Attendance
Letter to Parent/Guardian
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly.
Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.
We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school— regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year. Research shows:
- Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
- By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.
Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month!!
Clearly going to school regularly matters!
We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged. Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on time. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
- Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick
- Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
- Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
- Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school on time every day. We want your child to be successful in school! If you have any questions or need more information please contact your child’s school.
Sincerely,
Child Welfare and Attendance Department, (909) 397-4648
Carta a los padres / tutores
Estimado Padre / Tutor:
Nuestro objetivo este año es asegurarnos de que todos los estudiantes asistan a la escuela regularmente.
El asistir a la escuela tiene un gran impacto en el éxito académico de un estudiante que comienza en el jardín de infantes y continúa hasta la escuela secundaria. Incluso a medida que los niños crecen y son más independientes, las familias desempeñan un papel clave para garantizar que los estudiantes lleguen a la escuela de manera segura todos los días y comprendan por qué la asistencia es tan importante para el éxito en la escuela y en la vida.
Nos damos cuenta de que algunas ausencias son inevitables debido a problemas de salud u otras circunstancias. Pero, también sabemos que cuando los estudiantes faltan a la escuela, independientemente de la razón, esto puede hacer que se atrasen académicamente. Es menos probable que su hijo tenga éxito si está ausente de manera crónica, lo que significa que faltan 18 días o más en el transcurso de un año escolar completo. Estudios muestran:
- Los niños con ausencias crónicas en kindergarten y 1er grado tienen menos probabilidades de leer al nivel de grado al final del 3er grado.
- Para el 6º grado, la ausencia crónica es una señal de advertencia temprana comprobada para los estudiantes que corren el riesgo de abandonar la escuela.
- Para el 9º grado, una buena asistencia puede predecir las tasas de graduación incluso mejor que las calificaciones de los exámenes de 8º grado.
Las ausencias pueden sumarse rápidamente. ¡Un niño está ausente de manera crónica si pierde solo dos días al mes!
¡Claramente ir a la escuela regularmente importa!
No queremos que su hijo se atrase en la escuela y se desanime. Asegúrese de que su hijo asista a la escuela todos los días y llegue a tiempo. Aquí hay algunos consejos prácticos para ayudar a apoyar la asistencia regular:
- Asegúrese de que sus hijos mantengan una hora regular para acostarse y establezca una rutina matutina.
- Prepare la ropa y empaque las mochilas la noche anterior.
- Asegúrese de que sus hijos vayan a la escuela todos los días a menos que estén realmente enfermos
- Evite programar vacaciones o citas médicas cuando la escuela esté en sesión.
- Hable con los maestros y consejeros para obtener asesoramiento si sus hijos se sienten ansiosos por ir a la escuela.
- Desarrolle planes de respaldo para llegar a la escuela si surge algo. Llame a un familiar, vecino u otro padre para que lleve a su hijo a la escuela.
Háganos saber cómo podemos apoyarlos mejor a usted y a sus hijos para que puedan llegar a la escuela a tiempo todos los días. ¡Queremos que su hijo tenga éxito en la escuela! Si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita más información, comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo.
Sinceramente,
Departamento de Bienestar y Asistencia Infantil, (909) 397-4648
Abolish Chronic Truancy
The Abolish Chronic Truancy (ACT) program is a Los Angeles District Attorney's Office crime prevention/intervention program that enforces compulsory education laws by focusing on parents' responsibility and accountability to get children to school. The program targets parents and guardians of elementary school-aged children who are in danger of becoming habitual truants. By addressing the problem early on, during a stage where parents have control, the chances of students developing good attendance habits are increased. Likewise, the juvenile delinquency and later adult criminality are decreased. Losing days of learning in elementary school years can cause children to fall behind in their education. It is often difficult for these truant students to catch up and keep up with their peers. When the successes for a student are few at school, attendance predictably drops, and the cycle of truancy becomes entrenched.
Abolir el absentismo crónico
Abolish Chronic Truancy/ Abolir el absentismo crónico (Posters/ Los carteles)
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
(1) Due to the pupil’s illness, including an absence for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavioral health. The state board shall update its illness verification regulations, as necessary, to account for including a pupil’s absence for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavioral health within the scope of this paragraph.
(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 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) 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) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Cultural” means relating to the habits, practices, beliefs, and traditions of a certain group of people.
(2) “Immediate family” means the parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the household of the pupil.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 672, Sec. 1.5. (SB 14) Effective October 8, 2021. Operative January 1, 2022, pursuant to Sec. 3 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 672.)
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.
• Use the SST or SART meeting to create a support plan that addresses barriers to
attendance. (see guidelines for SART meeting strategies and best practices below)
• Adopt promising or evidence-based practices such as offering a Success Mentor
that addresses the underlying causes.
• Refer students/families to appropriate resources to address issues related to poor
attendance and/or negative behavior.
• Create an attendance and/or behavior contract that includes the expectations and
expected actions by the student, parents and other key adults in the student’s life,
and the educational staff.
• Write attendance goals and supports into the student’s IEP.
• After assigning interventions, the team should determine when to follow up with
students and families to monitor progress. If the student is still struggling, the team
should determine necessary additional supports and provide those new supports.
behaviors, it may become necessary to implement more intensive interventions. This
could include a referral to a School Attendance Review Board (SARB). However, a
school site should only make a SARB referral after all other interventions have been
exhausted.
our primary and best line of defense against chronic absenteeism and behavioral
challenges. Tier 1 systems, if fully implemented, will create a culture of attendance and
positive behavior where engaged students will want to come to school, and parents will
feel a sense of belonging and involvement in the school community.
A panel of volunteers examines the situation after listening to the student and parent explain why they are not attending school. The panel will develop a plan and the conditions/support that is developed will be added to a legally-binding contract which the student and parent will be required to follow.