Attendance Awareness

Attendance Awareness Month

September is Attendance Awareness Month, a nationwide event recognizing the connection between school attendance and academic achievement. The goal of the movement is to mobilize schools and communities, not only to promote the value of good attendance, but also to take concrete steps toward reducing chronic absence. For information on September Attendance Awareness Month and promoting good attendance year round visit www.attendanceworks.org.

About Attendance

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Good attendance will help children do well in school, college, and at work. Absences can affect the whole classroom when the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.

Did you know?

• Public school funding is based on attendance.  The state gives each school money for every child in attendance and ON TIME!  Brookvale misses out on funding if a child is late or absent.  This affects vital programs for our students.
• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10 percent of school (about 2 days a month or 18 days a year) makes it harder to learn to read or write.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two every few weeks.
• Being late to school disrupts the start of class and can make your child miss important lessons.

Attendance – Daily attendance at school is mandatory

Daily attendance at school is mandatory. If a student is absent, the parent/guardian is to call the school the same day as the absence. If the school does not receive a call or note from the parent/guardian, the school will attempt to make contact. When the student returns to school, a valid explanation verifying the reason for the absence must be provided by the parent/guardian (see Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook and Notice of Rights and Responsibilities) for detailed information on excused and unexcused absences). Students with excessive unexcused absences will be referred to SARB.

School Attendance Review Board

The School Attendance Review Board (SARB) is composed of representatives from the District, law enforcement, probation and various community based and youth services agencies. Members work collaboratively to diagnose the problem and develop a plan to get the student back to school. Failure to meet with SARB or follow its directives can result in referral to Juvenile Probation for truancy mediation, or the District Attorneys office for prosecution.

SARB Hearing Dates are usually held on Tuesdays.

Resources to Support Attendance Initiatives

Families In Need – resources for families

Health Guidance for Going to School

Health Guidance Handout 2023 (Spanish)

Is your child missing school due to anxiety?

Daytime Youth Protection

9.45.070 Prohibited activity – City of Fremont, CA

(a) It is unlawful for any minor under the age of 18 years, who is subject to compulsory education or to compulsory continuation education, to be in or upon any public street, highway, road, alley, park, playground, or other public ground, public place, public building, place of amusement, eating establishment or vacant lot when the minor is required to be in school. This section shall only apply during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on days when the minor’s school is in session.

Full wording of code at codepublishing.com/CA/Fremont including Night Time Protection and Enforcement.