Attendance

Student Attendance Expectations

School district policy and state law require daily on-time school attendance for students between the ages of 6 and 18 or until high school graduation or equivalent. 

Daily attendance leads to student success.

Studies show a direct correlation between daily school attendance and high student achievement. We encourage parents and guardians to reinforce the importance of daily on-time school attendance and to make every effort to send your child to school every day.

Excused Absences

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.

Truancy

Hayward Unified School District uses an automated program to monitor attendance and notify parents and legal guardians when students are considered truant. 

First Notification Letter To be classified as a truant, a student has had three (3) unexcused absences or three (3) tardies of 30 minutes or more. Education Code Section 48260.5 requires that the parent/guardian be notified by a letter informing them of what can occur if their child is not in school.

Second Notification Letter – Truancy Meeting If improvements in attendance have not been made, then a 2nd letter will be generated. The 2nd letter will have a time and date that you will need to meet with the Principal or Assistant Principal and Child Welfare and Attendance Outreach Worker to discuss why your student has been absent without valid reasons.

School Attendance Review Board (SARB) If all of the above has failed and your child is still not attending school, then your child will be referred for a School Attendance Review Board (SARB) hearing at Hayward Unified School District. 

Truancy Court Parents or legal guardians may be referred to Alameda County District Attorney's Office if students' attendance does not improve after SARB-hearing.  By state law, a parent or guardian can be held legally responsible if a child is truant. The DA's office is dedicated to working with educators, school administrators, law enforcement, health professionals and community-based organizations to ensure that our youth attend school every day and graduate ready to succeed in college and work.

Student Attendance Expectations

Students are expected to be in their classroom and prepared for instruction when the bell rings.  Students tardy to class interrupt the teacher's instructional plan and the learning process for all students. Students must be on time every day to benefit fully from the instructional program. Below are examples of excused and unexcused tardies.

Excused Tardies: Illness, medical, dental, the funeral of an immediate family member. 

Unexcused Tardies: Oversleeping, car troubles, heavy traffic, bus delays, etc.

If the student continues to be late, a referral will be sent to the Child Welfare and Attendance Office.