The State of California believes that education is essential for children and for our future. State law requires parents/guardians of children ages 6 to 18 to send their children to school, unless otherwise provided by law. Parents who fail to meet this obligation may be subject to prosecution.

Attendance Questions or Assistance

If you have questions about school attendance or need assistance, contact your student's teacher or principal. If you need help getting your child to school, call (916) 649-5240.

Reporting Absences

If a student will be absent or tardy, parents or guardians should call the school before school begins that day:

Bell Avenue:  (916) 922-0202
Glenwood: (916) 922-2767 
Main Avenue:  (916) 929-9559 
Robla Elementary:  (916) 649-5200 
Taylor Street: (916) 927-5340 

When the student returns, he or she should bring a written note signed by the parent or guardian which includes the following: notification date, student's full name, teacher's name(s), grade, date(s) of absence, reason for absence, and name and relationship of person notifying the school. Absences not cleared within the time limit set by the child's school will be recorded as an unexcused absence/truancy.

Verification of Illness (Ed. Code 46011)

The statewide average absence rate for typical childhood illness is 5 days. Robla School District allows each parent to excuse up to 10 days without verification of illness from a medical professional or school employee. Anytime your child has a doctor's appointment and/or documentation requiring them to stay home from school, provide this immediately when your student returns to school. These absences will be recorded verified and not take away from the 10 day parent excused limit.

Students too ill to attend school after the 10 days are required to bring verification of illness from a medical professional on their return to school. If your child is under the regular care of a physician for a serious or chronic condition, or they are directed to stay home by a medical professional before the 10 days are reached, you should provide the verification at that time. Absences for illnesses not verified after 10 days will be marked unexcused and subject the student and/or parents to compulsory education law guidelines.

Chronic Illness Form

If your student has a diagnosed chronic illness, you may receive a physician's authorization to excuse absences for your child. The form requires the treating physician to verify the diagnosis and list symptoms that would not necessitate an office visit, but require the student to remain home from school. With this authorization, the parent sends a note when the child returns to school listing one or more of the symptoms the physician has identified. These absences will be considered verified.

Note: The Chronic Illness Verification Form is also available at your school office.

 

Absences Allowed by Law (Ed. Code § 46010, 46014, 48205)

It is important for parents to let the school know whenever their child is absent. However, under state law, an absence is considered excused only for these reasons:

Subject to any applicable limitation, condition, or other requirement specified in law, a student's absence shall be excused for the following reasons, as outlined in the Robla Parents Rights and Responsibilities:

1. 1. Personal illness.
   2. Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.
   3. Medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic appointments.
   4. Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family, which shall be limited to one day if the service is conducted in California or three days if the service is conducted out of state.
   5. Jury duty in the manner provided for by law.
   6. Illness or medical appointment of a child to whom the student is the custodial parent. Student absence to care for a child for whom the student is the custodial parent shall not require a physician’s note. Upon advance written request by the parent/guardian and the approval of the principal or designee, justifiable personal reasons including but not limited to:

• • • • Appearance in court
      • Attendance at a funeral service
      • Observation of a religious holiday or ceremony 
      • Attendance at religious retreats not to exceed four hours per semester 
      • Attendance at an employment conference
      • Attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit

1. 7. Service as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Elections Code 12302.
   8. To spend time with an immediate family member who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Education Code 49701, and has been called to duty for deployment to a combat zone or a combat support position or is on leave from or has immediately returned from such deployment. For the purpose of the absences described above, immediate family means the student’s parent/guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the student’s household.
   9. Attendance at a naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.
   10. Participation in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction at the student’s place of worship or other suitable place away from school. Absence for student participation in religious exercises or instruction shall not be considered an absence for the purpose of computing average daily attendance if the student attends at least the minimum school day as specified in AR 6112 – School Day and is not excused from school for this purpose on more than four days per school month. 
   11. A pupil, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, may be excused from school in order to participate in religious exercises or receive moral or religious instruction for four or fewer days per month, provided the pupil attends school at least the minimum day for his/her grade (EC 46014)

Chronic Absenteeism

Chronic absentee means a student who is absent for any reason on 10 percent or more of the school days in the school year, when the total number of days the student is absent is divided by the total number of days the student is enrolled and school was actually taught in the regular schools of the district, exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays. (Education Code 60901)

Truant means a student who is absent from school without a 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. (Education Code 48260)

Habitual truant means a student who has been reported as a truant three or more times within the same school year, provided the district has made a conscientious effort to hold at least one conference with the student and his/her parent/guardian after either of the two previous reports. (Education Code 48262, 48264.5)

Chronic truant means a student who has been absent from school without a valid excuse for 10 percent or more of the school days in one school year, from the date of enrollment to the current date, provided the district has met the requirements of Education Code 48260, 48260.5, 48261, 48262, 48263, and 48291. (Education Code 48263.6)

When a student is identified as a chronic absentee, the Superintendent or designee shall communicate with the student and his/her parents/guardians to determine the reason(s) for the excessive absences, ensure the student and parents/guardians are aware of the adverse consequences of poor attendance, and jointly develop a plan for improving the student's school attendance.  

The District’s policy and approaches to addressing chronic absenteeism, including the District Student Attendance Review Board processes and procedures can be found here.