A Reference Guide of the Bakersfield City School District

ATTENDANCEA Basic Right and a Legal DutyAttending school between the ages of 6 and 18 is a basic right of every person. Each student is commended forattending the full instructional school day each day. Parents/guardians and students must understand that schoolattendance is not a matter of choice, but is a legal mandate. By law, parents are responsible for their children being inschool every day during the school year. The District also has a legal duty to use appropriate legal means to correctproblems of excessive absence and truancy.To fulfill its legal duties, the District: (a) tracks student attendance including full day and partial day absences; (b)requires parents/guardians to provide information to the school whenever a student has a full or partial day absence; (c)uses incentive programs to encourage attendance, (d) sends letters or other notices when a student meets the legaldefinition of a truant; (e) refers parents/guardians to outside agencies to help resolve the reasons for school absence; (f)convenes school problem-solving teams; (g) uses a School Attendance Review Board; and (h) coordinates services withthe Office of the District Attorney, law enforcement, the Probation Department, the Department of Human Servicesincluding Child Protective Services, and the Health Department.When a Bakersfield City School District employee(s) reasonably believes there has been a violation of California’scompulsory attendance laws and consistent with applicable law, the District shares information with other agencies inthe community (e.g., Probation Department, law enforcement) to help ensure each child receives an appropriateeducation.Education Code 48200, 48211Regular Attendance Is RequiredRegular school attendance is a high priority of the school district. All students are expected to attend school each day,be on time and to attend all scheduled classes for the full time they are offered.It is extremely important that parents send a note giving an excuse AND telephone the school the first day their child isabsent from school. If the note is not sent concerning the absence within five days of the child’s return to school,the absence will become unexcused. Parents should call the attendance phone number for their child’s school andleave a message to verify absences. Failure to do so will not only cause an unexcused absence, but may also affect thechild’s grades.Any student who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days or partial days (e.g., tardy, early schoolremoval) in excess of 30 minutes on, each of three or more days in a school year is truant.Education Code 48260(a)Parents/guardians will be notified in a timely manner if their child is absent from school without permission.Education Code 51101 (a)(4)Each school-age student must attend school unless the student has a legal exemption (Education Code section 48200).A student’s absence shall be excused from school for the following reasons:a. Due to his or her illness.b. Due to quarantine under the direction of a city or county health officer.c. For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.(Note: Parents, please try to schedule outside the regular school day).d. For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of his or her immediate family, as long as theabsence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California, and not more than three days ifthe service is conducted outside California. “Immediate family” shall be defined as mother, father,grandmother, grandfather, spouse, son/son-in-law, daughter/daughter-in-law, brother, sister, or any relativeliving in the student’s immediate household.17