Every minute of a child’s time at school is important. Children who are absent for even one day, or who arrive later than their classmates, miss valuable instruction time and can easily fall behind in school. They also miss important socialization time and fun with their peers.

What do I do if my child is absent from school?

Call your child’s school office or the school’s absence reporting hotline each day the child is absent, giving your name, the child’s name, and the reason for the absence.

Why do I have to report my child’s absence?

The Education Code of the State of California requires attendance in school under compulsory attendance laws: “Each person between the ages of 6 and 18 is subject to compulsory full-time education” (EC 48200). If you report your child’s absence within a reasonable amount of time, your child will be given the opportunity to complete assignments and tests given during the period of absence.

Notification of absence

State law requires the parent or guardian to notify the school of the specific reason for an absence. All school absences must be verified in person, by phone, or by written note. Board policy requires a doctor’s note after 14 excused absences for illness. Unverified absences will be entered as “unexcused” absences. In the event of an absence of more than two days, the school should be notified of the expected date the child will return to school. Absence notes should be turned in within 72 hours from the date the student was absent.

Excused absences

Under California Education Code section 48205, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:

• Due to the student’s illness, including an absence for the benefit of the student’s mental or behavioral health.
• Due to quarantine by a county or city health officer.
• Due to a medical doctor’s appointment.
• For attendance at a funeral of an immediate family member (so long as the absence is not more than five days per incident).
• For jury duty.
• Due to the illness or medical appointment of a child of whom the student is the custodial parent.

Upon advance written request by the parent/guardian and approval of the principal or designee, justifiable personal reasons include (but are not limited to):

1. Appearance in court
2. Attendance at a funeral service
3. Observation of a religious holiday or ceremony
4. Attendance at religious retreats for no more than four hours per semester
5. Attendance at an employment conference
6. Attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization

All students absent from school for any of the reasons stated above are entitled to complete all assignments and tests missed during the period of absence. Completion must be within a reasonable period of time and shall be given full credit.

Unexcused absences

Unexcused absences are those that do not meet the criteria listed above. An unexcused absence may be either an unverified absence (for example, when a student “cuts” school) or a verified unexcused absence that occurs with the approval of the parent or guardian but without a prearranged agreement with a school administrator. For example, missing school due to a family vacation is considered an unexcused absence.

Do I need a doctor’s note to verify an absence for illness?

A doctor’s note helps verify an excused absence and is required if excessive absences due to illness have previously occurred (OSD Board Policy 5113).

What happens if my child misses school?

Most children and youth are absent from school at one time or another when they are sick. However, the State of California defines a student as truant after he or she has three unexcused absences and/or has missed more than 30 minutes of school without a valid excuse. Your child’s school is required to send you a truancy letter if your child has three unexcused absences and/or has missed more than 30 minutes of school without a valid excuse within one school year.

What can motivate my teen to attend school and not miss class?

“Truancy is not the problem—it’s an indicator of other problems. When students aren’t in school, we need to understand why they stay away before we can effect solutions.” (School Attendance Improvement Handbook, CDE, 2000.)

It is important for parents and school personnel alike to get to the root of the problem. Understanding that truancy is an indicator is a first step in approaching it.

What happens if my child misses school due to a family trip?

The District does not support the practice of taking trips or vacations on school days; absences due to family trips are unexcused. In extraordinary instances where an emergency situation exists (for example, a parent requires medical treatment that must be done at a facility in another state and will require a prolonged stay), short-term independent study may be approved by the school principal on a case-by-case basis.

If your child needs help with school attendance, please contact your school’s Outreach Specialist (ORC). A list of contacts for school-site ORCs is available here:

• Outreach Specialist (ORC) Contacts
• What is Truancy? (California Department of Education)

Attendance Resources

• Attendance Works (English)
• Attendance Works (Español)
• Attendance FAQs for Families (English)
• Attendance FAQs for Families (Español)