Attendance Policy
Absences and Excuses Code: 5113-BP
Title: Absences and Excuses
Board Policy: Code 5113-BP
Absences and Excuses
The Governing Board believes that regular attendance plays an important role in student achievement in school. The Board recognizes its responsibility under the law to ensure that students attend school on a regular basis. Parents/guardians of children between ages 6 to 18 are obligated to send their children to school unless otherwise provided by law. The Board shall abide by all state attendance laws and use any legal means to correct the problems of excessive absence or truancy.
(cf. 5112.1 – Exemptions from Attendance) (cf. 5112.2 – Exclusions from Attendance)
Excused Absences
Absence from school shall be allowed only for health reasons, family emergencies and justifiable personal reasons, as permitted by law, Board Policy, and specified in administration regulations. (Education Code 46010, 48216, 48205)
Inasmuch as class participation is an integral part of students’ learning experiences, parents/guardian and students shall be encouraged to schedule medical appointments during nonschool hours.
At the beginning of each academic year, notifications shall be sent to the parents/guardians of all students, and to all students in grades 7-12, informing them that school authorities may excuse any student from school to obtain confidential medical services without the consent of the student’s parent/guardian. (Education Code 46010.1)
Students in grades K-6 shall not be absent from school without their parents’/guardians’ knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency. Students in grades 7-12 shall not be absent from school without their parents’/guardians’ knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency or confidential medical appointment.
A student’s grades may be affected by excessive unexcused absences in accordance with Board policy.
California Educational Code 48205
(a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:
(1) Due to the pupil’s illness, including an absence for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavioral health.
(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 or grieving the death of either a member of the pupil’s immediate family, or of a person that is determined by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the pupil as to be considered the pupil’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than five days per incident.
(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 attendance or appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, attendance at a religious retreat, 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 of the school district.
(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) For the purpose of participating in a cultural ceremony or event.
(12) (A) For the purpose of a middle school or high school pupil engaging in a civic or political event, as provided in subparagraph (B), provided that the pupil notifies the school ahead of the absence.
(B) (i) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) is required to be excused for only one schoolday-long absence per school year.
(ii) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be permitted additional excused absences in the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.
(13) (A) For any of the purposes described in clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive, if an immediate family member of the pupil, or a person that is determined by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the pupil as to be considered the pupil’s immediate family, has died, so long as the absence is not more than three days per incident.
(i) To access services from a victim services organization or agency.
(ii) To access grief support services.
(iii) To participate in safety planning or to take other actions to increase the safety of the pupil or an immediate family member of the pupil, or a person that is determined by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the pupil as to be considered the pupil’s immediate family, including, but not limited to, temporary or permanent relocation.
(B) Any absences beyond three days for the reasons described in subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the discretion of the school administrator, or their designee, pursuant to Section 48260.
(14) 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 one schoolday 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) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) A “civic or political event” includes, but is not limited to, voting, poll working, strikes, public commenting, candidate speeches, political or civic forums, and town halls.
(2) “Cultural” means relating to the practices, habits, beliefs, and traditions of a certain group of people.
(3) “Immediate family” means the parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the household of the pupil.
(4) “Victim services organization or agency” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (7) of subdivision (g) of Section 230.1 of the Labor Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 846, Sec. 1.5. (AB 1503) Effective January 1, 2024.)Method of Verification
When a student who has been absent returns to school, he/she must present a satisfactory explanation verifying the reason for the absence. Absences shall be verified by the student’s parent/guardian, other person having control of the minor, or the student, if age 18 or older. (Education Code 46012; 5 CCR 306) Within four days of students’ return to school. Excuses will not be accepted after the fourth day.
1. Written note or fax from parent/guardian or parent representative, or student, if 18 or older.
2. Conversation, in person or by telephone, between the verifying employee and the student's parent/guardian or parent representative. The verifying employee shall subsequently record the following:
a. Full name of student
b. Name of parent/guardian or parent representative
c. Name and signature of verifying employee
d. Date(s) of absence
e. Specific reason for absence
f. Date verification was made
3. Visit to the student's home by the verifying employee, or any other reasonable method which establishes the fact that the student was absent for the reasons stated. The employee shall document the verification and include the information specified in item #2 above.
4. Physician's verification.
When excusing students for confidential medical services or verifying such appointments, District staff shall not ask the purpose of such appointments but may contact a medical office to confirm the time of the appointment.
When a student has had six absences in the school year for illness verified by methods listed in #1-#3 above, any further absences for illness shall be verified by a physician or school nurse.