ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION - 5113

Absences and Excuses

Excused Absences

A student's absence shall be excused for the following reasons:

1. Personal health reasons, including an absence for the benefit of the student's mental or behavioral health (Education Code 48205)
2. Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer (Education Code 48205)
3. Medical, dental, optometrical, chiropractic, or mental or behavioral health appointment (Education Code 48205)
4. Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family, or of a person that is determined by the student’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the student as to be considered the student’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than five days per incident. (Education Code 48205) Immediate family shall be defined as mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, spouse, son/son-in-law, daughter/daughter-in-law, brother, sister, or any relative living in the student's immediate household. (Education Code 45194, 48205)
5. Jury duty in the manner provided by law (Education Code 48205)
6. The illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child to whom the student is the custodial parent, including absences to care for a sick child, for which the school shall not require a note from a doctor. (Education Code 48205)
7. Written verification by the parent/guardian and the approval of the principal or designated site administrator, for justifiable personal reasons authorized at the discretion of a school administrator pursuant to Education Code 48260, including, but not limited to:
   1. Appearance in court
   2. Attendance at a funeral service (non-immediate family member)
   3. Observation of a holiday or ceremony of the student or student’s family’s religion
   4. Attendance at religious retreats not to exceed one school day per semester
   5. Attendance at an employment conference
   6. Attendance at an educational conference offered by a nonprofit organization on the legislative or judicial process
8. Service as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Elections Code 12302 (Education Code 48205)
9. To spend time with the student’s 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 (Education Code 48205). Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of administration.
10. Participation in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction in accordance with Board Policy 5113.1 (Education Code 46014)
    1. In such instances, the student shall attend at least the minimum school day.
    2. The student shall be excused for this purpose on no more than four days per school month.
11. Attendance at the student's naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen. (Education Code 48205)
12. For a middle school or high school student, engagement in a civic or political event, provided that the student notifies the school in advance of the absence. Unless otherwise permitted by the Superintendent or designee, students shall be limited to one such school day-long absence per school year.  (Education Code 48205)
13. For any of the purposes described in a-c below, inclusive, if an immediate family member of the student, or a person that is determined by the student’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the student as to be considered the student’s immediate family, has died, so long as the absence is not more than three days per incident.
    1. To access services from a victim services organization or agency.
    2. To access grief support services.
    3. To participate in safety planning or to take other actions to increase the safety of the student or an immediate family member of the student, or a person that is determined by the student’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the student as to be considered the student’s immediate family, including, but not limited to, temporary or permanent relocation.

Any absences beyond three days for the reasons described in (a.) above shall be subject to the discretion of the school administrator, or their designee, pursuant to Education Code 48260.

14. Due to the student’s participation in military entrance processing.

Method of Verification

When a student who has been absent returns to school, the student shall present a satisfactory explanation verifying the reason for the absence. All absences must be cleared within 72 hours or 3 school days of the absence, or they will become unexcused.   Absences shall be verified by the student's parent/guardian, other person having control of the minor, or the student if age 18 or older. (Education Code 46012; 5 CCR 306)

The following methods may be used to verify student absences:

1. Written note, email, fax, or justifiable personal reason verification form from parent/guardian or parent representative.
2. Voice mail or conversation, in person or by telephone, between the verifying employee and the student's parent/guardian or parent representative. The employee shall subsequently record the following:
   1. Name of student
   2. Name of parent/guardian or parent representative
   3. Name of verifying employee
   4. Date(s) of absence
   5. Reason for absence
3. Visit to the student's home by the verifying employee, or any other reasonable method which establishes the fact that the student was absent for the reasons stated. The employee shall document the verification and include the information specified in item #2 above.
4. Physician's verification.
   1. When excusing students for confidential medical services or verifying such appointments, district staff shall not ask the purpose of such appointments but may contact a medical office to confirm the time of the appointment.
   2. When a student has had five or more absences in the school year verified by methods listed in 1 through 3 above, has been late to school more than 30 minutes three or more times in the school year, and/or has more than 10 tardies to school, the district may require any further absences from the school be verified by a California licensed physician in order for the absences to be excused for illness.
   3. In cases where a doctor's visit is not feasible, parents may bring their students to school to be evaluated by school staff.

Revised: August 21, 2012
Revised: March 17, 2016
Revised: August 9, 2019
Revised: December 14, 2021
Revised: April 18, 2023
Revised: August 14, 2023
Revised: January 13, 2025