Regular attendance is essential for academic and social success. Parents are responsible for making sure their children are at school daily and on time. The California Education Code (Sec. 48200) requires that all children between the ages of six and eighteen attend school. Students who miss an excessive number school days without communication from parents may be dropped from the school roster. Students who must miss more than five consecutive days of school should continue to work on their academics utilizing PLATO.

• Truant - Students who are absent from school for 3 or more days without a valid excuse or notification.

 

• Habitual Truant - Students who are absent from school for more than 3 days without a valid excuse or notification on three separate occasions.

 

• Truant Tardy – Student who is more than 30 minutes late to school without a valid excuse.

 

• Habitually Truant Tardy - Student is more than 30 minutes late to school without a valid excuse on 3 occasions.

 

• Excessive Absences – Student who misses more than 20 days of school regardless of reason.

 

**Habitually truant students and students with excessive absences, regardless of reason, will be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB), including the Merced County District Attorney’s Office.**

 

Reporting an Absence

There are two ways to report an absence:

1. Parents must immediately call ASA at 357-6515 (if no answer, please leave a voice message) or Mitchell Senior's office at 357-6124 to report absences.
2. Send a written note with the student on the first day they return from the absence.  If the student has missed more that three (3) consecutive days, a note must be brought to school from the student's doctor.