Contacting the Attendance Office
Please call 619-605-1700 and press "1" Provide:
- The child's name.
- Teacher
- The reason for the absence including specific symptoms if child is ill.
- The name of who is calling.
Tardy Policy
Students should arrive at school between 8:15 and 8:35 a.m. Students may participate in the Jerabek Run Club from 8:15 to 8:30. Students are expected to be unpacked, sitting at their desks, and ready to learn by 8:35 am. The front gate closes at 8:35. After 8:35 students will need to enter through the office and get a tardy slip. Students who make it through the gate before 8:35 might still be marked tardy if they are not seated and ready to learn by 8:35 a.m.
Daily Attendance Matters
Students are expected to attend school every day. Children who miss school miss out on opportunities to learn, build lasting friendships, and develop the skills and attitudes needed to become good citizens and valued employees. There is a clear connection between student attendance and student performance in school.
Student absences also affect school budgets. Schools and school districts get a significant amount of their funding based on the number of students who attend school each day. This is called Average Daily Attendance (ADA). Potential losses in ADA revenue affect all students because they can lead to budget cuts affecting a variety of programs, as well as individual schools.
Absences for the following reasons are excused, but not funded. Funding is only earned for a day when a student is present.
- Verified illness, medical or dental appointments.
- Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family.
Student Attendance Laws
All children 6 to 18 years old are required by California's Education Code to attend school, and their parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their child's attendance. The law also states that a student's refusal to attend school regularly can result in referral to the community-based School Attendance Review Board (SARB), Juvenile Probation, or the Juvenile Court System.
Excused/Unexcused Absences
As mandated by the state of California, absences are only excused when due to illness, medical or dental appointments, funeral services and bereavement, court appearances, family emergencies, Independent Study Contracts (if completed; see below), or religious holidays or ceremonies.
Unexcused absences include but are not limited to, those due to oversleeping, transportation issues, going on vacation, or similar situations.
For guidance on when to keep your child home from school due to illness, see the Student Health page.
Planned Absence in Excess of Five Days
If your child will be absent from school for five or more days, please contact the school office at least one week ahead to make arrangements for a short-term Contract for Independent Study (CIS).
Academic assignments will be given to the student to complete during the absence. When the student returns with successfully completed assignments, s/he will be given credit for the missed days.
For attendance purposes, these will not be considered unexcused absences. Without the contract, however, the absence would be unexcused.