Students
Administrative Regulation No. 5113
Regulation Reviewed:  November 29, 2016

ABSENCES AND EXCUSES

Excused Absences

A student's absence shall be excused for any of 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 appointment (Education Code48205)

4.      Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family, which 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)

         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.      The illness or medical appointment of a child to whom the student is the custodial parent (Education Code 48205)

(cf. 5146 - Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students)

7.      Upon advance written request by the parent/guardian and the approval of the principal or designee, justifiable personal reasons including, but not limited to: (Education Code 48205)

         a. Appearance in court

         b. Attendance at a funeral service

         c. Observation of a holiday or ceremony of his/her religion

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

         e. Attendance at an employment conference

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

8.      Service as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Elections Code 12302 (Education Code 48205)

9.      To spend time with an immediate family member who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Education Code 49701, 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 (Education Code 48205)

10.    To attend his/her naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen. (Education Code 48205)

Method of Verification

When a student who has been absent returns to school, he/she shall present a satisfactory explanation verifying the reason for the absence. Absences shall be verified by the student's parent/guardian, other person having control of the minor, or the student if age 18 or older. (Education Code46012; 5 CCR 306

The following methods may be used to verify student absences:

1.      Written note, fax, email, or voice mail from parent/guardian or parent representative.

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(s) 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. The employee shall document the verification and include the information specified in item #2 above.

4.      Physician's verification.

          a.   When excusing students for confidential medical services or verifying such appointments, district staff shall not ask the purpose of such appointments but may request a note from the medical office to confirm the time of the appointment.

         b.   If a student shows a pattern of chronic absenteeism due to illness, district staff may require physician verification of any further student absences.

Parental Notifications

At the beginning of each school year, the Superintendent or designee shall:

1.      Notify parents/guardians of the right to excuse a student from school in order to participate in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction at their places of worship, or at other suitable places away from school property designated by a religious group, church, or denomination (Education Code 46014, 48980)

Note: requirement in item #2 applies to all districts. Districts that maintain only elementary grades should delete the reference to students in grades 7-12 below.

2.      Notify students in grades 7-12 and the parents/guardians of all students 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)

3.      Notify parents/guardians that a student shall not have his/her grade reduced or lose academic credit for any excused absence if missed assignments and tests that can reasonably be provided are satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time, and include the full text of Education Code 48205 in the notice (Education Code 48980)