Attendance and Truancy
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work. Absences can affect the whole classroom when the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
Every Day Counts - Attendance Awareness
Did you know?
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
- Missing 10 percent of school (about 2 days a month or 18 days a year) makes it harder to learn to read.
- Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two every few weeks.
- Being late to school disrupts the start of class and can make your child miss important lessons.
Attendance Awareness Month
September is Attendance Awareness Month, a nationwide event recognizing the connection between school attendance and academic achievement. The goal of the movement is to mobilize schools and communities, not only to promote the value of good attendance, but also to take concrete steps toward reducing chronic absence. For information on September Attendance Awareness Month and promoting good attendance year round visit www.attendanceworks.org/.
Attendance - Daily attendance at school is mandatory
Daily attendance at school is mandatory. If a student is absent, the parent/guardian is to call the school the same day as the absence. If the school does not receive a call or note from the parent/guardian, the school will attempt to make contact. When the student returns to school, a valid explanation verifying the reason for the absence must be provided by the parent/guardian (see Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook and Notice of Rights and Responsibilities) for detailed information on excused and unexcused absences). Students with excessive unexcused absences will be referred to SARB.
Letting parents know about available health care before there is a school attendance problem is always better than linking parents to health care after a student has been chronically absent. Information on how schools can can connect families to health coverage during the school year is available from the Children's Partnership at www.allinforhealth.org/ab_2706 Information about dental care for children can be found by clicking Dental Care for Children (English and Spanish).
School Attendance Review Board or SARB
The School Attendance Review Board (SARB) is composed of representatives from the District, law enforcement, probation and various community based and youth services agencies. Members work collaboratively to diagnose the problem and develop a plan to get the student back to school. Failure to meet with SARB or follow its directives can result in referral to Juvenile Probation for truancy mediation, or the District Attorneys office for prosecution.
SARB Hearing Dates normally on Tuesdays
Resources to Support Attendance Initiatives
Helping Children Succeed in School
Establishing School-Wide Attendance Incentives
Outreach to Parents and Guardians
Tips for School and Afterschool Staff
School Attendance Self-Assessment Tool
Sample Certificate of Achievement
Attendance Resource Link 2022/2023 (sign in)
Truancy Report
California's 4th Annual Truancy Report
The fourth In School + On Track report from California Attorney General Kamala Harris has been released. The report shows elementary truancy and chronic absenteeism rates are still high and disproportionate, but the report has a positive outlook because many school districts are moving in the right direction by addressing the problem of high and disproportionate chronic absenteeism rates.
The report, part of the work of the Department's Bureau of Children's Justice, finds that an estimated 210,000 K-5 students in California missed 10% of the school year in 2015-2016, making up 7.3% of elementary students in the state. The report also confirms earlier research on the disproportionately high rates of absenteeism among African American, Native American, and Pacific Islander elementary school students, special education students, and foster and homeless youth. The report does highlight that significant progress is being made, with school districts increasingly taking action to ensure children are in school, on time, every day. More districts are analyzing their chronic absenteeism data, and effective strategies have been implemented by Model SARBs and others to improve elementary school attendance for all subgroups.
Daytime Youth Protection (From Fremont Municipal Code)
9.45.070 Prohibited Activity
(a) It is unlawful for any minor under the age of 18 years, who is subject to compulsory education or to compulsory continuation education, to be in or upon any public street, highway, road, alley, park, playground, or other public ground, public place, public building, place of amusement, eating establishment or vacant lot when the minor is required to be in school. This section shall only apply during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on days when the minor's school is in session.
(b) This section does not apply:
(1) When the minor is accompanied by his or her parent, guardian, or other adult person having the care or custody of the minor; or
(2) When the minor is on an emergency errand directed by his or her parent or guardian or other adult person having care or custody of the minor; or
(3) When the minor is going or coming directly to or from his or her place of gainful employment or to or from a medical appointment; or
(4) When the minor has permission to leave school campus for lunch or school-related activity and has in his or her possession a valid, school-issued, off-campus permit; or
(5) When the minor is exempt by law from compulsory education or compulsory continuation education; or
(6) When the minor is authorized to be absent from his or her school under the provisions of Cal. Educ. Code § 48205, or any other applicable state or federal law; or
(7) When the minor is going directly to or from an event or activity that is directly related to any medical condition of a parent or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor. (Ord. 12-2006 § 8, 6-27-06. 1990 Code § 3-16200.)
9.45.080 Enforcement - Penalties
(a) Notwithstanding Section 1.15.010, a violation of this article is an infraction and not a misdemeanor.
(b) The fine for violation of this article shall be $75.00 for the first offense, $150.00 for the second offense within one calendar year of the first offense, and $250.00 for the third offense within one year of the second offense.
(c) This section shall not be construed to limit the authority of the court to render any disposition authorized by Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 258(a) or any other provision of the Juvenile Court Law for violation of this article. (Ord. 12-2006 § 9, 6-27-06. 1990 Code § 3-16210.)
