Attendance

This guide provides a consistent district-wide attendance policy that ensures compliance with state regulations and reflects our dedication to providing an equitable and enriching educational experience for all. This handbook serves as a vital resource for our school administrators, offering clear guidance on best practices, legal requirements, and innovative strategies to promote regular attendance and address truancy issues effectively.

1. Truancy Identification
Education Code (EC) Section 48260- Definition of Truancy (selected text)

(a) A pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse for three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than 30 minutes during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, shall be classified as a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor or to the superintendent of the school district.

(c) For purposes of this article, a valid excuse includes, but is not limited to, the reasons for which a pupil shall be excused from school pursuant to Sections 48205 and 48225.5 and may include other reasons that are within the discretion of the school administrators and, based on the facts of the pupil's circumstances, are deemed to constitute a valid excuse.

In addition to the reporting requirement, the law states that the school district must notify the parent or guardian of the student’s classification as “truant” by the most cost-effective method possible, and the notification must include specific information related to the student's unexcused absences.

2. Truancy Initial Notification (Excusing Student’s Absence)
It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to explain their child’s absence within Ten (10) days after the student returns to school. The following staff may verify the validity of an absence excuse (CA Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 421):

Unexcused or uncleared absences accumulated at any BUSD school within the same school year are counted toward the classification of truancy. Continuation high school, Independent Study, and Home and Hospital programs are not included in this process, and all notifications must continue to be generated and mailed.

3. Absences Not Counted Toward Truancy Identification
Excused absences do not count towards the classification of truancy. Education Code Section 48205 delineates what types of absences may be excused by a person authorized to excuse absences under the California Code of Regulations, Title 5 - Section 421. A parent/guardian note that does not include a valid, excusable reason for absence should not be coded as excused. For reasons of excused absences, please refer to California Excused Absences* | Education Code 48205