The Board of Trustees believes that regular attendance plays a key role in student achievement. The Board recognizes its responsibility under the law to ensure that students attend school regularly. Parents/guardians of students 6 to 17 years of age are obligated to send their students to school unless otherwise provided by law and to notify the school if the student is going to be absent. The Board shall abide by all state attendance laws and may use appropriate legal means to correct the problems of excessive absence or truancy.
(cf. 5112.1 - Exemptions from Attendance)
(cf. 5112.2 - Exclusions from Attendance)
(cf. 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)
Field Trips, Interscholastic Athletic Events and School Meetings
Authorized school field trips (including participation in interscholastic athletic events) and school meetings which must necessarily be held during school hours by a regular or auxiliary staff member are not considered absences since they are part of the school program. Participants are expected to make up work missed due to these absences in the same manner as a warranted absence.
Excused Absences
Absence from school shall be excused only for health reasons, family emergencies and justifiable personal reasons, as permitted by law, Board policy and administrative regulations. (Education Code 46010, 46010.5, 48205)
(cf. 6154 - Homework/Makeup Work)
Students who are 18 or older may provide their own excuses for absences. (Education Code 46012)
Medical Appointments
Parents/guardians and students shall be encouraged to schedule medical appointments during non school hours.
Parent Notification
At the beginning of each academic year, notifications shall be sent to the parents/guardians of all students in grades 9-12, informing them that school authorities may excuse any student from school to obtain confidential medical services without the consent of the student's parent/guardian. (Education Code 46010.1)
(cf. 5145.6 - Parental Notifications)
Students should not be absent from school without their parents/ guardians knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency, confidential medical appointment, or in any instance where the student legally may obtain medical services without parental consent. Students who are 18 or older may provide their own excuses for absences. (Education Code 46012)
Religious Exercises or Instruction, Retreats
Student absence for religious instruction or participation in religious exercises away from school property may be considered excused subject to administrative regulations and law (Education Code 46014). Student absence for attendance at religious retreats or observations of a religious holiday or ceremony may be considered a warranted absence subject to administrative regulations and law.
Unexcused Absences/Truancy
The Superintendent or designee shall implement positive steps to reduce truancy, such as, but not limited to, communication with parents/guardians or the use of student study teams.
(cf. 6164.5 - Student Study Teams)
The district or individual schools may establish and use the services of a School Attendance Review Board (SARB) (Education Code 48320-48324). The district or school may participate in the county, district or school SARBs as allowed by law to meet the special needs of students with school attendance, school behavior problems or lack of academic success.
Students who are habitual truants or habitually insubordinate or disorderly during attendance at school may be referred to the county probation department through the SARB process. (Education Code 48263)
Suspensions
Upon return from suspension, a student shall be provided the opportunity to complete missed assignment and/or demonstrate proficiency in the subject matter. A student's grade may not be penalized due to a suspension.
(cf. 5144 - Student Discipline)
(cf. 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
1740 Employment of personnel to supervise attendance (county superintendent)
2550-2558.6 Computation of revenue limits
37201 School month
37223 Weekend classes
41601 Reports of average daily attendance
42238-42250.1 Apportionments
46000 Records (attendance)
46010-46014 Absences
46100-46119 Attendance in kindergarten and elementary schools
46140-46147 Attendance in junior high and high schools
48200-48208 students ages 6-18 (compulsory full-time attendance)
48210-48216 Exclusions from attendance
48260-48273 Truants
48292 Filing complaint against parent
48320-48324 School attendance review boards
48340-48341 Improvement of student attendance
49067 Unexcused absences as cause of failing grade
49701 Provisions of the interstate compact on educational opportunities for military students
ELECTIONS CODE
12302 Student participation on precinct boards
FAMILY CODE
6920-6929 Consent by minor
VEHICLE CODE
13202.7 Driving privileges; minors; suspension or delay for habitual truancy
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
601-601.4 Habitually truant minors
11253.5 Compulsory school attendance
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
306 Explanation of absence
420-421 Record of verification of absence due to illness and other causes
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS
87 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 168 (2004)
66 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 244 (1983)
COURT DECISIONS
American Academy of Pediatrics et al v. Lungren et al (1997) 16 Cal.4th 307
Management Resources:
CDE MANAGEMENT ADVISORIES
0114.98 School Attendance and CalWORKS, Management Bulletin 98-01
CSBA ADVISORIES
Welfare Reform and Requirements for School Attendance
Policy TAMALPAIS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: January 26, 1993 Larkspur, California
revised: January 14, 1997 (effective 1/28/97)
revised: March 11, 1997
revised: March 10, 1998
revised: January 23, 2018