Attendance

       Consequences for Unexcused Absences and Tardies     

Knowing the attendance Policy and following it are vital to success in high School.

We encourage all student to request attendance printouts from the attendance office on a regular basis. 

Students who attend school regularly derive the maximum benefit from the instructional program. Students with good attendance records achieve higher grades, enjoy school more, are more successful in their pursuit of higher education, and are more employable after leaving school. 

The California Administrative Code Title V, Section 300, states that every pupil shall attend school punctually and regularly, and conform to the regulations of the school. 

It is the policy of the high school that students attend class regularly; that work missed because of school related activities or illness be promptly made up; that truancy is unacceptable; and that other absences approved by the parent be minimized or avoided whenever possible. Students who are frequently absent or tardy to class without sufficient cause may be enrolled in an alternate school setting at the discretion of the principal.

Absences not defined above as excused are unexcused absences and they include:

Unverified absence

Truancy

Absence due to leaving campus without permission

Tardy more than 30 minutes

Students who are late to class often fail to realize that the teacher may have already recorded them as absent. It is always in the student’s best interest to remain after class and ask the teacher to correct the “absence” to a “late.”

There are no school sanctioned ditch days.

                           
A tardy occurs when the student is not inside the classroom when the bell rings.

When a student is absent from school for any reason, the parent must notify the attendance office. A phone call on the day of the absence is preferred. A note stating the reason for the absence may be sent the day the student returns. All absences must be cleared within  three (3)  school days from the last consecutive day of absence. After that time, all absences will be considered unexcused. Under state funding guidelines, it is fraudulent for a parent to falsely excuse a student’s absence or tardiness. To assist parents in checking attendance of their students, attendance callers will call home during the day and evening.

For a student to legally leave campus, once the school day begins, parents must call or write the attendance office and request a permit to leave for their student, indicating the reason and time for dismissal. If the parent cannot reach an attendance clerk, please contact the operator for assistance.

b.  Before a student leaves school, he or she must have a permit to leave provided by the office.

c.  Students initiating a request to leave school must report to attendance office (between periods or with teacher approval) and request a permit to leave. Parents will be contacted for their permission, except for confidential medical care (Education Code 46010.1).

d.  Under no circumstances may a student legally leave during the school day without securing permission to leave campus. Leaving campus without permission is an infraction of the high schools rules and regulations. The student will also be considered truant. Parents may not excuse this type of absence after the fact. This policy also applies to students enrolled in seventh period classes.

Even when feeling sick, no student may leave school without permission. A student who wants to go home because of illness, must get a “Permit to Leave School” from the Office.

“Off Campus Permits” (CHS only) are available for students to leave on a regular basis. Examples are an R.O.P. class, a college course, or a similar educational program. “Off Campus Permits” are also available for lunch use for selected students. Seniors, juniors, and sophomores are eligible, if they have earned them through excellent attendance. Freshmen are not eligible for Off Campus Permits. However, second semester attendance will determine their eligibility for the fall of the sophomore year. Off Campus Permits are earned by having no more than three uncleared absences, six tardies, and no truancies in all classes combined during the previous semester.

Students must carry their Off Campus Permits whenever leaving campus. They will be asked to show them when leaving or returning. An Off Campus Permit is only valid when the student presents it along with a current Claremont High ID card or ASB card.

Students who leave campus without permission, or who leave without the school ID or ASB card and the off campus pass will receive a Saturday School assignment and lose a semester of eligibility for an off campus pass.

From time to time, at the start of a class period, school staff will close all of the doors in a specific area of the campus. Students who are in the area and not in class will be detained. Students who do not have valid hall passes will immediately be assigned after school detention.

Students may have the opportunity to leave school for field trips or to participate in on-campus events, such as special speakers. Students are required to provide written parent permission for the field trips. For both field trips and on-campus events, students must notify all teachers at least one day in advance, using an Activity Participation Form. Following this procedure is necessary in order to receive an excused absence.

Students shall be allowed to complete, to the extent reasonably possible, all assignments and tests missed due to excused, personal excused, and school excused absences. Generally, a student will have one day to make up work following a one day absence, two days following a two day absence, and so on. However, students should plan to make up all work within a week. In the event of a lengthy illness, the student should see the attendance counselor to help make special arrangements.  Makeup work shall, where practicable, be reasonably equivalent to work missed. It must be recognized that it may not be possible to meet certain objectives taught during the absence regardless of the reason for the absence. No makeup of assignments and/or tests shall be permitted in cases of truancy or unexcused absences.

Education Code 48263 states that students must attend school on a regular basis. Administrative action shall be taken with students who have excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused. This may result in filing legal action with Student Attendance Review Board and subsequently with the District Attorney.

Participation in Sports or Co-Curricular Activities

In order to participate in sports or co-curricular activities, students must attend at least four classes on that school day. This applies to rehearsals, practices, games, performances, and trips. Out-of-class activities, such as field trips or school office appointments, are treated the same as class attendance for determining whether a student may participate.

A fast and successful way to obtain homework when a student has been absent is through a buddy system. All students are encouraged to make arrangements with someone in each class who will give them the homework assignments over the phone.

Parents may call the school receptionist when a student will be absent for three or more days. Office staff will make a written request to teachers for assignments. Homework may be picked up at least 24 hours after the request is made, between 3:00 and 4:00 P.M.

Some teachers post homework and course outlines on the internet. Those who do let their students know within the classroom and make that information available to parents at Back-to-School night.

Travel Independent Study Contracts

If you know ahead of time that your family is going to be out of town for five days or more, please call in advance to arrange a travel independent study contract for your time away. Speak with the school receptionist. This will minimize the impact of missing class.