Whether a students absence is considered excused or a truancy is determined by a combination of Education Code and Board Policy. When a parent notifies the office of the reason for an absence the office must use this criteria to mark the absence correctly in the system. Below are some examples of excused and unexcused absences (truancy):
Excused Absences:
- • Student illness or injury Medical, dental optometric, psychological or chiropractic appointments
- • Funeral service of immediate family member
- • Court appearance/probation/legal appointment/ investigative hearing
- • Religious holiday, ceremony, or retreat
Truancy:
- • Vacations, amusement park trips, out of town
- • Car trouble/no ride available
- • Celebrating birthdays
- • Parent illness or injury
- • Lack of sleep
The district is required by the state to intervene with students who either have excessive truancies (unexcused absences) or chronic absenteeism (unexcused absences, excused absences, tardies, and early outs). As a result the district will respond to excessive truancies and chronic absenteeism as follows:
In an effort to collaborate with you and keep you informed of your child’s attendance, school sites will be reaching out to you in the event that your child misses school this year based on the guidelines below:
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Notification
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Elementary Schools
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Letter 1
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7 attendance events
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Letter 2
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10 attendance events
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Letter 3/ Meeting
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15 attendance events
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Please remember that every absence matters and just a couple of days each month adds up. Families are key to improving attendance.
Let us work together to encourage your child to strive for Fewer Than 4 absences To Learn More this school year.