A parent or guardian must notify the school by phone, in person, or by written note with a satisfactory explanation for the absence.  The explanation is required the day of or the day after the absence. 

    Student Information

    Parent/Guardian Information

    Absence Information

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    What is a satisfactory explanation for an absence or what is an excused absence?

    • Illness (After five days of consecutive or nine days of cumulative absence for medical reasons in one school year, the parent may be required to provide written verification from a physician to excuse the absences.)
    • Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer
    • Medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic appointments
    • Attending a funeral of a member of his or her immediate family (absence cannot be more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if it is conducted outside of California)
    • Personal reasons for example, court appointments, observance of a holiday or ceremony of his or her religion or attendance of a religious retreat
    • Spending time with a member of the pupil’s immediate family, who is an active duty member of the uniformed services who has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment. 

    What is not a satisfactory explanation for an absence or what is an unexcused absence?

    • Sleeping in late or being tired
    • Vacation or going out of town (If trips out of town cannot be scheduled during non-school days speak to someone in the school office about Independent Study)
    • Siblings or other family members being sick or having medical appointments
    • Unexpected obligations or emergencies
    • Celebrating birthdays

    Please contact the school’s attendance liaison with questions or concerns about your child’s attendance.          

    See Parent-Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for more details about excused and unexcused absences.

    What does the law say about school attendance?

    Compulsory attendance is required by California Education Code 46010 and mandates that all students ages six through 18 attend school regularly.  A student with three or more unexcused absences or tardies in excess of 30 minutes violates this code and is considered a truant.  Districts are required to refer habitually truant students to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) for remediation.  If the student continues to miss school after attendance at SARB, the student and/or parents will be referred to the District Attorney for prosecution.

    Why is it important to attend school?

    Every day counts in a child’s education.  Each day a student misses school, he gets more than two days behind his peers because he must make up missed learning and catch up with new learning at the same time.  Every day a student is in school, she raises her chance to score well on tests.  Every day a student goes to school, he learns a little more about responsibility.  Every day counts toward funding for school supplies too.  Every day a student misses school, even for excused absences, the school loses about $35 in income.

    What does Anaheim Elementary School District do to prevent attendance problems?

    • Phone calls to verify absences
    • Home visits to discuss attendance problems
    • Letters to notify parents of excessive absences
    • Parent education meetings with the Orange County District Attorney
    • Student/parent meetings with administrator or attendance liaison
    • School Attendance Review Board (SARB) hearing
    • If all else fails, referral to District Attorney

    What can parents do to prevent attendance problems?

    • Stress with your child the importance of regular school attendance.
    • Teach your child to be on time for school each day.
    • Maintain reasonable and regular bedtime hours on school nights.
    • Schedule doctor/dentist appointments before or after school hours.
    • Bring your child to school before and/or after daytime doctor appointments
    • Plan family vacations when your child is off track.
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