Attendance

Absence Communication

If your child is absent from school, you will receive an automated email from [email protected] on the day of your child’s absence. The email will ask you to complete a brief Google form to provide the reason for your child’s absence. The email will also provide instructions to complete the Absence Recovery process. In California, parents are required to ensure that their children (ages 6 -18) are in school every day.   Even excused absences for things like illness, doctor's appointments, and serious medical conditions, count against you and your child, as well as against the district. This means every absence, regardless of whether there is a valid reason, counts toward chronic absenteeism. 

 

Absence Recovery Program

Under the 2024 legislation, Senate Bill 153 (SB153), we can allow your child to make up absences in one of two ways listed below:

 

Absence Recovery Program (Unplanned Absences)

Absence Recovery Program is available when students are unexpectedly not able to attend school. The student will have 5 days from the date of absence to complete and submit the assigned work after returning from their absence. If a student exceeds 15 days of absence recovery and/or Independent Study days, cumulatively, future absences will not be recoverable. 

 

Independent Study (Prearranged)

Independent Study is available to all students who prearrange to be out of school for three or more days. Independent Study allows the child to maintain their learning routine while away from the usual school classroom. Parents should contact the school office at least one week prior to arrange and receive approval for this program. 

 

Absence Recovery and Independent Study Benefits for Students and Schools

• Student Continuity: This can help students stay on top of their assignments.

• Prevent Chronic Absenteeism: This program is part of a larger effort to prevent chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year. 

• School Funding: The school recovers lost Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding from student absences, which helps the district maintain essential funding for supporting school programs and services and avoid making cuts to staffing or programs.

 

Please be aware that Independent Studies are not intended to extend school holidays and should only be used to support unavoidable circumstances. If a student exceeds 15 days of absence recovery and/or Independent Study days, cumulatively, future absences will not be recoverable. 

 

Lastly, and most importantly, while these opportunities provide you and the district with an opportunity to meet the legal obligations of compulsory attendance, it does not make up for a missed day of learning in the classroom.   When a child misses school, they lose valuable and essential learning opportunities. Overuse of the Absence Recovery Program or the Independent Study process will negatively impact your child’s learning experience at Hugo Reid Elementary School. Therefore, you may be asked to meet with your child’s teacher or the school’s Student Attendance Review Team (SART) to help ensure your child is making progress in school.

 

 

Tardies

Any child not in the classroom by the first bell (8:10 AM HRP)//(8:20 HRE) will be marked tardy. Students who arrive at school after the first bell rings must report to the office with a parent/guardian before going to class. Parent(s) are required to walk their child(ren) to the office for check in, if tardy.  Excessive tardies are referred to the District/School Attendance and Review Board.

 

Early Student Dismissal

Doctor and dentist appointments should be scheduled outside school hours whenever possible to maintain educational continuity. When appointments during school hours are unavoidable, please notify your child's teacher in advance. All early dismissals must be processed through the main office. Parents and caregivers are not permitted to go directly to classrooms for pickup, as this policy ensures the safety of all students. To pick up your child early, please report to the main office to sign your child out. Office staff will contact the teacher to release your child. Your child will come to the office where you can be visually verified before dismissal. Only authorized individuals listed in your child's records may pick up students. Proper identification may be required.

 

Returning to School After an Illness

The Health Aide will check any child returning to school after three or more days of illness, before returning to class. A student’s temperature must be normal for 24 hours before returning to school. In addition, if a child has experienced COVID-19 symptoms, additional steps and safeguards may be put in place and requested from the guardians before the child can return to campus.