Casimir Attendance

Contact: cook.lindsay@tusd.org

Phone: (310) 533-4498 Ext 4782

Casimir’s Attendance Office is doing its part to cut costs and to help our environment by keeping ALL DIGITAL attendance records. We would appreciate your help by communicating with us by email to clear absences.

COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

What are the school attendance requirements in California?

  • Every person between the ages of six (6) years and eighteen (18) years of age is required to attend school. (Education Code 48200)
  • Students are expected to attend school regularly and on time.
  • Parents and guardians are required to send their children to school.
  • When students do not attend punctually or are absent the entire school day, the reason must be identified and recorded as either Excused or Unexcused. Excused absences are compliant with compulsory attendance law according to the State of California Education Code; Unexcused absences are noncompliant for all other reasons and subject to truancy law after three incidents.

 

HOW TO VERIFY AN ABSENCE

Parents/Legal Guardians/Students:  We encourage you to check “PowerSchool” on a regular basis for attendance. Absences must  be verified by a student’s parent/legal guardian within 48 hours by email or the absence will be marked as “TRUANT.” EMAIL must come from the parent/legal guardian’s email address listed in PowerSchool.  If you can not remember the email address on record in PowerSchool (and have multiple email addresses), please “CC” all of your other email addresses.

Email:  cook.lindsay@tusd.org

  • Subject Line:  Absence for [Full Legal Name of Student] on [Date]
  • Include in your email the following information:
    •  Student’s Full Legal Name
    • Grade and Student ID
    • Date of Absence(s) 
    • Reason for Absence(s)
    • Parent/Legal Guardian Name

If your student missed classes/school due to a doctor/dental/medical appointment, please attach a photo or scan of the official doctor/dental/medical note to your email.

When a student has been absent for 5 school days or longer (due to illness, injury, surgery, etc), a doctor’s note is required, and must state the date that the student is able to return to school. .

POWERSCHOOL ATTENDANCE CODES

We post student attendance according to the State of California Ed Code.  If you notify the Attendance Office (by email) within 48 hours of an absence and see a “U” posted, the absence is considered “cleared and verified” - but- DOES NOT meet the Education Code. 

  • E = Verified  absences, reason aligns with Educational Code
  • U = Verified absence, reason DOES NOT meet Educational Code
  • T = Truant, missing from class period, unverified by school staff or parent (after 48 hours)
  • L = Tardy to class, less than 30 minutes late
  • M = Tardy to class, more than 30 minutes late
  • R = left early, was in class more than 30 minutes 
  • A = Absence, still needs to be verified by parent/guardian within 48 hours
  •  

What is considered a valid, legal absence?

  • Absences are EXCUSED for the following reasons, when verified:
    • A student’s illness (not parent’s or another family member).
    • Quarantine under the direction of a county, city health officer or district nurse.
    • Medical, dental, physical therapy, optometric, mental health or chiropractic appointments.
    • Attending the funeral of an immediate family member: one (1) day in California; three (3) days out of California. Immediate family member means student’s mother/father, brother/sister, child, grandmother/grandfather, or spouse, spouse’s mother/father, spouse’s child, spouse’s brother/sister, or any relative living in the immediate household of the student (Education Code 48205).
    • Court appearance when the student has a subpoena with his/her name on it.
    • Religious holiday/retreat/ceremony (max of four (4) hours per semester) with prior written request from parent and approval from school.
    • Verified absence due to illness or quarantine is allowed. Verification may be by one of the following: school/public health nurse, attendance supervisor, physician, teacher, or any other qualified employee of the school district. (Education Code 46011, CCR Title 5, Sec. 421)
    • To attend his/her naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.

 

IF A STUDENT IS ILL AT SCHOOL

Students: Please DO NOT text or call your parents asking them to contact the school.  Please speak to your teacher about getting a pass to go to the Health Office. Our school Nurse or Health Services Assistant, will call your parent/legal guardian and arrange for you to be picked up. 

Attendance

Regular attendance and being on time are requirements for a successful middle school experience and future success in High School and beyond. California State Law requires daily school attendance until the age of eighteen unless the California High School Proficiency Test has been passed, or until graduation. We encourage continued parent/legal guardian support to promote good school attendance and student achievement. Regular school attendance is the most valuable gift you can give your student.

What are the consequences for parents and students when a student does not attend school?

  • Parents who fail to send their children to school can be criminally prosecuted under Penal Codes 272 and 270.1 and Education Codes 48291/48293 and 48453/48454. The penalties can range from a fine of $50 to $2,500 plus a penalty assessment and can be sentenced to up to a year in jail. Parents can be ordered by a judge to personally deliver their child to school.
  • Students who fail to attend school can be criminally prosecuted in Juvenile Court under Education Code section 48265.5. Students can be given a $100 fine, community service up to 40 hours, and can be forced to attend an approved truancy education program. If the student has gone through SARB or truancy mediation, their license can be suspended or revoked pursuant to Vehicle Code section 13202.7.

What are the best ways for parents to avoid a violation of the compulsory education laws?

  • When your child is ill, either bring the child to school to have the illness verified by school personnel/school nurse or take the child to a health care provider for verification and obtain written documentation of the illness. Keep a copy of the documentation for yourself.
  • Discuss ongoing medical conditions with school personnel and, if necessary, sign a release of information to the school from the doctor.
  • Make sure that your child is on time and in school every day.
  • Schedule medical and dental appointments after school or on school holidays.
  • Seek assistance from a school counselor if you are having problems getting your child to school. They can direct you to resources that will help you.

REGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IS THE MOST VALUABLE GIFT YOU CAN GIVE YOUR CHILDREN.