Modesto City Schools Attendance Policy

Modesto City Schools, have adopted a strict attendance policy regarding unexcused absences. An unexcused absence is issued after the student misses 30 minutes of class time without authorization, and may result in a step of truancy. Excused absences are those due to illness, medical, dental or optometric appointments, and funeral services for a member of the student’s immediate family as approved by the student’s parent or legal guardian, or for personal reasons with prior administrative approval as noted in the conduct code. Absences due to transportation or traffic issues, power outages, and oversleeping are not excused. Should your student have excessive unexcused absences to their first class of the day, a truancy step may be issued for the accumulation of 6 unexcused absences.

Students who are absent from school without approval of the school shall be considered truant/unexcused and shall NOT be allowed to make-up assignments or tests which were assigned during the truancy/unexcused absence. Students who leave the campus or the classroom without proper school authorization will be considered truant.

Note: If the student has an absence verified at the attendance office at a later time, he/she is not allowed make-up privileges unless he/she presents the teacher a verified re-admit slip within ONE day after the student returns to school.

Further, absences will be considered unexcused and may affect extra-curricular eligibility if not cleared within SEVEN school days after the student returns to school

The preceding are only a few attendance situations. For more detailed information, please refer to the Student Conduct Code.

If a student misses 10 days of school, a District letter is automatically generated and sent home.

Once a pupil accumulates 15 absences (excused or unexcused) during one school year:

  1. A school administrator may place the student on Attendance Supervision which imposes a requirement that additional absences must be verified by a licensed medical practitioner. (C.A.C. Title 5 sec. 421 b)

  2. A student may not be placed on Attendance Supervision unless the parent/guardian has been notified previously in conference or by letter of the District’s excessive absence policy after that student has been absent 10 days or more.

  3. Once a student has been placed on Attendance Supervision, a school administrator/certificated designee shall call and hold a parent conference. Parent/guardian will again be informed of the District’s excessive absence policy. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, the administrator/ designee will hold a conference with the student and a certified letter shall be sent informing the parent/guardian that the student is placed on Attendance Supervision and the pertinent provisions of the excessive absence policy.

  4. Parents of a student who is absent from school five (5) or more times without the required verification from a doctor are subject to being referred to the School Attendance Review Board. (E.C. 48320-48324)

  5. (7-12) A student absent from school five (5) or more times without the required verification:

    • WILL BE INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AT THE REGULAR CAMPUS.

    • WILL NOT BE ISSUED A WORK PERMIT OR THE WORK PERMIT WILL BE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED BY THE ISSUING AUTHORITY AT THE REGULAR CAMPUS. (E.C. 49164)

    • MAY BE REFERRED TO THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REVIEW BOARD.

    • MAY BE REFERRED TO AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM, SUCH AS CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL IF THE STUDENT IS SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. (E.C. 48432.5)

Note: Three (3) period absences equal one (1) full-day absence and will be counted toward the fifteen days.

Note: Written notification will be sent to the parents of a student who is absent from

STUDENT MAY BE REFERRED TO AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM, SUCH AS CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL IF THE STUDENT IS SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, OR TO OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL/PROGRAM/CLASS IF THE STUDENT IS UNDER SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE.

(7-12) STUDENT IS INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AT THE REGULAR CAMPUS.

(7-12) A WORK PERMIT WILL NOT BE ISSUED/OR WORK PERMIT WILL BE REVOKED BY THE WORK EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR.

If a student has a chronic illness, please submit a medical authorization to both the attendance office and the nurse’s office.