Parents » Attendance Policies / Procedures

Attendance Policies / Procedures

Attendance Policies

Attendance and punctuality rank high on the list of priorities of the Culver City High School faculty and staff.
Regular school attendance is vital to successful academic growth. The interaction of students with each other in the
classroom and participation in class are irreplaceable components of the learning process. Student absences,
whether excused or not, disrupt the continuity of the learning process.

Attendance Requirement: California Education Code (law) requires all students to attend school until the age of
eighteen or until graduation. The school’s Attendance Policy is consistently followed and uniformly enforced.
 
No Go List Policy: Students with 4 or more unexcused absences from any one period during a semester may be
deemed ineligible to participate in extra-curricular activities including team sports / events, AVPA, and
extra-curricular field trips for the following quarter.
 
Excused Absences – EC 46014, 48205
Pupils, with the written consent of their parents or guardians, may be excused from
school in order to participate in religious exercises or to receive moral or religious instruction.
 
No pupil shall have his or her grade reduced or lose academic credit for any excused absence or
absences, if missed assignments and tests that can reasonably be provided are satisfactorily completed
within a reasonable period of time.
 
Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:
(1) Due to the pupil’s illness.

(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) 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 therefore. 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.
 
Unexcused reasons for being absent from school are considered truancies (Attendance code “U”) if the student
voluntarily does the following without parent consent. Absences for reasons listed below are “unexcused, but
verified” (Attendance Code “R”) if the parent or guardian authorizes the absence for any of the following:

1. Personal reasons not classified as excused by California Education Code and CCUSD Board Policy.

2. College visits without prior administrator approval.

3. Family vacation, going to the beach, lake, river, mountains or desert.

4. Getting ready for a date.

5. Babysitting, taking care of other family members.

6. Repairing car or household items.

7. Waiting for service or repair people.

8. Attending a sporting event other than a school sponsored event in which the student is a participant.

9. Other reasons not included in Education Code sections 46010 and 42805.

All other absences will be considered UNEXCUSED. California Education Code states that teachers do NOT have to give a student make‐up work for an UNEXCUSED absence.
 
Clearing Absences
Attendance is reported each period to the Attendance Office. Parents will be notified of absences by automated
phone messages and computer generated letters. Parents are also encouraged to check Aeries.net (Parent Portal)
on a regular basis for up to the minute attendance reports. In the event of an absence, students must clear the
absence with the Attendance Office. Students may visit the Attendance Office before school, during lunch and/or
after school. To clear the absence:
 
● Parent/Guardian must call the Attendance Office at (310) 842-4200 - extensions 3344 (for last names
beginning with A-K) and 3345 (for last names beginning with L-Z) EACH DAY to report the absence. Parents
may also email [email protected] regarding student absences.
● Absence notes must be signed by a parent/guardian. The school must be notified each day of an extended
absence. Parents/guardians who verify an absence by phone are strongly encouraged to confirm the
absence in writing. (A written note does not automatically mean an excused absence.)
● If the absence is not cleared within 5 days, the absence will be permanently marked unexcused or truant.
 
Late Arrival/Pass Policy
Students with a legitimate reason for arriving late (illness, medical appointments, religious or funeral attendance)
must obtain a re-admit from the Attendance Office prior to entering campus. Students who arrive late without a
legitimate excuse will be marked Tardy or Truant. Notes from parents/guardians given directly to teachers to
excuse tardiness will not be accepted. All students must report to class on time. Please be advised that notes,
phone calls or visits from parents/ guardians to excuse tardies will not be accepted. Only a verified medical
excuse (doctor’s note) will be accepted. Medical notes for being late to school must be submitted to the
Attendance Office at the time of arrival to campus (within the first 30 minutes of class). They may not be cleared
afterward.
 
Unexcused Tardies
● Alarm did not ring/slept late.
● Car problems/flat tires/no gas.
 
Tardy Policy
The staff of Culver City High School encourages each student to strive for academic excellence. Teachers are
committed to providing quality lessons, which are challenging, rewarding and interesting for students. It is the
students’ responsibility to take advantage of the learning opportunities that are offered each class period. All
students are expected to be punctual and prepared for each class daily. A student is tardy if s/he is not in his/her
correct seat and prepared to begin class at the ringing of the tardy bell. If a student arrives 30 minutes or more into
the period, it will be recorded as an absence which may turn into a truancy [Ed Code 48260 (a)].
 
Classroom Teacher Progressive Policy
All students are required to be in their seat and prepared to work (materials, pen, pencil, paper, etc.) when the
tardy bell rings.
1. 1st – 5th
tardy in each class: Any or all of the following:
a. The student is given a warning/student conference
b. Detention, beginning with the 3rd
tardy
c. Parent Conference or call

2. 6th- 9th tardy: Any or all of the following:
a. Detention
b. Student Conference
c. Parent Conference or call
d. Referral to Counselor
e. Teacher assigns Saturday School and parent is called
 
3. 10th tardy and each additional: Any or all of the following:
a. Detention or Saturday School assigned (parent called)
b. Student Conference
c. Parent Conference or call
d. Referral to Counselor
e. Referral to AP of Attendance-Parent contacted & student and parent may be referred to Student Attendance
Review Board.
 
Please be advised that notes, phone calls or visits from parents/guardians to excuse tardies will not be accepted.
Only a verified medical excuse (doctor’s note) will be accepted.
 
Tardy Sweeps
Students are to arrive to class on time each and every period. Tardy sweeps are designed to identify students who
are chronically tardy to class/school while encouraging promptness. The consequence for students caught in tardy
sweeps is a one hour detention. Tardy sweeps are conducted regularly during random periods. Students tardy
during a tardy sweep will automatically be issued detention. Please check your records with the Attendance Office
if there are any questions and monitor your attendance on Aeries.Net.
 
Hall Pass Policy
Students may not be out of class without teacher permission and a hall pass. All students should take care of
personal needs during lunch and passing periods. Passes will not be issued during the first or last 10 minutes of
class/period. Students truant from class or out of class without a hall pass may be assigned to Saturday School.
 
Absence from Class
A student is absent when s/he is more than 30 minutes tardy or is not present during a scheduled class period. [Ed
Code 48260 (a)].
 
Extended Absence
Please contact your student’s counselor and the Attendance Office if your student will miss five or more days due
to serious illness, hospitalization or injury. A doctor’s note is needed to clear absences that last five days or longer.
 
Truancy or Excessive Absences
Truancy is defined as “students who are found off campus or out of bounds during class time without a valid
excuse”. Truant students may be issued school disciplinary consequences and/or cited by the Culver City Police
Department for truancy. Teachers and administrators will handle other consequences for truancies and tardies,
which can include assigning Saturday Schools or other consequences. Excessive truancies or absences will be
referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) which meets at the Culver City Police Station.
 
After the fourteenth (14) absence for illness, even if non-consecutive, the student must bring in a doctor’s note excusing absences. When a student has had 14 absences in the school year for illness, any further absences for illness must be verified by a physician (AR 5113 (c).

Leaving Campus
Students needing to leave campus for a pre‐arranged appointment must notify the Attendance Office by 8:00 am
to receive an “Off Campus Pass”. Leaving school without permission from the Nurse’s Office and/or Attendance
Office will warrant a TRUANCY with a disciplinary action. Students must be readmitted in the Attendance Office
when returning to campus (the same day or when returning the next school day) with the proper note/documentation. Parent(s) are to pick students up at the Attendance Office. The Off Campus Pass must be
signed (by a doctor/dentist for a medical excuse or parent for an emergency) and returned to the Attendance
Office upon returning to campus later in the day or the next morning. If a student becomes ill during the school
day, s/he should obtain a pass to the Nurse’s Office from the teacher or school official. A student should not call a
parent first and ask to be picked up anywhere on campus other than the Attendance Office. If the student is too ill to remain at school, the nurse will call and inform a parent so that arrangements may be made for the student to go home. The nurse will issue a “Health Office Excuse.” If the student is absent the next day, the student should
bring a parent note along with the “Health Office Excuse” issued to the Attendance Office for re-entry.
 
Students who leave campus without a pass from the Attendance Office or Nurse’s Office will be considered truant.
Telephone calls or notes to the Attendance Office after the student leaves campus without permission cannot clear
the truancy. This also applies to students who have a zero or seventh period.
 
IMPORTANT
● The Attendance Office will not accept calls or notes to excuse mid‐day absences after a student has
already left campus without an Off Campus Pass.
● Communication will be made to parents/guardians if their student (regardless of age or grade level) leaves
campus early or is absent from class.
● Culver City High School is a CLOSED CAMPUS. During the nutrition/brunch/lunch periods, students are to
remain in designated areas on campus. Students are not permitted to be off campus at any time unless a
parent/guardian provides a written request that is approved by the principal or principal’s designee.
 
Independent Study
There are times that absences are not legally excused but are necessary due to reasonable circumstances. Students who will be absent five or more days at a time should apply at least 10 school days in advance for Independent Study. This process is required for all students including actors employed by a film company with or without a set tutor. Students who fail to complete paperwork in a timely manner will receive unexcused absences with the appropriate consequences under the CCHS Attendance Policy.
 
All Independent Study Contracts must be approved at least TEN DAYS IN ADVANCE. Last minute incomplete
information may result in being denied credit for your absence.
 
Students must follow these procedures to receive approval for independent study (per Board Policy 6158):
Eligibility: Absences must be for five (5) days or more. At least ten days in advance, the student must submit
to the Attendance Office in writing a parent request for Independent Study stating the specific reason why the
student in unable to attend school.
Request: At least one week in advance, the student circulates a Contract for Independent Study and obtains
each teacher’s signature. (Each of the student’s teachers must be able and willing to give assignments
comparable to the classwork the student would miss through absences. If one teacher is unable or unwilling to
give the assignment, the student will not be able to be on Independent Study.
Teachers: Each teacher must complete a Weekly Assignment Sheet and note assignments on the form.
Approval: The Assistant Principal, Attendance may approve or deny the request depending on the reasons
and/or whether or not the student’s attendance and academic progress are satisfactory.
Requirements: If approved, the student will be given a minimum of four hours of study per subject per week
while away from school. The student must complete all assignments no later than the day the student returns
to school.
Procedure: Upon returning to school, the student turns in all assignments to each teacher. The teachers
evaluate the amount of work completed and signs and date every assignment. The teacher returns weekly
assignment sheets to the student with samples of corrected work attached within three (3) days after the
student returns. The student must return assignment sheets with sample of corrected work immediately to the
Attendance Office. The Attendance Clerk will record the absence as Independent Study and save the
assignments for future State Attendance Audits.
Credit: As determined by the teachers, the Independent Study credit shall be granted when it has been
determined that the contract has been fulfilled. Should the student not fulfill the minimum time
documentation or assigned work requirements by the due date listed on his/her contract or fail to turn in
assignments to the Attendance Office within three days, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.
 
Senior Off-Campus Lunch Privileges
1. The Senior Off-Campus Lunch pass is a privilege available to Senior students in good standing and will
be reviewed quarterly. Students must meet the following criteria: 2.0 GPA; satisfactory attendance,
no detention or Saturday School owed; and 40 hours of Service Learning completed. Applications are
available in the office of the Secretary to the Assistant Principal over Athletics
 
2. Students must apply and be approved for an off-campus lunch pass.
 
3. This privilege is for lunch time only. Unsatisfactory attendance (including more than seven tardies to
5th period) will result in loss of this Senior privilege.
 
4. Seniors are not allowed to drive other non-seniors off campus for lunch. Violation will result in
immediate loss of privilege and disciplinary action for all students involved.
 
5. Any misbehavior or abuse related to this privilege will result in this privilege being revoked.
 
6. Access for off campus lunch will only be through the senior parking lot. Students may not exit through
the Main Office. Students who exit campus other than through the senior parking lot may lose their
off campus privileges.
 
7. Off-campus passes will be reviewed at the end of each quarter. Off-campus privileges will be revoked
if the student no longer meets the requirements.
 
This privilege may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the Administration
Ausencias Justificadas – CE 46014, 48205

Alumnos, con consentimiento por escrito de sus padres o tutores legales, podrán ser
dispensados de la escuela para participar en ejercicios de la religión o para recibir enseñanza
moral o religiosa.
 
A ningún alumno se le podrá bajar de calificación o quitar crédito académico por ausencia(s)
justificada(s), si las tareas y exámenes faltantes que se puedan proveer razonablemente son
completadas satisfactoriamente dentro de un periodo de tiempo razonable.
 
No obstante la Sección 48200, un alumno será excusado de la escuela cuando la ausencia sea:
 
(1) Debido a la enfermedad del alumno.
 
(2) Debido a cuarentena bajo la dirección de un oficial de salud del condado o la ciudad.

(3) Con el fin de que se presten servicios médicos, dentales, optométricos o quiroprácticos.
 
(4) Con el fin de asistir a los servicios funerarios de un miembro de la familia inmediata del
alumno, siempre que la ausencia no sea más de un día si el servicio se realiza en California y no
más de tres días si el servicio se realiza fuera California.
 
(5) A los fines del servicio de jurado en la forma prevista por la ley.
 
(6) Debido a la enfermedad o cita médica durante el horario escolar de un niño del cual el alumno
es el padre con custodia, incluidas las ausencias para cuidar a un niño enfermo para el cual la
escuela no requerirá una nota de un médico.
 
(7) Por razones personales justificables, que incluyen, entre otras, una comparecencia en la corte,
asistencia a un servicio funerario, celebración de un día festivo o ceremonia de la religión del
alumno, asistencia a retiros religiosos, asistencia a una conferencia de empleo o asistencia en una
conferencia educativa sobre el proceso legislativo o judicial ofrecido por una organización sin
fines de lucro cuando el padre o tutor solicita la ausencia del alumno por escrito y el director o un
representante designado lo aprueba de conformidad con las normas uniformes establecidas por
la junta directiva.
 
(8) Con el propósito de servir como miembro de una junta electoral para una elección de
conformidad con la Sección 12302 del Código de Elecciones.
 
(9) Con el propósito de pasar tiempo con un miembro de la familia inmediata del alumno que es
un miembro en servicio activo de los servicios uniformados, según se define en la Sección 49701,
y que ha sido llamado al servicio para, está en licencia o ha sido inmediatamente regresó de,
despliegue a una zona de combate o posición de apoyo de combate. Las ausencias otorgadas de
conformidad con este párrafo se otorgarán por un período de tiempo que se determinará a
discreción del superintendente del distrito escolar.
 
(10) Con el fin de asistir a la ceremonia de naturalización del alumno para convertirse en
ciudadano de los Estados Unidos.
 
(11) Autorizado a discreción de un administrador escolar, como se describe en la subdivisión (c)
de la Sección 48260.
(b) A un alumno ausente de la escuela en virtud de esta sección se le permitirá completar todas
las tareas y exámenes perdidos durante la ausencia que puedan proporcionarse razonablemente
y, una vez finalizado satisfactoriamente dentro de un período de tiempo razonable, se le otorgará
el crédito completo por ello. El maestro de la clase de la cual el alumno está ausente determinará
qué pruebas y tareas serán razonablemente equivalentes, pero no necesariamente idénticas, a las
pruebas y tareas que el alumno perdió durante la ausencia.
(c) Para los propósitos de esta sección, la asistencia a retiros religiosos no excederá de cuatro
horas por semestre.
(d) Las ausencias conforme a esta sección se consideran ausencias en el cálculo de la asistencia
diaria promedio y no generarán pagos de prorrateo estatales.
(e) “Familia inmediata”, como se usa en esta sección, significa el padre o tutor, hermano o
hermana, abuelo o cualquier otro pariente que viva en el hogar del alumno.