Student Absences School Attendance is required by law. Education Code 48200 of the State of California requires every child six through 18 years of age to attend school every day and be on time. Studies prove that student attendance increases student achievement.
Reporting Student Absences
Excused Absences Parents are required to verify all student absences. If your child is absent, please call the school at 619-605-1100 to report the absence. When you call the office please give the following information:
- Child's name
- Child's room number or teacher
- The reason for the absence (illness, doctor appointment, attending a family funeral, etc.)
To qualify as an excused absence, attendance at religious retreats may not exceed four (4) hours per school semester.
Unexcused Absences
Absences due to activities such as babysitting, accompanying parents on errands, and attending concerts or sporting events are unexcused.
Absences Between 5 and 20 Days
We must continue to emphasize the importance of planning trips, vacations, etc. at times other than school days. Our major concern is that your child misses valuable instruction when they are not in school. Should an emergency situation arise which demands that your child be away from school, district procedure #4315 allows him/her to receive credit for attendance by completing a Contract for an Independent Study (CIS).
Absences from school for five or more days may be excused if a parent (1) requests a contract for independent study at least one week prior to the absence and (2) the child completes a school contract within the set timeline.
Please notify the school office and your child's teacher of your plans as soon as possible so that the contract can be prepared before the student absence. Again, the request must be made at least one week prior to the absence so that the teacher will have time to prepare the student work. A CIS is allowed for no more than 20 days per school year.
Habitual Absences
If an attendance problem arises and cannot be resolved by school staff, the school may refer the student and family to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB). If the SARB cannot resolve the attendance problem, it has the authority to refer cases to Juvenile Court. For additional details, refer to District Procedure Nos. 4705 Section 17b and 6166, available at the school and on the district's website.
For more information on the district's Every Day Counts! please click here.