School Attendance Review Board (SARB)

The School Attendance Review Board (SARB) was established by legislation in California in 1975 for the purpose of:

1. Making a better effort to meet the needs of students with attendance problems in school; and,
2. Promoting the use of alternatives to the juvenile court system.

SARB is specifically charged with finding solutions to resolve student attendance or discipline problems.  SARB seeks to understand why students are experiencing attendance or discipline problems and serves as a vehicle to correct these problems.

SARB surveys available community resources, determines the appropriateness of their services to meet the needs of referred students, and makes recommendations for the establishment of new resources or services. 

Who is referred to SARB?

Students who have excessive absences caused by the student's and/or parent's/guardian's actions, which have not improved through school and community efforts.

The SARB actions may include:

• Directing the student to attend school regularly without unexcused absences or tardies.
• Requesting doctor's notes for excessive absences.
• Referring the student for review by a school Student Study Team (SST).
• Referring the student to their school guidance counselor or Wellness Center.
• Recommending necessary changes in a student's program.
• Recommending student and/or family to a counseling agency.
• Recommending parenting classes for parents.
• Facilitating a student's transfer to an alternative school or program, when necessary.
• Requesting assistance from other Contra Costa County agencies and programs when needed.
• Helping students and parents understand why they must attend school (California Education Code Section 48200) and that there are consequences for failure to comply.
• Sending a referral to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.
• Filing a court petition with the Contra Costa County Juvenile Court.