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SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IS THE LAW
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IS THE LAW
EDUCATION CODE 48200
Attendance at school is extremely important. By state law, a student who has more than 3 unexcused absences is considered to be in violation of the truancy laws. For more information about California School Attendance Laws visit the California Department of Education website here.
EXUSABLE ABSENCES:
Illness/Injury
Medical/ Dental appointment
Mental or behavioral health
Quarantine
Exclusion by a nurse
Funeral of an immediate family member (maximum 5 days per incident)
Accessing grief/victim support services (maximum 3 days per incident)
Attending a naturalization ceremony
Student engaging in a civic or political event
Participating in a cultural ceremony
Justifiable personal reasons with administrator approval (court appearance, educational/employment conference, observance of a religious holiday, religious instruction, extended grief support services, safety planning)
BELOW ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF UNEXCUSED ABSENCES:
Three or more of the following excuses will trigger a Truancy letter:
Running errands for family
Vacations or trips
Unverified illness
Family emergency
Transportation problems
Inclement weather
Babysitting
Absent from class without school or parent/guardian permission
Absence uncleared for more than 10 school days despite due diligence efforts to obtain an explanation from the parent/guardian
Unexcused tardy for 30 minutes or more
No note from parent/guardian
Absence Verification
Parents can verify and justify a student’s absence in the following ways:
Call the Main Office at (310) 847-6077
Contact Ms. Irani at (949) 334-7137 (Google Voice)
Submit a written note to the main office. Please include your child’s full name, the date(s) of the absence, and the reason for the absence when submitting your note or message.
The maximum number of excused absences allowed in a school year is 7 days.
Each absence beyond 7 days must be verified by a health professional, which may include a school nurse. The parent will not be allowed to justify absences by writing an excuse note beyond the 7 days.
E.C. 48260 - TRUANCY DEFINITION -Any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than any 30 minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, is a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor or the superintendent of the school district. For more information, please visit: California Department of Education
Frequently asked questions:
1-How do I see a complete list of excused absences?
For a complete list of excused absences, please refer to the LAUSD Parent-Student Handbook.page 30-32. Parent Handbook
2-What do I do if my child shows signs of school refusal?
3-Do tardies count toward Truancy?
If a student is more than 30 minutes late without a valid excuse, it counts as truancy. Three unexcused tardies over 30 minutes can count toward being considered truant or habitually truant.The district requires that all student tardies be marked as excused, unexcused, or truant, and the exact time the student arrives must be recorded. Parents/guardians must send a note explaining why their child was late if they knew about the tardy.
Please note, per district policy if a student has a history of frequent absences, the school may require medical verification and limit the number of absences excused by parent notes. Parents of children with chronic health issues should regularly consult with the school nurse or administrator and may complete a release form to allow communication with the child’s health care provider.
4-How do I excuse an absence due to a family emergency?
Absences due to family emergencies/personal matters are not automatically excused. In some cases, they may be reviewed for consideration. Please contact the principal or complete the form below for further guidance. Please note, per district policy if a student has a history of frequent absences, the school may require medical verification and limit the number of absences excused by parent notes. Parents of children with chronic health issues should regularly consult with the school nurse or administrator and may complete a release form to allow communication with the child’s health care provider.
Principal Approval Form-Spanish
5-When do I keep my student home if they say they are sick?
If they are experiencing the following symptoms: fever of 100.4°F or above, and vomiting/Diarrhea. If your student has severe pain or difficulty breathing, please take them to their healthcare provider.
If they are experiencing the following symptoms: fever of 100.4°F or above, and vomiting/Diarrhea. If your student has severe pain or difficulty breathing, please take them to their healthcare provider.
Please note, per district policy if a student has a history of frequent absences, the school may require medical verification and limit the number of absences excused by parent notes. Parents of children with chronic health issues should regularly consult with the school nurse or administrator and may complete a release form to allow communication with the child’s health care provider.
6-What does on-track attendance mean?
Attending 96% or more of the school days. This means no more than about 1 absence per 25 school days or Fewer than 7 total absences in a full 180-day school year. Avoiding chronic absenteeism, which is defined as: Missing 10% or more of the school year (excused or unexcused
Parent Attendance Tracker
Student Attendance Tracker
Tips for Supporting Your Child’s School Attendance
Maintaining strong attendance helps your child stay on track academically and develop lifelong habits. Here are some helpful tips:
Plan vacations during school breaks to avoid missed instructional time.
Schedule routine medical and dental appointments after school, on weekends, or during school vacations.
If an appointment must happen during school hours, have your child attend before and/or return after to complete the rest of the school day.Display the school calendar, attendance policy, and class schedule somewhere visible at home as a reminder.
Monitor your child's attendance regularly by logging into the Parent Portal: https://parentportalapp.lausd.net
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