BP 5113 — ABSENCES AND EXCUSES
Students BP 5113(a)
ABSENCES AND EXCUSES
The Board of Education believes that regular attendance plays an important role in
student achievement. The Superintendent or designee shall work with
parents/guardians and students to ensure their compliance with all state attendance
laws and may use appropriate legal means to correct problems of chronic absence or
truancy.
(cf. 5112.1 - Exemptions from Attendance)
(cf. 5112.2 - Exclusions from Attendance)
(cf. 5113.1 - Chronic Absence and Truancy)
(cf. 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)
(cf. 6154 - Homework/Makeup Work)
Absence from school shall be excused only for health reasons, family emergencies and
justifiable personal reasons, and work in the entertainment or allied industry, as
permitted by law, Board policy and administration regulation. (Education Code 48205,
48225.5)
Student absence for religious instruction or participation in religious exercises away
from school property may be considered excused subject to law and administrative
regulation. (Education Code 46014)
Inasmuch as school attendance and class participation are integral to students' learning
experiences, parents/guardians and students shall be encouraged to schedule medical
and other appointments during non-school hours.
Students shall not be absent from school without their parents/guardians' knowledge or
consent, except in cases of medical emergency or, as authorized pursuant to Education
Code 46010.1, for a confidential medical appointment.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
1740 Employment of Personnel to Supervise Attendance (County Superintendent)
37201 School Month
37223 Weekend Classes
41601 Reports of Average Daily Attendance
42238-42250.1 Apportionments
46000 Records (Attendance)
46010-46014 Absences
46100-46119 Attendance in Kindergarten and Elementary Schools
46140-46147 Attendance in Junior High and High Schools
48200-48208 Children ages 6-18 (Compulsory Full-time Attendance)
48210-48216 Exclusions from Attendance
48240-48246 Supervisors of Attendance
48260-48273 Truants
48292 Filing Complaint Against Parent
48320-48324 School Attendance Review Boards
48340-48341 Improvement of Student Attendance
BP 5113(b)
ABSENCES AND EXCUSES (cont.)
48980 Parental Notifications
49067 Unexcused Absences as Cause of Failing Grade
49701 Provisions of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children
ELECTIONS CODE
12302 Student Participation on Precinct Boards
FAMILY CODE
6920-6929 Consent by Minor for Medical Treatment
VEHICLE CODE
13202.7 Driving Privileges; Minors; Suspension or Delay for Habitual Truancy
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
601-601.4 Habitually Truant Minors
11253.5 Compulsory School Attendance
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
306 Explanation of Absence
420-421 Record of Verification of Absence Due to Illness and Other Causes
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS
87 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 168 (2004)
66 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 244 (1983)
COURT DECISIONS
American Academy of Pediatrics et al v. Lungren et al (1997) 16 Cal.4th 307
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS
Improving Student Achievement by Addressing Chronic Absence, Policy Brief, December 2010
WEBSITES
California School Boards Association: www.csba.org
Chino Valley Unified School District
Policy adopted: January 23, 1997
Revised: February 4, 1999
Revised: June 29, 2000
Revised: June 18, 2009
Revised: December 14, 2017
Revised: June 18, 2026