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Attendance Policy

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The number one indicator of student success is attendance. It is important that attendance policies and procedures are clear to parents and students. The information contained in this document is intended to clarify attendance policies and procedures of all schools in the District. NVUSD Board Policy (BP)/Administration Regulation (AR) and Education Code (Ed Code) references are noted. Students between the ages of 6 and 18 years must attend school (Ed Code 48200). Our goal is to give every student the opportunity to live up to his or her potential. We can only succeed if we see our students daily.

What is an excused absence by law? (Education Code 48205, NVUSD AR 5113)

California state law requires that students attend school regularly and states that it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to see that their children attend school on the days/hours that school is in session. A student’s absence shall be excused for the following reasons:

  • Personal Illness
  • Medical, dental, optometry, or chiropractic appointment
  • Illness of custodial child
  • Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer
  • Attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a non-profit organization.
  • Employment interview or conference
  • Religious holiday or ceremony
  • Religious retreats, limited to 4 hours per semester
  • Attendance at funeral service for a member of the immediate family, limited to 1 day in state, 3 days out of state. Immediate family is 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.
  • Jury duty
  • Court appearance
  • Visit with immediate family member who is on leave for deployment, about to deploy, or returned from deployment
  • Precinct board member for an election

What is an unexcused absence?

Any absence not identified above is unexcused. Many parents are unaware that “going out of town” with their children during school days is an unexcused absence and will result in a truancy letter and possibly an appearance at the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) (Ed Code 48263). Please plan trips during holidays and school breaks.

What are the acceptable methods to clear/verify an absence? (Education Code 46012, NVUSD AR 5113)

When students who have been absent return to school, they must present a satisfactory explanation verifying the reason for the absence within five (5) school days. The following methods may be used to clear/verify student absences:

  • Written note from parent/guardian stating reason for absence.
  • Conversation (phone or in person), between attendance employee and the student’s parent/guardian.
  • Physician’s verification
  • Attendance employee may contact medical/dental office to confirm appointment times.
  • If a student has 14 absences in the school year for illness, any further absences shall be verified by a physician.

What is truancy? (Education Code 48260)

“A 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 a 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, shall be classified as a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor or to the superintendent of the school district.”

Eligibility for Temporary Home Study (THS) (AR 6158)

Parents/guardians may THS for their student(s) due to emergencies, illness or planned absences for the purpose of supervised travel, study or training which is clearly connected to an educational purpose. Requests should be in writing and approved in advance by the classroom teacher(s) and the site principal at least 5 school days prior. In certain circumstances, THS can be approved while the student is absent. No more than one short term independent study agreement of no less than three consecutive school days shall be granted annually. In no event shall THS exceed 14 consecutive school days. Work completed during the planned absence is due upon return to school or as arranged with the teacher and site principal but in no event later than established by Board Policy 6158. (Education Code 48205)