Student attendance and participation in school is a primary factor for a student’s academic growth and development. Daily attendance is mandatory according to the attendance requirements mandated by Senate Bill 727. There are some excused reasons for not attending school (see below), however, unexcused absences may lead to a student being truant. Below are the guidelines to help understand the requirements for student attendance.

Education Code Requirements:

Education Code Section 48260 – Any pupil subject to full-time education who is absent from school without a valid excuse on three, or more than three, school days or is tardy in excess of 30 minutes in a school day on three or more occasions in one school year, is truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor of the superintendent of the school district.

Education Code 48260.5 – (A) Upon a pupil’s initial classification as a truant, the school district shall notify the pupil’s parent/guardian by first-class mail or other reasonable means, of the following: (1) That the pupil is truant. (2) That the parent/guardian is obligated to compel the attendance of the pupil to school. (3) That parents/guardians who fail to meet this obligation may be guilty of an infraction and subject to prosecution pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 48290) of Chap. 2 of Part 27. (4) The parent has the right to meet with appropriate school personnel to discuss solutions. (5) The pupil may be subject to prosecution under the Education Code, Section 48264 (6) It is recommended that the parent or guardian accompany the pupil to school and attend classes with the pupil for one day.

Education Code Section 48261 – Any pupil who has been reported as a truant and who is again absent from school without a valid excuse one or more days or tardy on one or more days, shall again be reported as a truant to the attendance supervisor or the superintendent of the district.

Attendance Guidelines
1. Call your child’s school each day of absence.
a. Make sure to include the student’s first and last name, your first and last name, your relationship to
the student, and the reason for absence
b. You have up to 72 hours from the start of your student’s absence to call in the absence with a valid
reason for it to be excused.

2. If your student is ill for 3 or more days, a doctor’s note confirming the illness is required (mandatory)
a. You may request missing work if your student is absent 3 or more days.

3. Schedule appointments outside of school hours when possible. Vacations are not a valid excuse for
absence.

Excessive Unexcused Absence & Truancy Protocol
1. Mandatory meeting with School Attendance Review Team.
2. Referral to District Office for Student Attendance Review Board.
3. Referral to the County Office for a Student Attendance Review Board.
4. Referral to the District Attorney’s Office to pursue charges related to the welfare of your student.
5. If 10 or more consecutive days are unexcused, a student may be dropped and you will be required to re-enroll them.

Excused vs. Unexcused Absences