Romoland School District urges parents to make sure their children attend school regularly and to schedule medical and other appointments so that a student misses none or only a small portion of the school day. The District also asks that travel or other absences be avoided during the time school is in session. The higher the District’s daily attendance rate, the more a student will learn and the greater the amount of funding that the District will receive from the State for classroom instruction and academic programs. The school calendar is designed to minimize problems for families which plan vacations around traditional holiday periods, and thereby minimize student absences.

Following an absence, a student is required to bring a written excuse from home when returning to school. Illnesses, and doctor and dental appointments are considered excused absences. Absences without a written excuse are recorded as unexcused.

ATTENDANCE RESPONSIBILITIES (Education Code Section 48200): Parents/Guardians are responsible for the punctual and regular attendance of their children. It is recommended that dental and medical appointments be made for non-school hours. Because of the need to interpret California School Attendance law, the school determines whether the absence was excused or not. Excessive tardiness, and/or unexcused absences may lead to loss of credits, removal from class, or referral to the Student Attendance Review Team (SART). If the problem persists, the student will be referred to the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB).

No pupil shall have his or her grade reduced or lose academic credit for any excused absence or absences, if missed assignments and tests that can reasonably be provided are satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time.

REPORTING AN ABSENCE to SCHOOL SITE:

Parents must call the school site the first day the student is absent. Absences not cleared by the parent within three (3) school days become truancies, per Board Policy 5113. When reporting the absence: 1) Name of student; 2) Name of parent/guardian or parent representative; 3) Date(s) of absence; and 4) Reason for absence NOTE: ANY absence that does not fall under the excused absence definition will be UNEXCUSED (even with a phone call from the parent).

ATTENDANCE CODES:

EXCUSED: Absence from class for: 1) illness; 2) funeral/death of any immediate family member; 3) medical or dental appointments; 4) court appointments; 5) school activities, or 6) participate in religious exercises or to receive moral or religious instruction (with the written consent of their parents or guardians, may be excused to participate in a religious holiday or ceremony).

UNEXCUSED: Absences that do not qualify according to State Education Code 48200 (Students may not be allowed to make up missed school work).

TRUANT: Absences that are not cleared by parents without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, will be considered a truant and reported to the attendance supervisor, superintendent, or designee. The parent/guardian of a student classified as truant will be notified. (Students may not be allowed to make up missed school work).

A student, who is again absent for a full day or tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse, will again be reported as a truant. After a student has been classified as a truant for the second time, every attempt will be made to hold a conference at the school site to correct the problem.

If a student is again absent for a full day or tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse, will again be reported as a truant and may be referred to the School Attendance Review Board.

TARDIES: All students are expected to be in school daily and ON TIME. Excessive unexcused tardies may result in one or more of the following consequences: 1) Student and/or parent conference with the principal; and 2) Student makes up time after school.

NOTE: ANY absence that does not fall under the excused absence definition will be UNEXCUSED (even with a phone call from the parent).