Student Attendance

Regular attendance is an important component of your child’s success in school. Parents hold a legal responsibility to compel their children to attend school regularly. Failure to do so may result in consequences involving the District and county services. We are here to support you and your child in any way possible.

It’s your responsibility, and it’s the law.

 

Students are expected to make-up any work or tests missed during their absence. The student’s teacher will decide the scope and time frame of the make-up work.

 

Absences

California Education Code Section 48200 (EDC § 48205) states that a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:

 

(1) Due to the pupil's illness, including an absence for the benefit of the pupil's mental or behavioral health. The state board shall update its illness verification regulations, as necessary, to account for including a pupil's absence for the benefit of the pupil's mental or behavioral health within the scope of this paragraph.

 

(2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.

 

(3) For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.

 

(4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the pupil's immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.

 

(5) For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.

 

(6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent, including absences to care for a sick child, for which the school shall not require a note from a doctor.

 

(7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil's religion, attendance at a religious retreat, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization, when the pupil's absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board of the school district.

 

(8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.

 

(9) For the purpose of spending time with a member of the pupil's immediate family who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Section 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.

 

(10) For the purpose of attending the pupil's naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.

 

(11) For the purpose of participating in a cultural ceremony or event.

 

(12) Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.

 

(b) A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefore. The teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence.

 

(c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester.

 

(d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments.

 

(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

 

(1) “Cultural” means relating to the habits, practices, beliefs, and traditions of a certain group of people.

 

(2) “Immediate family” means the parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the household of the pupil.

 

Unexcused absences are defined as anything other than the reasons listed above. Oversleeping, missed ride to school, care for others in the family, shopping, transportation irregularities, vacation, visiting friends or relatives, etc. are some examples of absences that are declared as “unexcused” by the State of California. 

 

Students who accumulate three or more “unexcused” absences in the school year are deemed truant. Students who do not attend school regularly, are absent from school without permission, leave campus, or are tardy without an acceptable excuse are subject to disciplinary action. Such action may include, but is not limited to:

    • Attendance contracts
    • Parent-Principal conference
    • Parents required to attend school for one full day, pursuant to the California Education Code.
    • If the student is on an intra or inter district transfer, the transfer may be revoked.
    • Referral to the Site Attendance Review Team (SART) and/or Student Attendance Review Board (SARB)
    • Referral to the District Attorney if attendance problems persist.
 

Absence Procedures

Call the office before 8:30 a.m. to report absences at (714) 529-2185.  If a child is absent from school, it is imperative that a parent/guardian report the reason for the absence. 

 

Tardy Procedures

School starts at 8:00 a.m. Any student who arrives after the bell rings will be marked tardy. Late arrival denies the student the opportunity to become mentally and physically prepared for the important task of learning. Tardies also interrupt the learning of other students. If you drop your children off at school, please remember that the parking lot and alley can be crowded. Patience is necessary. To avoid stress, arrive 10 minutes before school starts to avoid arriving right at 8:00 a.m. Arriving on time is a part of responsible behavior that is expected of both children and adults. Please model for your child the importance of punctuality by making it a priority.

 

NOTE: Please remember that students should not be in the main areas of campus before 7:45 a.m.  There is no supervision on campus for our students until 7:45 a.m. Please plan accordingly and know that BOUSD Child Care on campus can be utilized by the hour, if needed. For more information on child care, please call 714-990-7527.

 

Truancy

Students who do not attend school or who arrive to school 30 minutes late without a valid excuse are deemed “truant” by the State of California. Students who are truant three or more times will be subject to consequences, which include parent conference, placement on an attendance contract, and referral to SARB along with a mandatory meeting with the District Attorney.

 

Early Withdrawal

Students are able to leave school early only with an adult that is listed on the student’s contact list in the Aeries Parent Portal. It is important that the school be notified of any changes on the emergency card. Your child will not be released to an adult that is not listed on the contact list in the Aeries Parent Portal. A parent will need to come to the school office to sign the student out for the day. If the parent cannot pick up the student, they will need to notify the office of who will be picking up their child and at what time. The student will be called out of class when the parent or authorized adult comes to the office. A valid ID will be required in order to withdraw a student early.

 

Closed Campus Policy

To ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors all visitors must sign-in immediately in the office upon entering any school building or grounds when school is in session.  Visitors must bring a valid I.D. and check in via the Raptor Security System. This system checks identification against the Megan’s Law Sex Offender Registry List. All BOUSD schools have implemented this security procedure to ensure that all adults are approved to be on campus. 

 

A sign shall be posted at the entrance to each campus, notifying visitors of the need to register.  The procedure shall be provided for the removal of visitors who pose a threat to the health and safety of students and staff or those who interfere with the instructional program.  Anyone who is directed by the principal or designee to leave the school grounds must promptly depart and shall not return for at least 48 hours (cf. 1112 – Media Relations) (cf. 3515.2 – Disruptions).