Chapter 4: Attendance and Absences

No pupil may have his or her grade reduced or lose academic credit for any absence or absences which are excused for the reasons specified below when missed assignments and tests that can reasonably be provided are satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time (Ed. Code, §§ 48205, 48980(j)).

A pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:

• Due to the pupil’s illness.
• Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.
• For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic services rendered.
• For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the pupil’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in   California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.
• For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.
• Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent.
• For justifiable personal reasons, including but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization, when the pupil’s absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.
• For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to section 12302 of the Elections Code.
• For the purpose of spending time with a member of the pupil’s immediate family, who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Section 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.
• For the purpose of attending the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.
• Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator based on the facts of the pupil’s circumstances, which are deemed to constitute a valid excuse, including, but not limited to, working for a period of not more than five consecutive days in the entertainment or allied industries or participate with a not-for-profit performing arts organization in a performance for a public school pupil audience for a maximum of up to five days per school year provided the pupil’s parent or guardian provides a written note to the school authorities explaining the reason for the pupil’s absence (Ed. Code, §§ 48260, 48205, 48225.5).

A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefore. The teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence. For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester. Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments. 'Immediate family,' as used in this section refers to mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, or a grandchild of the pupil or of the spouse of the pupil, and the spouse, son, son-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, brother, or sister of the pupil, or any relative living in the immediate household of the pupil (Ed. Code, § 48205).

Pupils may be excused, with written permission from a parent or guardian, in order to participate in religious exercises or receive moral and religious instruction away from school property. Every pupil so excused must attend at least the minimum school day. No pupil shall be excused from school for such purpose on more than four days per school month (Ed. Code, § 46014).