who arrive later than their classmates, miss valuable instruction time and can easily fall behind in school. They also miss important socialization time and fun with their peers.

When a student is absent from school it results in a loss of funding for our schools. The State of California does not reimburse school districts for days students are absent. 

Excused Absences

Students may make up work missed during an excused absence. Excused absences do not lead to a loss of credit.

Excused absences include:

• Personal illness
• Medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic appointments
• Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family
• Participation in religious instruction or exercises in accordance with district policy

Method of Verification

When students who are absent return to school, they must present a satisfactory explanation verifying the reason for the absence. The following methods may be used to verify student absences:

• Written note from parent/guardian, parent representative, or student if 18 or older (Education Code § 46012)
• Conversation, in person or by telephone, between the verifying employee and the student’s parent/guardian or parental representative.
• Physician’s Verification

Unexcused Absences

Students may not make up work missed during an unexcused absence, except as noted in “Suspensions” below. Unexcused absences will lead to a loss of credit under school credit loss policies. Schools shall establish procedures for administrative review and/or appeal for credit loss due to an excessive number of unexcused absences and/or tardies.

Unexcused absences include, but are not limited to the following:

• Oversleeping, car trouble, missing a ride. etc.
• Cutting class or school
• Any absence not cleared one school day following the student’s return to school
• Detainment in juvenile hall
• Extended weekends or family vacations
• Suspensions: Suspensions are unexcused absences. The teacher of any class from which a student is suspended may require the suspended student to complete any assignments and tests missed during the suspension (Education Code § 48913). Upon return from suspension, and if requested by the student or parent/guardian, the teacher shall provide the missed assignments and tests.