Attendance Policy and Independent Study 

Excessive absences can interrupt a student’s learning experience and routine which is detrimental for the younger students. When our daily attendance is low it takes a cut out of our school funding. Throughout the school year, we do our very best to raise funds for our school expenditures, however; chronic absenteeism during the year make it difficult for us to achieve our community goals. 

Here at CWC East Valley, our Attendance Policy aligns with LAUSDs’—after more than 3 unexcused absences within a school year, your student is considered truant. After 3 unexcused absences, a note of "truancy" will be automatically generated through the school's system and you will be sent a copy. Having more than 5 unexcused absences will result in SART meeting with school admin. 

The state of California withholds funds from CWC EV’s annual budget, every time a single student is absent (and it’s one of only a handful of states that deducts for excused absences as well as unexcused.) These absences add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars of loss to our school funding. 

Even with all of our school fundraising events and donations, the best way to support your school and it's community is by sending your student to school. Attendance is the original fundraiser. Learning is not a linear process, missing a day or two each month removes essential building blocks from your student's development. 

Frequent or persistent tardiness is a definite disadvantage to your student as well as being unfair to the rest of the class. At the beginning of class, assignments are made and explained. If a student enters late, that student must either miss part of the work or the teacher must take time to go over it again individually. This is often not possible in fairness to the rest of the class.

You can help in 3 important ways:

— Plan voluntary travel during school vacations and holidays. 

— Get your student to school on time. Three tardies actually equal one absence on your student’s attendance record.

— If your student must be absent due to illness or has to be out of town for an extended period (must fall under our excused absence policy) have them complete an Independent Study. 

INDEPENDENT STUDY is the best way to make sure your child keeps up with classroom work during their absence. CWC EV will provide you with all the work your student needs for the length of their absence; they can complete it while they’re away from school—or even after they’re back—so long as all the work is delivered to the school office or emailed to our attendance email within 10 days of your student’s return to school. 

In the event of an unavoidable, extended excused absences that falls under our attendance policy, Mr. Rick (in the office) and your teacher will help you to coordinate any additional work your student may need.  Not sure how all this will work? See below!

IF... your student has a slight runny nose or cough. They slept well without the need for medication and have no fever. They have enough energy to participate in school activities and seem to be themselves.

1. EMAIL: attendance-eastvalley@cwclosangeles.org. 

2. Ask your student to wear a mask. If you don’t have a mask, your student can pick one up in the office.

3. Remind your student of cough/sneeze etiquette and to wash their hands often.

IF... your student is obligated to travel with you for work or other unavoidable travel:

1. Please CALL (818) 698-3848‬ or EMAIL attendance-eastvalley@cwclosangeles.org in advance to notify the school of the length and dates of your student’s planned absence.

2. Depending on the circumstances of the obligated travel we can deny or offer Independent Study. Any absences that fall under our unexcused absence policy are not eligible for Independent Study. Examples of excused absences due to travel are Work Related Trips or Medical Reasons.

3. Leaves of absences such as vacations are not eligible for Independent Study and will be marked down as unexcused absences. We highly encourage to plan vacations around our school year. 

4. Mr. Rick will email you an Independent Study contract, which you can sign electronically

-Read and sign the agreement via HelloSign (One Signature for the whole school year)

-You will be emailed a copy of work that is relevant to your student's grade.

-Have your student complete the required worksheets. 

-Have your student deliver their completed work to the office when they return to school. Or email them to our attendance email (Your student won’t receive credit unless their work is returned)

IF... your student seems unwell and/or has any of the following symptoms:

-Fever

-Moderate to severe cough

-Sore throat

-Diarrhea

-Nausea

-Moderate to severe stomachache

IN... the case of infectious diseases such: Lice, Hand Foot & Mouth, Pin Worms, Pink eye, etc. 

-We require a doctor's note stating your student's return date.

-If your student is prescribed a medication they must first finish their round of medication and must be fever-free in order to return back to school. Unless a note from their physician says they are allowed to return sooner.

        -Covid-19: Student are allowed to come to school even if they are exposed so long as they are not testing            positive or experiencing symptoms.

Steps to Take...

1. Please keep your student at home. 

2. Call (818) 698-3848‬ or email attendance-eastvalley@cwclosangeles.org to notify the school that your student will be out sick. 

3. If your child is out sick for one or more days, send a message to our attendance email your interest in Independent Study and we will email you an Independent Study agreement, which you can sign electronically.  

4. First, sign your Independent Study agreement form:

-Have your student complete the required worksheets at home when they’re feeling well enough. Keep our Main Office  and your teacher informed so they can help to extend your student's Independent Study if    necessary.

-Your student's work must be returned to our mail office or to our attendance email or have your student   hand their work to their teacher. (Your student won’t receive credit unless their work is returned)

Please note, Independent Study is ONLY available for up to 15 excusable absences a school year. Failure to submit your student's Independent Study Work will void their credit for the days. This will result in your student's pending Independent Study default to an excused absence.

 Failure to submit for three separate Independent Study during a school year will lead to your student being considered ineligible for future Independent Study.