Temple City Unified School District

It is important that you contact your child’s school if your child is absent from school. 

On the day of your student’s absence, you will receive a notification via phone call, text, or email even if the absence has been reported via our district system. Contacting parents and guardians of students who are not in class is an important measure undertaken by the District to ensure the safety of all of our students.

Truancy Definitions – EC 48260, 48262 and 48263.6  

A student is considered truant after three absences or three tardies of more than 30 minutes each time or any combination thereof and the absences or tardies are unexcused. After a student has been reported as a truant three or more times in a school year and the district has made a conscientious effort to meet with the family, the student is considered a habitual truant. A student who is absent from school without a valid excuse for 10% or more of the schooldays in one school year, from the date of enrollment to the current date, is considered a chronic truant. Unexcused absences are all absences that do not fall within EC 48205.  

 Arrest of Truants/School Attendance Review Boards – EC 48263 and 48264

The school attendance supervisor, administrator or designee, a peace officer, or probation officer may arrest or assume temporary custody during school hours, of any minor who is found away from his/her home and who is absent from school without valid excuse within the county, city or school district. A student who is a habitual truant may be referred to a School Attendance and Review Board (SARB). 

 Truant Consequences – EC 48263, 48267, 48268, and 48269; WIC 236, 601, 601.3,653.5, 654, and 651.5
Any student who is identified as “Truant” may be assigned as a ward of the court, if the available community resources do not resolve the students’ continued problem of truancy, by a Probation Officer or Deputy District Attorney.

Excused Absences – EC 46014, 48205

(a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:

(1) Due to the pupil’s illness, including an absence for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavioral health.

(2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.

(3) For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.

(4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the pupil’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.

(5) For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.

(6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent, including absences to care for a sick child for which the school shall not require a note from a doctor.

(7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization when the pupil’s absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.

(8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.

(9) For the purpose of spending time with a member of the pupil’s immediate family who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Section 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.

(10) For the purpose of attending the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.

(11) For the purpose of participating in a cultural ceremony or event.

(12) (A) For the purpose of a middle school or high school pupil engaging in a civic or political event, as provided in subparagraph (B), provided that the pupil notifies the school ahead of the absence. (B) (i) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) is required to be excused for only one school day-long absence per school year. (ii) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be permitted additional excused absences in the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.

(13) Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.(b) A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefor. The teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence. (c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester. (d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments. (e) “Immediate family,” as used in this section, means the parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the household of the pupil.

 Chronic Absenteeism – EC 60901

A student is considered a chronic absentee when he/she is absent on 10% or more of the school days in one school year, from the date of enrollment to the current date.  Chronic absenteeism includes all absences – excused and unexcused – and is an important measure because excessive absences negatively impact academic achievement and student engagement.

Effect of Absence on Grades/Credits

If a student's absence is excused under Education Code 48205, he/she shall be allowed to complete any missed assignment or test that can be reasonably given, as determined by the teacher of that class. The student shall be given full credit for the assignment or test if he/she satisfactorily completes the assignment or test within a reasonable period of time. (Education Code 48205)

A student's grades may be affected by excessive unexcused absences in accordance with Board Policy.

Tardiness: EC 48260 (a)

Children should be encouraged to be prompt as part of developing good habits. They are expected to be at school on time. If a child is late, the child should bring an excuse from home to the school office. A student will be classified as truant if they are tardy or absent for more than a 30-minute  period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year.