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Attendance

 

Why Attendance Matters

Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success and high school graduation. Missed class time means missed instruction, classroom discussions, and opportunities to learn alongside peers that written make-up work cannot fully replace.

Getting into the habit of attending school every day is more important than ever. Regular attendance helps:

  • Reduce stress
  • Make it easier for students to build relationships with friends and teachers
  • Support learning and academic success

Attendance also drives school funding. California funds school districts based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA), not enrollment. Albany Unified receives approximately $70 per student for each day a student is present. Any absence, whether excused or unexcused, reduces that funding and impacts the resources available to support students across our schools.

If your family is experiencing challenges with attendance, please reach out. We are here to help and partner with you to support your child's success. Please contact your school’s attendance clerk if you need assistance.

We are committed to making our schools places where every student feels safe, healthy, connected, and ready to learn. We value our partnership with families and encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns throughout the year.

Finally, please make sure we have your current email address and the best phone numbers to reach you so we can stay connected and keep you informed.

 

A young girl with a backpack smiles while holding an adult's hand near a blue wall.

Start of Year and Re-Enrollment

  • Students who are not attending by the third day of school will be disenrolled.
  • Families must re-enroll at the District Office and re-verify their Albany residency.
  • Families who have moved outside the district must apply for an interdistrict transfer through their district of residence.

Attendance FAQ

Reporting an Absence

Notify your child's attendance office by 10:00 a.m. the day of the absence (name, grade, date, reason). You have up to 5 school days to verify — after that, the absence is unexcused. Verifying an absence does not automatically make it excused; that depends on Ed Code § 48205 / BP-AR 5113.

Secondary schools (AMS, AHS/MacGregor) track attendance by period: clear absences with the teacher too, and report single-class errors directly to that teacher. Uncleared or unexcused absences can affect make-up work credit and, at AHS, extracurricular eligibility.

Excused vs. Unexcused Absences

  • Excused Absences (Education Code § 48205)
    • Illness, quarantine, or medical/dental appointments
    • Bereavement (up to 5 days)
    • Jury duty or court appearance
    • Religious holiday, ceremony, or retreat (up to 1 day per semester)
    • Pre-approved justifiable personal reasons
    • Completed Independent Study (5 or more days, arranged in advance)
  • Unexcused Absences
    • Absences that remain unverified after 5 school days
    • Vacations, retreats, or family trips
    • Incomplete Independent Study
    • Suspensions
    • Tardies of 30 or more minutes without a valid excuse
  • Important Reminder
    • A doctor's note is required for illness absences exceeding 10 days in a school year. Without a doctor's note, additional illness absences will be considered unexcused.

Pre-Planned & Religious Absences

1–4 days: submit an advance written request for a justifiable personal reason (court, funeral, religious retreat, employment/education conference, military family, naturalization, precinct board, etc.) for principal approval — use the Pre-Excused Absence Request form. Principals will determine approval for these.

5+ days: request an Independent Study Contract at least 5 school days ahead — preserves ADA funding and keeps the student learning.

Religious observance: Ed Code § 48205 allows 1 day/semester for observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion or attendance at a religious retreat (advance request; AUSD's practice is to excuse even without notice). Ed Code § 46014 allows up to 4 days/month for participation in religious excercises or instruction. with written parent consent. 

 

Vacations & Extended Absences

Trips outside scheduled breaks are unexcused. If a student is out 10+ consecutive days, AUSD disenrolls the student to avoid a truancy report; re-enrollment is treated as a new application (school/course placement not guaranteed).

Tardies & Truancy

Under Ed Code § 48260, a student is truant after 3 unexcused full-day absences or 3 unexcused tardies/early departures of 30+ minutes in a year — compulsory attendance (§ 48263, ages 6–18) applies even if you verified the absence, if the reason doesn't meet § 48205.

AUSD's tiered response: 3 absences → letter, 5 absences → second letter + SART conference; 7 absences → third letter + SART follow-up, 10+ (chronic) → continued SART, then SARB referral if goals aren't met.

  • SART — restorative meeting (principal/designee, counselor, attendance clerk) that identifies barriers and creates a signed agreement with goals and follow-up dates.
  • SARB — formal district-level board convened when SART hasn't resolved chronic absence; may escalate further if unresolved.

Albany High School & MacGregor — Site Notes

 

  • Absences/make-up work must be cleared within 5 school days — no exceptions; unexcused work is accepted at teacher discretion.
  • No participation in an activity on a day a student is absent (unless verified emergency); absent Friday → no weekend activities.
  • 3+ unexcused absences in a grading period may restrict extracurricular eligibility (athletics, performing arts, clubs, dances, etc.).
  • Tardy = not seated, ready to work, at the bell; habitual tardiness may lead to discipline.
  • Leaving campus requires a Permit to Leave from the Attendance Office (phone or, preferably, written note); sign in/out for partial-day absences.
  • Open campus at lunch only; closed otherwise.
  • Homework for 2+ day absences: call before 10 a.m., pick up 2–4 p.m. at the Attendance Office; for extended absences, contact the counselor.

Make-Up Work & Moving

Students get full credit for work missed during an excused absence (generally 1 day to make up per day absent); teacher determines equivalent assignments. Funding is lost for any missed day regardless (true since 1998) — see “Why Attendance Matters” above.

Moving away: complete the School Exit Form (Enrollment tab on the AUSD website) and notify your school of the last attendance day; AUSD will forward records to the new school.

This FAQ summarizes BP/AR 5113 and Education Code §§ 48205, 46014, 48260–48273. The adopted Board Policy and Education Code govern if anything here differs.