• Governing Board Policy 5113

    Acalanes Union High School District Governing Board Policy (BP) 5113:

    Absences and Excuses

    The Governing Board believes that regular attendance plays a key role in student achievement.  The Board recognizes its responsibility under the law to ensure that students attend school regularly.  Parents/guardians of children aged six to 18 are obligated to send their children to school unless otherwise provided by law.  The Board shall abide by all state attendance laws and may use appropriate legal means to correct the problems of excessive absence or truancy.

    Excused Absences

    Absence from school shall be excused only for health reasons, family emergencies and justifiable personal reasons, as permitted by law, Board policy and administration regulations (Education Code 46010, 46010.5, 48205).

    Student absence for religious instruction or participation in religious exercises away from school property may be considered excused subject to administrative regulations and law (Education Code 46014).

    Insofar as class participation is an integral part of students’ learning experiences, parents/guardians and students shall be encouraged to schedule medical appointments during non-school hours.

    Parent Notification

    At the beginning of each academic year, notifications shall be sent to the parents/guardians of all students and to all students in grades 9 through 12, informing them that school authorities may excuse any student from school to obtain confidential medical services without the consent of the student’s parent/guardian (Education Code 46010.1).

    Students should not be absent from school without their parents/guardians’ knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency or confidential medical appointment.

    For purposes of the CalWORKS program, a student shall be determined to be “regularly attending school” until he/she has been referred by the school attendance review board to the county District Attorney.

    Effects of Absence on Grades/Credits

    If a student’s absence is excused under Education Code 48205, he/she shall be allowed to complete any missed assignment or test that can be reasonably given.  The student shall be given full credit for the assignment or test if he/she satisfactorily completes the assignment or test within a reasonable period of time (Education Code 48205).

    A student’s grades may be affected by excessive unexcused absences in accordance with Board Policy.