Attendance Policy
Reporting Absences- Per State Requirements
All absences must be reported and verified by telephone on the same day or have a submitted note within 3 days of being absent.
Absences that are not reported within the 3-day mark of being absent will be recorded as an “unexcused absence” which may trigger the States mandated Truancy Process after multiple unexcused absences.
All calls/written notes should contain the following information.
- Date of Absence
- Student’s Full Name
- Reason
- Person Reporting/Signature
All student’s being reported to our 24hr attendance line must have a valid reason for accounting purposes as well as mandated reporting to State, County, and local agencies.
Tardies
After the 8:15 a.m. school bell all students K-5TH will need to come to the front office to obtain a tardy slip for class admission.
Appointments
If your child has a scheduled appointment during the school day, a parent/guardian must come into the front office to sign out the student from class. (All contacts must be listed and verified on the child's Emergency Card before being released.)
Students returning from an appointment or arriving late due to a scheduled appointment need to check in at the front office before being admitted into class. Parents need to provide a verified doctor/dental written excuse note to be considered an “excused tardy.” (Please try to arrange any appointments after school, on non-school days, or towards the very end of the school day as much as possible.) **Instructional time is super important and cannot be made up.
Vacations
Families are not recommended to take vacation time while school is in session. Please plan vacations during the official school breaks (November Thanksgiving Break, December Holiday Break, February Winter Break, April Spring Break.) Please refer to your Student-Parent Handbook for official break dates.
Families requesting time off must come by the front office and sign the “Leave of Absence Form” in advance prior to their selected dates. -This may trigger the Truancy Process per Student Services.
Truancy Process/10% Letter
For students whose total absences have exceeded more than 10% of the school year to date and who have received an active 10% letter must have doctor's notes to verify each time the student is absent from school. For students with any combination of 3 unexcused absences and/or 3 tardies over 30 minutes, the State Truancy process will begin. The family can possibly be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) and other enforcement agencies (local Police Department as well as County Social Services.)
Truancy Process -
A. 1st Truancy Letter (Truant)
B. 2nd Truancy Letter (Meeting w/School Administrator)
C. 3rd Truancy Letter (Habitual Truant/SARB)
24 HR Attendance Line - (408) 423-1705
For more information on attendance please refer back to your (Santa Clara Unified School Handbook) Pages 9-11.
