Beswick Elementary
Report Absence
Attendance Policy
Attendance
Attendance
Absence from school is one of the greatest contributing factors to unsatisfactory schoolwork. Pupils are required by law and Education Code 48260 to attend school punctually and regularly: Any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education who is absent from school without valid excuse three days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without valid excuse on three occasions in one school year is considered truant and may be reported to the attendance supervisor or to the superintendent of the school district. It is the legal responsibility of parents or guardians to see that their school-aged children attend school every day for the entire day, unless they have a valid excuse. Under the law, a child may be legally excused from attending school or for being tardy only for the following reasons: 1) illness, 2) medical or dental appointment for the student only, 3) death in the family, and 4) religious observance. All other absences are unexcused.
Regular attendance at school is important for every Beswick student for the following reasons:
- Students need to be in class to learn and develop social relationships with peers and adults.
- The teaching-learning process builds on lessons previously taught.
- Lessons often involve hands-on activities which cannot be duplicated with paper and pencil assignments outside of class.
- Students develop the habits of scholarly behavior including good attendance and punctuality for future careers when following timelines and schedules.
- School funding is dependent on scholar attendance.
**Reporting Absences: Parents/Guardians must send a note, email, or call the school office to report your child’s absence. The note should include the date(s) absence and reason for the scholar’s absence.
NOTE: Parents must report an absence reporting the child’s name, grade, reason for the absence and your relationship to the child, one of the following ways:
- Call the school office (714) 730-7385
- Send a written note to school
- Fill out the online student absence report https://tustink12caus.finalsite.com/cf_forms/view.cfm?formID=68 (FORM BELOW)
- Email Ms. Annette Martinez almartinez@tustin.k12.ca.us
Consequences for Truancy or Absence (per district and school policy): On the student’s first day back to school after an absence, the student must bring a signed written note from his/her parent/guardian which lists the date of absence and specific reason for the absence. In lieu of a written note, a parent/guardian may call the school office or e-mail Ms. Martinez, the School Attendance Clerk at almartinez@tustin.k12.ca.us
After 3 unexcused absences 1st Truancy letter will be sent home
After 6 unexcused absences 2nd Truancy letter will be sent home
Meeting with the District Attorney
Request for parent conference
After 9 unexcused absences 3rd Truancy letter will be sent home
Possible SARB referral
*Scholars who have excessive absences/tardies may be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB).
Please remember that consistent attendance (including being on time to school) is critically important to your child’s education. Please refrain from scheduling vacations while school is in session.
Excused Absences
Excused Absence: Absence for causes listed in the State Educational Code are: illness, medical, dental, and optometry appointments. For any type of doctor’s appointment, please bring a doctor’s note. Students that have a morning or afternoon doctor appointment are required to come to school for the portion of the day that the child is not at the doctor’s office. (Example: Scholars that have morning appointments must come to school after the appointment, if well enough, and scholars having afternoon appointments, must come to school for the morning).
Method of Verification - Regulation 5113
When a student who has been absent return to school, he/she shall present a satisfactory explanation verifying the reason for the absence. Absences shall be verified by the student's parent/guardian/caregiver, other person having control of the minor, or if the student is age 18 or older. The District requires parents to give permission in writing for 18 years r older students. (Education Code 46012; 5 CCR 306)
The following methods may be used to verify student absences:
1. Written note, fax, or email from parent/guardian/caregiver
2. Conversation, in person or by telephone, between the verifying employee and the student's parent/guardian/caregiver. The employee shall subsequently record the following: a. Name of the student b. Name of the parent/guardian/caregiver c. Name of the verifying employee d. Date(s) of the absence e. Reason for absence
3. Visit to the student's home by the verifying employee, or other reasonable method which establishes the fact that the student was absent for the reasons stated. The employee shall document the verification and include the information specified in item #2 above.
4. Physician's verification.
a. When excusing students for confidential medical services or verifying such appointments, district staff shall not ask for the purpose of such appointments but may contact a medical office to confirm the time of the appointment.
b. When a student has 10 absences in a school year for illness verified by methods listed in #1-3 above, any further absences for illness shall be verified by a physician.
Unexcused Absences
Unexcused Absence: Absences for any reason other than those listed above (includes family vacations, athletic events, extra-curricular events such as Brownies, Scouts, Indian Princess activities). Truancy that is intentional is a violation of state attendance laws. While advance notice to the school for these types of absences is appreciated and noted, they will, regardless of advanced notice, will trigger attendance violation letters after the third unexcused absence. The purpose of the letter is to keep parents informed of the State of California compulsory education law.
Emergency Trips: Students may be placed on an “Independent Study” when it is necessary for them to be away from school because of emergency trips. In order to meet your child’s educational needs, contact the school office at least five school days prior to absence for approval. This will allow for teachers to have the time to adequately prepare lessons for your child’s Independent Study. Independent Study is valid for not less than 5 consecutive school days at a time, and no more than 10 total days in a school year. Work is provided on the last day of attendance and due the day the child returns to school. Actual attendance credit is determined once completed work is received by the school. PLEASE NOTE: Independent Studies will not be authorized A) with less than 5 days notice to the school and B) the last two (2) weeks of the school year.
Tardies
Tardies: Prioritizing on time arrival to school is critical.
-
Students who arrive even just 2-3 minutes late miss-out on the benefits of a calm and predictable start to their school day. Thank you for your support with ensuring on-time arrival.
-
Scholars arriving late to school or leaving school early 30 minutes and/or more will be considered truant if there is not a medical reason (see excused absences). Students leaving school more than 30 minutes prior to dismissal time (if not a medical reason), qualifies as an unexcused tardy.
Consequences for Truancy or Absence (per district and school policy): On the student’s first day back to school after an absence, the student must bring a signed written note from his/her parent/guardian which lists the date of absence and specific reason for the absence. In lieu of a written note, a parent/guardian may call the school office or e-mail Ms. Martinez, the School Attendance Clerk at almartinez@tustin.k12.ca.us
After 3 unexcused absences 1st Truancy letter will be sent home
After 6 unexcused absences 2nd Truancy letter will be sent home
Meeting with the District Attorney
Request for parent conference
After 9 unexcused absences 3rd Truancy letter will be sent home
Possible SARB referral
*Scholars who have excessive absences/tardies may be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB).
Please remember that consistent attendance (including being on time to school) is critically important to your child’s education. Please refrain from scheduling vacations while school is in session.
Absence Form
* Required