A student's absence shall be excused for the following reasons:
1. Personal illness (Education Code 48205)
2. Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer (Education Code 48205)
3. Medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic appointments (Education Code 48205)
4. Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family (Education Code 48205)
a. Excused absence in this instance shall be limited to one day if the service is conducted in California or three days if the service is conducted out of state. (Education Code 48205)
b. "Immediate family" shall be defined as mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, spouse, son/son-in-law, daughter/daughter-in-law, brother, sister or any relative living in the student's immediate household. (Education Code 45194,48205)
5. Jury duty in the manner provided by law (Education Code 48205)
6. Exclusion from school, for up to five school days, for failure to present evidence of immunization (Education Code 46010)
(cf. 5141.31-1mmunizations)
Other Excused Absences
A student's absence shall be excused for justifiable personal reasons including but not limited to the following. Advance written request by the parent/guardian and approval of the principal or designee shall be required for absences for: (Education Code 48205)
1. Appearance in court
2. Attendance at a funeral service
3. Observation of a holiday or ceremony of his /her religion
4. Attendance at religious retreats for no more than four hours during a semester
5. Employment interview or conference
In addition, if a student is the custodial parent of a child, his/her absence shall be excused when the child is ill or has a medical appointment during school hours. (Education Code 48205)
Method of Verification
When students who have been absent return to school, they must present a satisfactory explanation verifying the reason for the absence. The following methods may be used to verify student absences:
1. Written note from parent/guardian, parent representative, or student if 18 or older (Education Code 46012)
2. Conversation, in person or by telephone, between the verifying employee and the student's parent/guardian or parent representative. The employee shall subsequently record the following:
a. Name of student
b. Name of parent/guardian or parent representative
c. Name of verifying employee
d. Date or dates of absence
e. Reason for absence
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. A written recording shall be made, including information outlined above.
4. Physician's verification
A student who has been absent from school and has been treated by a medical physician for an illness/injury may present evidence of such treatment as verification of absence. The note must be written on office/clinic/hospital letterhead which includes the address and phone number of the place of treatment and include the following:
a. Name of student
b. Date or dates of absence
c. Date of appointment
d. Date of return to school
e. Signature or stamp of the treating health professional.
Excessive Absences Due to Illness
More than 10 days of absence in a school year is considered excessive. Parents of students with excessive unexcused absences are subject to referral to the School Attendance Review Board, the district Attorney's office for truancy mediation, or the Superior Court for prosecution.
The following procedures apply to students who are absent more than 10 days due to illness.
1. When a student has had more than 10 absences in the school year for illness any further absences for illness must be verified by a medical professional. The absence may be subject to validation by district staff.
2. Starting with the 11th absence, all unverified absences are considered unexcused. If not verified by a medical professional within 10 calendar days, starting with the date the student returns to school, the absence will remain unexcused.
3. Parents with children with chronic illness are encouraged to work with the school nurse to complete the "Verification of Chronic Illness" form. By working cooperatively with the school nurse and the child's physician's, parents can expect to receive academic support and instruction, and the continuity of care for the child.
Truancy
Students shall be classified as truant if absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year, or tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof. Such students shall be reported to the Supervisor, Attendance and Welfare. (Education Code 48260)
As defined by Education code 48263.6, a chronic truant is defined as any student subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuing education who is absent from school without a valid excuse for 10% or more of the schooldays in one school year, from the date of enrollment to the current date, provided that the appropriate school district officer or employee has complied with specified provisions of law. (EC, 48260, 48260.5, 48261, 48262, 48623, and 48291)
The parent/guardian of a student classified as a truant shall be notified of the following: (Education Code 48260.5)
1. The student is truant.
2. The parent/guardian is obligated to compel the student to attend school.
3. The parent/guardian who fails to meet this obligation may be guilty of an infraction of the law and subject to prosecution pursuant to Education Code 48290-48296.
4. The parent/guardian has the right to meet with appropriate school personnel to discuss solutions to the student's truancy.
5. Alternative educational programs are available in the district.
6. The student may be subject to arrest by a probation officer, a peace officer, a school administrator, an attendance supervisor or his/her designee under Education Code 48264 if found away from home and absent from school without a valid excuse.
7. The student may be subject to suspension, restriction or delay of his/her driving privilege pursuant to Vehicle Code 13202.7.
8. It is recommended that the parent/guardian accompany the student to school and attend classes with the student for one day.
The Superintendent or designee shall gather and transmit to the County Superintendent of Schools the number of referrals and types of referrals made to the school attendance review board and the number of requests for petitions made to the juvenile court. (Education Code 48273)
Regulation ALHAMBRA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: September 9, 1997 Alhambra, California
revised: May 1, 2007
revised: March 8, 2011