Both
California and school district policies state that only the following absences
can be cleared with a phone call from a parent or guardian:
- Personal illness or injury
- Quarantine or Immunizations
- Attendance at events sponsored by the school
- Entertainment industry (work permit required)
- Medical, dental, optometric or chiropractic
appointment
- Attendance at funeral services for member of the
immediate family – 1 day in California, 3 days outside of state
- Religious instruction or retreat (up to 4 hours per
semester)
- Advanced written request for planned student absence
- PERSONAL
BUSINESS = (unexcused) Examples of unexcused absences are
student overslept, traffic, had a flat tire, and had to take care of personal
or family business.
The phone call must be received
within 3 school days after the student returns to school.
Excusing Absences for Other
Reasons
§ Absence for
court appearance, funeral, religious observance, ceremonies, and college visits
may be excused ONLY when a parent submits a written request ONE WEEK PRIOR to
the anticipate absence and received approval from the Dean of Students,
Redwood’s Attendance Liaison.
§
Approval will be based on the student’s attendance
record, academic progress, and reason for the absence. If this procedure is not
followed, the absence will be considered truant.
§
Absence for family vacation cannot be excused.
What is “truancy” and What are
the Consequences?
- All unexcused absences are classified as “truant.” In the past, uncleared absences
were labeled as “unexcused.” A student can also be considered “truant” if they
are more than 30 minutes late to class for unexcused reasons. Many parents
object to the team “truant” because they feel it implies their child is a
juvenile delinquent, but we do not attach any such meaning to the term.
- Student
will be placed on Redwood’s Loss of Privileges List at 6 truancies to a single
class. Note that in high school, a student may be drop/failed from a class
after 7 truancies or tardies.
Communications about Attendance
- Automated
phone call system – calls home each night that a student has been marked absent
if the absence hasn’t already been cleared by the parent/guardian
- Automated
phone call system- calls home each night that a student has been marked tardy
to class
- Student
attendance information can be viewed on Q
Parent Connect