Attendance Codes Changes

At Harper, we pride ourselves in having fantastic attendance by all of our students.  We have had an incredible number of students with perfect attendance (15% during the second quarter) and very low rates of truancy and tardies. In an effort to be in line with California State Education Code, and to insure consistency with attendance, beginning January 29, 2008, there have been some changes in the coding of absences.

Previously, when a parent or guardian called in to explain a student’s absence, the student was marked APP (approved) or ISN (independent study), even if the absence was NOT excused per California Education Code.  These codes have now changed. Students with an unexcused absence as defined by the California Education Code, will be coded UNX (unexcused). If a student was not excused by a parent or was not in class, the coding will become a CUT (a class cut). For our school purposes, a UNX lets us know the parent has called in the reason for the absence. 

Another code we use is the UNV meaning unverified.  If you look at Parent Connect on the internet and see UNV, that means the class is unverified by the parent and has not been changed to an excused, cut or unexcused yet.  

Below is the Education Code stating the definition of an excused absence.  All other absences are considered unexcused. Please be aware that a student with 21 unexcused classes (3 full school days) is considered truant and will be referred to SARB. The pertinent California Education Codes relating to attendance are below:

California Education Code 48260:

(a) Any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, is a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor or to the superintendent of the school

district.

California Education Code 48205

A pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:

   (1) Due to his or her illness.

   (2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.

   (3) For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic services    rendered.

   (4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of his or her immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.

   (5) For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.

   (6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent.

   (7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of his or her religion,

attendance at religious retreats, or attendance at an employment conference, when the pupil's absence has been requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the

governing board.

   (b) A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefore. The teacher of any class from which a pupil is absent shall determine the tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence.

   (c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester.

   (d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments.

   (e) "Immediate family," as used in this section, has the same meaning as that set forth in Section 45194, except that references therein to "employee" shall be deemed to be references to "pupil."

To call in an absence or tardy, please contact Nancy Cardinal at 757-5330, extension 112 or email ncardinal@djusd.k12.ca.us Education Code requires parents or guardians to call in a child’s absence or tardy within 24 hours.