Attendance

• Personal Illness: Student's physical, mental, or behavioral health (Education Code 48205)  
• Quarantine: Directed by a county/city health officer. 
• Immediate Family Funeral/Grieving: Attending services or grieving for immediate family/close relations (up to 5 days per incident)  (Education Code 48205) 
• Jury Duty: As required by law  (Education Code 48205) 
• Childcare/Medical Care: For a child of a custodial parent student  (Education Code 48205) 
• Justifiable Personal Reasons: Pre-approved by principal/designee in writing for: (Education Code 48205) 
• Court appearances 
• Funeral attendance  
• Religious holidays/ceremonies 
• Religious retreats (max 1 day/semester)
• Employment conferences  
• Educational conferences on legislative/judicial processes (nonprofit-hosted) 
• Elections Service: Serving as an election precinct board member.  (Education Code 48205) 
• Military Family Leave: Time with active duty immediate family during deployment, leave, or return (duration at Superintendent's discretion)  (Education Code 48205) 
• Naturalization: Attending student's U.S. citizenship ceremony  (Education Code 48205) 
• Cultural Events: Participating in traditional cultural ceremonies.  (Education Code 48205) 
• Civic/Political Engagement: Middle/high school students participating in civic events with prior notice (max 1 day/year unless permitted otherwise)  (Education Code 48205) 
• Victim & Safety Support Services: Up to 3 days per incident following the death of immediate family/close relation to access victim services, grief support, or safety planning/relocation  (Education Code 48205) 
• Military Entrance Processing: Student participation in military processing 
• Religious Instruction/Exercises: Off-campus religious instruction (Education Code 46014)
• Entertainment Industry Work: Up to 5 consecutive days/absences per school year with a valid work permit  (Education Code 48225.5) 
• Performing Arts: Participation in nonprofit performances for public school audiences.  (Education Code 48225.5) 
• Discretionary Absence: Principal/designee approval based on specific circumstances  (Education Code 48205, 48260) 

For the purpose of the absences described above, immediate family means the student’s parent/guardian, sibling, grandparent, or any other relative living in the student’s household. (Education Code 48205)

All students arriving less than 10 minutes into their first class may go straight to class. All students arriving after 10 minutes, must report to the Attendance Window prior to going to class. If a student arrives more than 30 minutes late, please notify attendance.

Students arriving late to school must come to the Attendance Office.   Parents may send an email, or call the attendance hotline, if this tardy is to be excused.

In order to medically excuse your student's absence or tardy, the State of California requires verification from your health care provider. Medically excused absences are coded differently than regular excuses. Please ask the health care provider for a note for school before leaving the medical or dental office. Bring the note to the Attendance Window so we can update your attendance.

Please provide medical documentation from the health care provider excusing your student from class. Students may bring note to the Attendance Window upon arrival on-campus or scan and email to [email protected] for our records.

8 excused absences in a school year is considered excessive. If you have a planned absences, please contact the Attendance Office, and specify to request "OCIS". Please note, traveling / out of town is not valid reasons, and considered as unverified absence. 
A minimum of five school days' notice is required to arrange an OCIS Contract.  

Why is Independent Study Important?

 

 Students have a right to be provided with instructional materials when they miss school. This ensures that your student gets the vital practice and instruction they need to succeed academically, as well as access to any special services that they are entitled to.

Short-term Off Campus Independent Study (OCIS) is an optional educational alternative that students voluntarily select, including expelled students and/or students whose expulsion has been suspended (Education Code §48915 or §48917). All students who choose OCIS have the continuing option of returning to the classroom. Short-term OCIS is to be substantially equivalent in quality and quantity to classroom instruction. Students who choose to engage in Short-term OCIS are to have equality of rights and privileges with students in the regular school program. School officials may offer Short-term OCIS agreements prior to an absence

Parent/Guardian/Ed Rights Holder Agreements:
● Short-term OCIS is a voluntary educational alternative for students. 
● Students may participate in Short-term OCIS for a cumulative of 15 school days per school year. 
● Parents/Guardians/Ed Rights Holders are responsible for supervising their students as they complete assignments and ensure the submission of all assignments are done within 5 days of a student’s return to school. 
● Parents/Guardians/Ed Rights Holders are responsible for the cost and/or replacement of damaged, destroyed, or lost books and other school property checked out by students as part of their participation in Short-term OCIS.

Student Agreements:
● Participation in Short-term OCIS is voluntary. 
● Students are entitled to textbooks, supplies, and all services/resources received by other students. 
● Students are expected to complete assignments within 5 days of their return to school. 
● Student grades are based upon assignment completion and teacher grading policies. 
● Daily attendance will be based upon assignments attempted/completed by the student. 
● Students are expected to follow PUSD policies and behavior guidelines while on Short-term OCIS agreements

Teacher(s) Agreements: 
● Assignments will be provided through Canvas, other electronic means, and/or prepared packets. 
● Teacher evaluation of assignments will determine grades and credits earned. 
● Grades and credits earned have no impact on attendance. 
● Teachers will provide assignments equivalent to a full class period. 
● At the conclusion of the Short-term OCIS contract, teachers will provide a log of the time value equivalent for assignments attempted/completed and document each hour or fraction of an hour. 
● Academic and other supports will be provided electronically and/or in-person to all students including but not 
limited to English Learners, students with individualized education programs or Section 504 plans, students in 
foster care, students experiencing homelessness, and students requiring mental health supports including but not limited to counseling, small group instruction, teacher conferencing, and interventions. 
● Assignments attempted will be evaluated within 5 days of a student completing the Short-term OCIS agreement. 

*A family who plans to keep their student out of school beyond the 20 days is recommended to enroll their child in Poway Home Education Program (PHEP: TK through 8th grade) or New Directions (6th through 12th grade).
Please refer to the PUSD website for more information and contact the student’s counselor.
Hospital Home Instruction

If your student is marked absent in error, your student must contact the teacher who made the error. The teacher can email Attendance or write a note for the student to bring to the Attendance Office to have the error corrected.

To review your student's attendance, login to Parethe ntVUE account and go to Attendance Page.

 

For MyPLAN support, please email [email protected].　

If a teacher fails to show up on time, students are to remain by the door until the teacher or administrator arrives. Students who fail to do so will be considered truant from class. Period truancy will be handled through administration and may result in discipline, including, but not limited to, detention, campus beautification or loss of privileges.

 

 

 

 

The law in California regarding compulsory school attendance for minors is very specific and carries penalties for both parents and minors for failure to comply with these regulations.

Education Code, Section 48200 requires:

1. Parents/guardians to send minors under their custody to school on a daily basis for the full length of the school day as established by the governing board of the district.
2. Minors six (6) to sixteen (16) years of age to attend compulsory full-time school on a daily basis for the full length of the school day (or district alternative programs as available).
3. Minors sixteen (16) to eighteen (18) years of age to attend continuation school on a daily basis for the full length of the school day (if not enrolled in traditional high school or other alternative education program provided by the district.

Education Code, Section 48260-48263 provides definitions and referral procedures for:

1.             Any student to compulsory attendance who is absent without a valid excuse more than three (3) days in one school year is truant.
2.             Any student who has exceeded the unexcused absences or tardies as described above and for when an appropriate district employee has made conscientious effort to hold at least one (1) conference with the parent/guardian and the student is deemed a habitual truant.
3.             Any student defined as habitual truant who continues an unacceptable pattern of unexcused absences or tardies may be referred to the district’s School Attendance Review Board (SARB).

 

Education Code, Section 48320-48325 establishes the powers and duties of the SARB as:

1.             The authority to require a written contract between the parent/guardian and the student with the board.
2.             The authority to refer the student and/or guardian/parent to appropriate community service agencies for counseling.
3.             The authority to request alternative school or program placement for the student within or outside of the district.
4.             The authority to recommend that the parent/guardian attend school with the student.
5.             The authority to refer the student and/or guardian to the juvenile justice system (Court).

Education Code, Section 48293 establishes penalties against parents/guardians as:

1.             Upon a first conviction, a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100), parent education, counseling or community services.
2.             Upon a second conviction, a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), parent education, counseling or community service.
3.             Upon a third conviction, a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), parent education, counseling or community service.

Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 601 (et al) describes the consequences for habitual truancy if a minor pleads or is found guilty by trial to include but not limited to:

1.             Being made a ward of the court (placed on probation)
2.             Having a driver’s license revoked or denied until age eighteen (18).
3.             Being placed in juvenile hall for a violation of the order of the court.

NOTE: Failure to appear for a court hearing will result in the parent and/or minor being cited, having a bench warrant issued and being arrested and placed in jail/juvenile hall.

Local caregivers with parents living in San Diego County will not be approved.  Most caregiver situations involve parents that live in another county, state, or country.  Attendance & Discipline may consider local caregivers if there are extenuating circumstances.  The student must reside with the designated Caregiver on a regular daily basis. 

Students who have caregiver arrangements must have a completed Caregiver Authorization Affidavit renewal form submitted to Westview each school year.  The Caregiver Affidavit form is only valid for the school year in which it was signed.

New students to Westview, including incoming 9th graders, must provide both the notarized Assignment of Caregiver as Parent’s Representative and the Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit.

Students may not enroll without a parent or guardian. If a guardian is being appointed, the following must be completed.

•  Authorization Affidavit  English  
• Authorization Affidavit Spanish

• Assignment of Caregiver 

 

Questions and submission: Ritsuko Huth: [email protected]