Attendance

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL

W.U.H.S.D.

ATTENDANCE OFFICE: (562)-698-8121 ext: 3040, 3041, 3042, 3044

Jennifer Roberts, Attendance Coordinator

Shellee Carlson, Clerk II

ATTENDANCE POLICY

All students are expected to attend school regularly and on time. Every person between the ages of (6) and (18) years of age is required to attend school. (Education code sec. 48200) Only absences for medical reasons and certain non-medical reasons will be excused. Parents should notify the Attendance Office immediately of all absences. A phone call is the preferred method to clear absences; however, a written note is also acceptable.

PLEASE CALL THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE ON THE DAY OF YOUR STUDENT'S ABSENCE:

698-8121 ext. 3040, 3041 & 3044.

"Off campus pass policy"

Please plan appropriately! Requests for an off-campus pass are taken very seriously by the Attendance Department and the safety and welfare of the student is propriety. Therefore, locating and notifying a student with an 'off campus pass' may take up to 20 minutes depending on the time of day and where the class is located. We do not interrupt classes after 2:50 p.m.

ABSENCES:

a) When returning to school from an absence, the student should: 1) bring a note signed by a parent/guardian or 2) Parent needs to clear absence by calling the attendance office and leaving appropriate information regarding the absence. Parents are encouraged to call the school by 9: 00 a.m. to clear an absence for their student. If an absence is not cleared within three (3) days a truancy will be issued and Saturday school will be assigned.

b) If your student is absent for more than 3 days consecutively a doctor's note will be required. In addition, after the 6th absence in a semester a doctors note will be required for every absence therein. (full day absences).

c) More than two (2) absences or three (3) tardies in a school quarter is considered excessive.

d) The school will not accept more than three (3) parental or guardian notes per semester excusing a student from being late (i.e. car trouble, woke up late, traffic etc.)

VERIFIED LEGAL ABSENCES:

a) Illness absence with a doctor's note or authorization by an authorized school official.

b) Exclusion from school, documented by doctor, school nurse or other authorized school

official.

c) Medical appointments, verified by a note from the doctor.

d) Quarantine of the home, verified by health department.

e) Funeral of immediate family member of student (1 day in state, 3 days out of state).

f) Written verification of personal reasons, such as; court appearance, observance of religious holiday or ceremony, attendance at a religious retreat, attendance at an employment conference, or other government agency appointments.

TRUANCIES:

a) Education Code 48260:Truancy-one who is absent from school/class without a valid excuse.

b) A student may lose (at teachers discretion) the privilege of making up missed work as a penalty for truancy.

c) If a student is truant for any part of the school day, the student can be issued a truancy citation by our campus Deputy, assigned Saturday School, and student may be placed on an Attendance Contract for a period of time.

d) Truancies will affect citizenship and can affect academic grades.

e) Education Code 48262: Habitual Truant Student is deemed a habitual truant when a student is reported as a truant 3 or more times.

SATURDAY SCHOOL:

SATURDAY SCHOOL IS A LEARNING TOOL AND IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE STUDENTS WITH THE FOLLOWING OPPORTUNITIES: TO MAKE UP MISSING ASSIGNMENTS; TESTS; LABS IN CLASSES; OBTAIN TUTORING; AND OR DISCIPLINE; AND MAKE UP UNEXCUSED ABSENCES; TRUANCIES. IT CAN BE ASSIGNED FOR EXCESSIVE CLASS TARDIES.

The Law and School-California Education Codes:

Education Code 48260: Truant - one who is absent from school without a valid excuse for three days in one school year or tardy without valid excuse for more than any 30 minute period during the school day on three occasions in one school day or any combination thereof.

Education Code 48262: Habitual Truant- one who has been reported as a truant three or more times per school year.

Education Code 48264: Authorizes the arrests of truants.

Education Code 48291: Mandates referral to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) of the person who has charge over the child, who violates the compulsory education laws. If efforts by SARB fail, the school district shall request a criminal complaint.

Education Code 48452 & 48453: Authorizes the seeking of a criminal complaint against parents/ gurardians who fail to comply with Education Code 48450.

VACATIONS:

If a student must miss school for vacation or any other reason that is not medically necessary, the student must attend a Saturday School for every day after the second absence. Furthermore, teachers reserve the right to not allow those students to make-up the missed work. If possible, please schedule all vacations and other events for non school days.

OFF-CAMPUS PASSES:

Off-Campus passes are issued for medical appointments and personal matters that can't be handled after school hours.

Students must present signed note from parent/guardian to the Attendance Office before school, at nutrition, or at lunch. At that time an off-campus pass will be issued. Please do not leave a message on the attendance line for early dismissal. PLEASE ALLOW 15 MINUTES FOR YOUR STUDENT(S) TO ARRIVE AT THE SECURITY DESK. Student must show off-campus pass to teacher in order to leave at specified.

Students are to leave campus through the student gate between the CHS Library and the T building (permission of security on duty) facing Hawes Ave. The attendance phone line with 24 hour message and recording (562-698-8121 ext: 3040) is to be used to clear attendance only. Please do not leave messages to pick up student/s for early release.

Thank you very much for your cooperation. California High School Attendance Dept is here to serve our students, parents and staff.