Attendance: Every Day Counts
Attending school allows children to learn, form relationships, and develop socio-emotional well-being. Research has shown that consistent attendance is associated with reading proficiency by the end of third grade and is a crucial predictor of high school graduation. It also shows that missing school can significantly impact learning, particularly in the early grades.
If children don’t show up for school regularly, they miss out on fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers.
Preliminary data from a California study found that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade.
Did you know?
-
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves.
-
Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important.
-
Good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school, college, and career.
You can help prevent chronic absenteeism by:
-
If you feel like you or your child are having trouble with attendance, please connect with your child's teacher, principal, or other school staff about how we can help.
-
Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
-
Set a routine with your child to lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
-
Keep your child healthy and make sure your child has the required vaccination.
-
Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
-
Try to schedule medical appointments and extended trips outside of school hours.
Absenteeism hurts!
- It hurts the students: When students have excessive absences they miss the benefits of education. They fall behind in their studies. They miss concepts that are important to understanding any subject. They miss socialization skills. They miss life skills, such as the capacity to understand, follow directions, and plan for the future.
-
It hurts other students: When a truant student returns to school, they require more individual attention from the teacher and deprive other students of the teacher’s attention.
-
It hurts the school and the school district: State financial support for schools is directly linked to student attendance. The more absences, the less revenue to the district. With less revenue, the district has less ability to offer educational programs for all students.
What is the law?
Compulsory attendance is the law in California from age 6 until the age of 18. (Education Code Section 48200)
A student who has three unexcused absences or three tardies or absences of more than 30 minutes, or any combination thereof, without valid excuse is considered legally truant. A student who has five unexcused absences or five tardies or absences of more than 30 minutes, or any combination thereof, is considered habitually truant and may be referred to the District Attorney’s Office for legal action. (Education Code Section 48262)
The parent or guardian is obligated to compel the attendance of the student at school. Parents who fail to meet this obligation may be subject to prosecution. (Education Code Section 48260.5
What are the legal consequences?
For parents or guardians, the court may require fines, parenting classes, loss of welfare benefits, and/or jail time.
For students, the court may require fines, community service work, loss of work permit, and/or one-year suspension/delay of California driver’s license.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office is dedicated to enforcing those laws that ensure every student attends school regularly and has the opportunity to achieve academic and social success in school.