Attendance

School Attendance Informational Guide

Guía de Información Sobre Asistencia Escolar

It is understandable that there are times when students will not be able to attend school which is why the state has identified specific reasons for absences that can be considered as “excused absences”. Even though these absences are individually excused, families need to know that excessive excused absences have a toll on student learning and can lead to a student being classified as chronically absent, missing 10% of the school year.

Once verified by family, a student’s absence will be excused for any of the following reasons:

• Personal illness, including an absence for the benefit of the student’s mental or behavioral health

• Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer

• Medical, dental, or chiropractic appointment (time excused includes travel to and from the appointment and the appointment time)

• Attendance at funeral services for a member of the student’s immediate family (limited to one day if the service is conducted in California or three days if the service is conducted out of state)

• Jury duty

• Illness or medical appointment of the student’s child

• Upon advance written request by the parent/guardian and the approval of the principal or designee, justifiable personal reasons including, but not limited to:

  • Appearance in court

  •  Attendance at a funeral service

  • Observance of a religious holiday or ceremony

  • Attendance at religious retreats for no more than four hours per semester

  • Attendance at an employment conference

  • Attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization

• Service as a member of a precinct board for an election

• To spend time with an immediate family member who is an active-duty member of the uniformed services, and has been called to duty for deployment to a combat zone or a combat support position or is on leave from or has immediately returned from such deployment (limited to three days)

• Attendance at a naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen

• Participation in a cultural ceremony or event (“cultural” means related to the habits, practices, beliefs, and traditions of a certain group of people)

• Participation in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction at the student’s place of worship or other suitable place away from school

• For middle or high school students, participation in a civic or political event, which includes, but is not limited to, voting, poll working, strikes, public commenting, candidate speeches, political or civic forums, and town halls (requires prior notification submitted to the school; any absences beyond one day, is permitted at the discretion of a school administrator)

For the purpose of the absences described above, immediate family means the student’s parent, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the student’s household.

• Families have access to Aeries Parent Portal to monitor their child’s attendance at all times.
• Sign up for weekly Aeries emails.
• Families receive automated notification when their child is absent and the school office has not yet been notified. 
• Letter notification will be mailed to families after 3, 6, and 9 unexcused absences.
• Letter notification will be mailed to families after 5 and 10 days of excessive absence for excused and unexcused absences. 
• Absences for 30 minutes or more without a valid excuse on three occasions shall be classified as unexcused/truant. 
• Schools may request a conference to address barriers and provide additional resources when attendance becomes a concern.

Short-Term Independent Study (BP 6158, AR 6158)

Short-Term Independent Study (I.S.) may be an option for students who have necessary and unavoidable absences that will result in missing a minimum of 3 and up to 14 school days. Parents/guardians must request I.S. at least 7 days in advance of the absences using the Independent Study Request form, and the Principal must make a determination as to whether to approve and initiate a Short-Term Independent Study Agreement.

If approved, the Principal will initiate a Short Term Independent Studies Agreement, which must be signed by the student, parent/guardian, teacher(s) and Principal prior to the I.S. time. Within 5 days of returning from the approved I.S., the student must submit all work completed in order to receive credit for the I.S. agreement. Students who do not complete the required work may not be approved for future agreements.

Individual arrangements made with teachers that have not been approved by the Principal or have a signed I.S. agreement in advance will not be considered as Independent Study. It is not possible to retroactively approve I.S. agreements. 

• Ed Code 46010 Absences
• Ed Code 46010.3 Absences
• Ed Code 48205 Persons Included
• Ed Code 48260 Truants
• Board Policy  5113 Absences and Excuses
• Board Policy 5113.1 Chronic Absence and Truancy
• Board Policy 5113.2 District School Attendance Review Board

Have you been scheduled for a SARB hearing? SARB hearings take place at the Student Support Services Department (1234 Arcadia Ave., Vista, CA 92084). Please check-in with our receptionist on the day of your hearing. 

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