Attendance

Students must be in their assigned classroom when the bell rings to begin each period. If a student arrives after the first 10 minutes of the day, they MUST COME to the attendance office for an Admit Slip.

Call the attendance line the morning of the absence. Be prepared to give:

• Student's Name
• Grade
• Student ID number
• Date of the absence
• Reason for the absence
• Your relationship to the student

If your child is late to school in the morning, please call the attendance line before your child arrives, providing:

• Student's Name
• Grade
• Student ID number
• Date of late arrival
• Reason for late arrival
• Your relationship to the student

***Please note that most late arrivals are considered unexcused, unless for a medical appointment or other approved reason.***

Parents must sign their student out on the Sign Out Sheet. Students may not leave campus on their own, even if approved by their parent.

Our school has a policy of not interrupting classes during instruction time. Therefore, we are unable to deliver messages or forgotten items to your child during school hours.

If your child has forgotten items at home, you may bring them to the Front Office with the student's name and student ID number clearly marked. It is up to your child to pick up any items left for them in the office, so please inform them to check the Attendance Office between classes, at lunch, or after school for any items you may have delivered.

If you know ahead of time that your student will be missing 1-4 days of school, please complete a Pre-Approved Absence form. More information can be found in the "Pre-Approved Absence Form" tab below.

If you know ahead of time that your student will be missing 5-15 days of school, please complete an Independent Study Contract. More information is provided on the "Independent Study Contract" tab below.

Pre-Approved Absence Form

If you know ahead of time that your student will be missing 1-4 days of school due to one of the following reasons, please complete a Pre-Approved Absence form.

1. Appearance in court
2. Attendance at a funeral service for a non-immediate family member
3. Observation of a holiday or ceremony of his/her religion
4. Attendance at religious retreats of no more than four hours per semester

An extended list of reasons that are accepted are included on the form.

Download the form above or pick up the form at the Attendance Office. Completed forms are turned in to the Attendance Office before the first day of the absence and, if approved by an administrator, the student will receive an excused absence for the days absent and will not count towards truancy reports.

Independent Study Contract

1. Parents/Guardians must notify school administration at least 10 school days prior to the absence (2 weeks). School Administrators have the final decision to approve or not approve a request for a student to leave school on an Independent Study contract.
2. Per California Education Code, Independent Study Contracts are only issued to students who will be absent for a minimum of 5 school days. The maximum number of school days the contract will be approved for cannot exceed 15 school days. After 30 school days, due to our impacted schools, PUSD cannot guarantee your child will return to the same classroom or the same school.
3. If an emergency situation occurs while the student is on an approved Independent Study contract, please understand that we are unable to approve an extension to the existing contract. All efforts to notify the school, submit, and return the work to the teachers should be made in accordance with the existing contract. The additional days of absence will be marked according to our District attendance policy. School and classroom placement will be discussed upon return to PUSD.
4. Students must turn in work on, or before, the agreed contract date. If the student is on an Independent Study Contract that occurs during the end of a grading period, the student needs to submit the assignments to the teachers 3 days before the end of the grading period. Students may receive an incomplete on their report card or a lower grade in the class, if the assigned course work is not completed or returned on time.
5. A student with disabilities, as defined in Ed Code 56026, is not eligible for an Independent Study Contract unless his/her Individualized Education Program (IEP) specifically provides for such participation (Ed Code 51745). Please discuss this with your child’s case manager.
6. Students whose achievement level is below grade level standards may not be eligible or approved for an Independent Study contract.
7. Students who have had an Independent Study Contract in the past and did not successfully complete the work or terms of the contract are not eligible for a new contract during the same school year.
8. Students are only eligible for an Independent Study contract ONCE per school year.