School Attendance Review Boards - Attendance Improvement (CA Dept of Education) (2024)

FAQs

How many absences are allowed in California schools? ›

California's Compulsory Education Laws (E.C. 48200)

Under state law, a pupil who, without a valid excuse, is absent from school for three full days in one school year, or is tardy or absent for more than 30 minutes during the school day on three occasions in one school year, is considered truant.

Section 48205 - Excused absences from school (a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is: (1) Due to the pupil's illness, including an absence for the benefit of the pupil's mental or behavioral health.

SARBs have wide discretion. They can take away a student's school privileges, require attendance meetings with parents, and require counseling. The school district can fine a student up to $100 and their family up to $500.

Students are expected to attend school daily. Consistent daily attendance is critical for a student's academic success. The State of California considers ten days of absences for one school year, for any reason, excessive. Another important consideration is California's policy of positive attendance reporting.

Any independent study student who has an absence rate of 10 percent or more (including non-ADA generating independent study days) is considered chronically absent and is also included in the numerator.

Definition of a Truant

The California Legislature defined a truant in very precise language. In summary, it states that a student missing more than 30 minutes of instruction without an excuse three times during the school year must be classified as a truant and reported to the proper school authority.

SARBs, composed of representatives from various youth-serving agencies, help truant or recalcitrant students and their parents or guardians solve school attendance and behavior problems through the use of available school and community resources.

(a) If a minor pupil in a school district of a county is a habitual truant, or is a chronic absentee, as defined in Section 60901, or is habitually insubordinate or disorderly during attendance at school, the pupil may be referred to a school attendance review board, or to the probation department for services if the ...

The primary mandate of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is to achieve and maintain price stability in the interest of balanced and sustainable economic growth. In addition, the SARB has a complementary mandate to oversee and maintain financial stability.

Students who are chronically truant can face repercussions at school. Most schools in California have created School Attendance Review Boards (SARBs). These Boards have wide discretion to take action to keep a minor in school.

What is the education code for attendance in California? ›

Pursuant to California Education Code § 48260 (a): “A pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than a 30-minute period during the schoolday without a valid ...

Excessive absenteeism is defined as two or more occurrences of unexcused absence in a 30-day period and will result in disciplinary action.

Students who miss more than 18 days of school are less proficient in reading, writing and math compared to their peers with good attendance. Students who do not learn the fundamentals of reading, writing and math by third grade are more likely to fall behind and are less likely to graduate high school.

School attendance is a requirement for children aged six to eighteen. California Education Code 48260 states a student becomes truant when they do not have a valid excuse and is one or more of the following: Absent for three full school days in a single year. Tardy three times in a school year.

In general, unexcused or unapproved absences of three (3) consecutive days or more may result in immediate termination.

11. What about coming in late (tardy) or leaving early for an appointment? According to State Law [EC § 48260-48273] a student that is absent from school in excess of 30 minutes during a school day is also considered “unexcused.” Compulsory Education Law therefore, requires a student to attend a full day every day!