Parents should report all student absences to the Attendance Office by calling the office directly: (310) 377- 4888 and using x42682 for last names A-L or x42681 for last names M-Z.

Students Leaving Campus During the School Day Students must get an OFF CAMPUS Pass BEFORE leaving campus. Students who fail to check out through the Attendance Office prior to leaving campus for any reason will receive a CUT. This includes 18 year olds. If your student must leave campus you can call (310)377-4888 ext 42681 or 42682 to let the attendance clerks know your student needs to leave.  In order to keep all students safe, Security will not let any students leave without the OFF CAMPUS Pass from the Attendance office.

Attendance Policies and Procedures

The purpose of this section on our school website is to outline the state mandates and our district policies as related to school attendance.

 

 

Palos Verdes Peninsula USD - BP 5113 Students /Absences And Excuses
The Board of Education believes that regular attendance plays an important role in student achievement. The Board shall work with parents/guardians and students to ensure their compliance with all state attendance laws, and may use appropriate legal means to correct problems of chronic absence or truancy.

 

Excused Absences
Absence from school shall be excused only for health reasons, family emergencies, and justifiable personal reasons, as permitted by law, Board policy, and administrative regulations. (Education Code 48205)
Inasmuch as class participation is an integral part of students’ learning experiences, parents/guardians and students shall be encouraged to schedule medical appointments during non-school hours.
At the beginning of each school year, the Superintendent or designee shall send a notification to the parents/guardians of all students, and to all students in grades 7-12, informing them that school authorities may excuse any student from school to obtain confidential medical services without the consent of the student’s parent/guardian. (Education Code 46010.1)

 

Parental Notifications (cf. 5145.6)
Students shall not be absent from school without their parents/guardians’ knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency or confidential medical appointment.
Student absence for religious instruction or participation in religious exercises away from school property may be considered excused subject to law and administrative regulations. (Education Code 46014)

 

Effect of Absence on Grades/Credits
If a student’s absence is excused under Education Code 48205, he/she shall be allowed to complete any missed assignment or test that can be reasonably given, as determined by the teacher of that class. The student shall be given full credit for the assignment or test if he/she satisfactorily completes the assignment or test within a reasonable period of time. (Education Code 48205)
A student’s grades may be affected by excessive unexcused absences in accordance with Board policy.
(cf. 5121 – Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)
(cf. 6154 – Homework/Makeup Work)

Absences

STUDENTS THAT ARE ABSENT: Parents should report all student absences to the Attendance Office by calling the office directly: (310) 377- 4888 and using x682 for last names A-L or x681 for last names M-Z.

IMPORTANT:

We thank you for your support of these attendance procedures & policies.

 

1. Submit to Attendance Office a written note from a parent indicating the reason for requesting IS. All requests are pre-approved by an Associate Principal.
2. Student takes the IS contract to each of his/her teachers to fill-in the section “assignments/projects to be completed” while absent from school. Student should beware of deadlines for tests, quiz or class presentations.
3. When the student returns to regular classes he/she begins finalizing the contract with teachers. Teacher must sign off under “Teacher verification of completion”. Student and Parent also sign the contract.
4. Student has 3 weeks (15 calendar school days) after the last day of his/her absence to complete all assignments and return the IS contract to the Attendance Office.
   The State of California requires upon return that completed copies of graded original class/homework be attached to IS contract for Associate Principal signature. (Copies will not be made by Attendance Office.)
5. Students who do not meet the necessary requirements/ deadlines will receive no credit grade on classroom/homework assignments and a “U” (unexcused absence) on their attendance record for the duration of his/her absence while on IS

 

Policy Reminders
Just a brief reminder on some of our attendance policies:
• 18 year old students that excuse themselves are given a “U” in Aeries. It is the teacher's discretion to allow make-up assignments.
• Students have the opportunity to prearrange an absence (college visits, family trips, etc.), at the teacher's discretion. If a student does not complete the prearranged absence paperwork, these absences are marked “U” in Aeries, and it is the teacher's discretion to accept make-up assignments.
• Students on field trips should bring in the permission forms to the teacher at least 3 days in advance. Students are responsible for bringing the work or making up tests immediately upon return. (Students do not get the one day per day of absence to make up work.)

Tardy Policy
It is very important for students to arrive to class before the bell rings. For habitual tardiness, the student will be referred to the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB). Habitual tardiness becomes an attendance problem subject to disciplinary action. A student will be marked tardy if he/she arrives to class up to 30 minutes after the bell rings without appropriate permission from the office. If a student arrives to class over 30 minutes late, they will be marked as “excessively tardy.”
3 excessive tardies = truant.

A tardy is any arrival to class after the beginning the class period but not greater than 30 minutes.

 

	Action Taken
1st & 2nd Tardies	Student warned by teacher
3rd Tardy	Student warned by teacher and parent notified by teacher
4th Tardy	Teacher submits referral to administration. Parent notified by teacher. Attendance administration conferences with student and notifies parent/guardian. Student issued 3-4 days of lunch-time paper pick-up.
5th and 6th Tardies	Teacher submits referral to administration. Parent notified by teacher. Attendance administration conferences with student and notifies parent/guardian. Saturday School issued to student. Attendance administration may refer student to SARB.
7th Tardy	Teacher submits referral to administration. Parent notified by teacher. Attendance administration conferences with student and notifies parent/guardian. Student will be issued Saturday School or dropped from class with F/U at teacher’s request.

 

Cut / Truancy Policy

Cutting, whether single period or full-day, is considered an unexcused absence. Habitual cutting or truancy is grounds for Saturday School, suspension, or a transfer from the current school. Cutting class is unacceptable! Students with more than 4 cuts in one semester per class may be dropped from the class. NO MAKE UP WORK IS PERMITTED FOR STUDENTS WHEN THEY CUT CLASS.
Cut - If a student is more than 30 minutes late to a class without appropriate permission from the office.
Truancy – If a student misses 3 or more periods in a school day or is tardy over 30 minutes without appropriate permission or prior clearance from the Attendance Office.
Please also note any combination equaling 3 unexcused absences or excessive tardies = truant.

 

Number of Cuts / Truancies	Action Taken
1	Student warned and parent notified by teacher.
2	Teacher submits referral to administration. Parent notified by teacher. Attendance administration conferences with student and notifies parent/guardian. Student issued 5 days of lunch-time paper pick-up.
3	Teacher submits referral to administration. Parent notified by teacher. Attendance administration conferences with student, gives student final warning, and notifies parent/guardian. Saturday School issued to student. Attendance administration may refer student to SART.
4	Teacher submits referral to administration. Parent notified by teacher. Attendance administration conferences with student and notifies parent/guardian. Student will be issued Saturday School or dropped from class with F/U at teacher’s request. Attendance administration may refer student to SARB.

 

SARB (School Attendance Review Board)
For habitual tardies, cuts, unexcused absences, and excessive excused absences, a student may be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB).
The goal of the SARB board is to keep students in school, increase graduation rate, and develop and implement strategies to improve student attendance, behavior and achievement. At SARB meetings the parent(s)/guardian(s) and student are advised of the California State compulsory education laws and potential consequences for the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) if they are not complying with the law. Obstacles preventing school attendance are addressed, the SARB board suggests solutions, and a SARB contract is signed. Although the goal of a SARB meeting is to keep students in school and provide them with a meaningful educational experience, SARB boards do have the power, when necessary, to refer students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) to the District Attorney’s Office.