- Santa Monica High
- Attendance
Attendance
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Attendance Policies
Attendance Policy Q&A
Attendance/Tardy RecoveryStudents must attend class unless excused by an administrator at the request of a parent or teacher, or the student is participating in a school-related activity. Students are responsible for attending all classes, being on time, and for getting prepared for instruction.
Samohi’s attendance policy requires students to restore unexcused absences once they accrue 18 or more period absences. They can restore these absences by attending Super Saturday/Tutoring/On Campus Community Service etc. Restoring unexcused absences does not clear attendance from Aeries as this is legal documentation of classroom attendance. Due to state and district policies, students will continue to receive notifications from the district regarding excessive absences/truancy
All students returning from an absence must first report to their House Office.Short Term Independent Study Information Sheet
Independent Study Information
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Excused Absences (SMMUSD AR 5113)
To access Education Codes, follow instructions on this page.
A student's absence shall be excused for the following reasons:- Personal illness (Education Code 48205)
- Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer (Education Code 48205)
- Medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic appointment (Education Code 48205)
a. Any school missed for a medical/dental appointment must be cleared with a note from the medical/dental office. The absence will be considered uncleared until documentation is received.
b.Students who leave school at lunch and do not return to school (even with parental permission) will be marked as truant. These absences cannot be cleared after the fact. The school must be notified prior to any/all students leaving campus early. In an emergency, we must be able to accurately account for all students. - 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. (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) - Jury duty in the manner provided by law (Education Code 48205)
- The illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child to whom the student is the custodial parent (Education Code 48205)
- Upon advance written request by the parent/guardian and the approval of the principal or designee, justifiable personal reasons including, but not limited to: (Education Code 48205)
a. Appearance in court
b. Attendance at a funeral service
c. Observation of a holiday or ceremony of his/her religion
d. Attendance at religious retreats not to exceed four hours per semester
e. Attendance at an employment conference
f. Attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization - Service as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Elections Code 12302 (Education Code 48205)
- Participation in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction in accordance with district policy (Education Code 46014)
a. In such instances, the student shall attend at least the minimum school day.
b. The student shall be excused for this purpose on no more than four days per school month.
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Unexcused Absences
Parent Excuse: An absence with parental permission but not under the "excused absence" section. Absences to visit relatives or to attend a marriage or vacation are considered unexcused absences. The student may be allowed to make up missed assignments, at the discretion of the teacher.
Truancy: An absence from class or classes without the parent's or school's knowledge or prior permission. A student will receive a “C” (for “cut”) for each class missed and will not be allowed to make up missed work. Students who exhibit a continual problem with attendance will be referred to the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB).
Suspension: The temporary removal of a student from school, one to five days in length. Schoolwork may be made up, at the discretion of the teacher.
Emergency Disaster: An emergency due to fire, flood, or major disaster. Students will be allowed to make up the work.
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Parent Notification
Each day a student is absent, the parent or guardian will receive a recorded message from the district’s computer dialing system. If your student will be out of school for an extended period of time (five school days or longer), please contact the House Office.
Readmits
Readmits are completed in the House Offices.
All students returning from an absence must first report to their House Office, whether or not the student has a note. Students are to conduct business before school begins to avoid being tardy. The student must have proper ID and a signed note containing the following information:- Student’s Name (First and Last) and 6-digit I.D. number
- Date of absence; period(s) absent if less than an entire day
- Reason for the absence
- Printed Name and Signature of parent/guardian.
- Phone number where parent/guardian can be reached for verification
There are legal consequences if your student misses too much school. You must send a note to be given to your House Office within 72 hours to clear any unresolved absences. Unresolved absences result in a recorded truancy after three days.
Method of Verification (SMMUSD AR 5113)
When a student who has been absent returns to school, he/she shall present a satisfactory explanation verifying the reason for the absence. 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:- Written note, fax, or email from parent/guardian or parent representative.
- 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:
a. Name of student
b. Name of parent/guardian or parent representative
c. Name of verifying employee
d. Date(s) of absence (or period(s) if the absence was less than 1 day)
e. Reason for absence - Visit 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.
- Physician's verification.
a. When excusing students for confidential medical services or verifying such appointments, district staff should not ask the purpose of such appointments but may contact a medical office to confirm the time of the appointment.
b. When a student has had 5 full-day absences in the school year for illness verified by methods listed in #1-3 above, any further absences for illness shall be verified by a physician.
