Attendance

If your child is staying home from school, please telephone the school on the MORNING of the absence at 408-423-1205. For your convenience there is a 24 hour voicemail on which messages can be left. You may also email information to bracherattendance@scusd.net. Please leave the following information with your message:

• Child's name
• Reason for absence
• Your name and relationship
• Student's teacher name or room number 
• Date of absence or absences

Excused Absences

Absences that are considered excused are regulated by California Ed. Code and include:

• Illness (after 3 consecutive days, medical excuse is required)
• Medical/Dental appointment
• Religious observance
• Bereavement for immediate family

Unexcused Absences

Absences that are not excused include:

• Family vacation
• Traffic
• Over slept
• Parent/Caregiver illness
• Car trouble
• Weather

If a child needs to leave before regular dismissal time, the parent or guardian must sign the student out in the office. Your child will ONLY be released to those listed on your Emergency Card. Do not go to the classroom to get your child. You must wait in the office until your child reports there.  Please do not interrupt your child's education unless it is unavoidable. Medical appointments should be made after school or as late in the day as possible. 

The nurse's office is located in the school's main office. The nurse, health clerk, or other office staff will determine whether a student needs to go home due to illness or injury. If it is determined that a student needs to leave because of illness or injury, the office will contact the parent or guardian. If the office is unable to contact the parent or guardian, others listed on the Emergency Card will be contacted to pickup the ill or injured student. If a student is seriously injured, emergency personnel will be contacted to administer medical aid and parents or guardians will be notified immediately. 

Students who arrive to school after 8:15am will be marked tardy. Students arriving after 8:15am must report to the office for a tardy pass. Students who arrive after 8:45 am are considered truant for the school day. 

Under State regulations, a student is considered truant if they are absent three or more days or are tardy more than 30 minutes for three days without a valid excuse. If the truancy is not corrected, a referral may be made to the district's School Attendance Review Board (SARB). 

For students with any combination of 3 unexcused absences and/or 3 tardies over 30 minutes during the school year, the State Truancy process will begin. The family can possibly be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) and other enforcement agencies such as the local police department or County Social Services.

Truancy Process

1. 1st Truancy Letter (Notification of truancy for 3 unexcused absences)

2. 2nd Truancy Letter (Meeting w/School Administrator for more than 3 unexcused absences)

3. 3rd Truancy Letter (Notification of Habitual Truancy and referral to SARB)

Students whose total absences have exceeded more than 10% of the school year to date will receive a 10% Notification Letter. Those who receive an active 10% letter must have doctor's notes to verify each time the student is absent from school.