Paso Robles High School Parents:

 

Regular school attendance is a critical factor in achieving academic success and is also an important component of responsibility with respect to post high school endeavors- be it college or the workplace. The value of the daily classroom interaction between teachers and their students cannot be duplicated or substituted in any way.  Each absence limits student potential to master the subject and be successful in the class. To help ensure regular and punctual attendance absences and tardies will be strictly monitored in accordance with Paso Robles Public School Board policy and California Education Codes.

 

Pursuant to California Education Code, it is the duty of each parent, guardian, or person having control or custody of a minor, to compel and guarantee regular and prompt attendance to class.  Absences from school should be avoided except in the cases of emergency and illness. According to California Education Code your phone call or note to the Attendance Office merely “verifies” your student’s absence it does not necessarily “excuse” the absence. Authorized excused absences consist of the following:

 

  • Illness
  • Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer
  • Medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic services
  • Student is custodial parent for ill child
  • Attendance at funeral services of immediate family member
  • Jury duty
  • Appearance in Court
  • Religious observance (Religious retreats of four hours per semester)

 

All other absences, to include ones for personal reasons will be treated as unexcused. All absences must be verified by the parent/guardian up to 72 hours after the absence. Verification can be made by contacting the Paso Robles High School Attendance Office at (805) 237-3330 or by sending a signed note upon return to school explaining the absence. If your student is going to be late to school in the morning, please send a note.  With only 2 people in the Attendance Office and 2200 students, we cannot possibly answer all calls..

 

Any correction to the attendance record after 72 hours must be made in writing. Paso Robles High School uses a daily automated calling system to notify parents of any unverified absences during the day. For purposes of attendance, three unexcused tardies is the equivalent of one unexcused absence.  Any single tardy in excess of 15 minutes is also considered an unexcused absence.   

 

Students accumulating four unexcused absences (or 24 period absences) will be declared a “Habitual Truant” and will be subject to review by the School Attendance Review Board (SARB). Upon being declared a Habitual Truant the parent/guardian will receive a letter stating that fact and will be asked to contact the school to discuss the matter.  Upon six unexcused absences (or 36 period absences) the parent/guardian will receive notification of a meeting to be held with school personnel. Upon eight unexcused absences (or 48 period absences) the parent/guardian will be recommended to the North County School Attendance Review Board. The North County Student Attendance Review Board is made up of representatives from the school district, law enforcement, social service, probation, mental health, and the district attorney’s office Outcomes may include: referral to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution and may result in fines or loss/delay of driving privilege.

 

According to California Education Code (48293) any parent/guardian who fails to ensure their student’s attendance may be guilty of an infraction and can be punished as follows: $100 for the first conviction; $250 for the second conviction; $500 for the third conviction; Rather than a fine, a parent/guardian may be placed in parent education or counseling program. A parent/guardian may also be fined $1000 for willful violation of a court order directing that a student must be enrolled in school or education program.

 

Excused absences are also tracked at Paso Robles High School. If a student is absent due to illness or doctor/dental appointments more than 10% of the school days to date, or the total school days of the school year, the student must provide a doctor’s verification for each additional absence to be excused.  Failure to provide verification from a doctor or school nurse will result in additional absences being recorded as unexcused. Upon exceeding the 10% threshold, the school will send notification to the parent/guardian.

 

Paso Robles Public Schools Board policy gives teachers at Paso Robles High School the option to reduce a student’s grade as a result of excessive unexcused absences. If a student misses class due to unexcused absences and does not subsequently turn in homework, take a test, or fulfill another class requirement that he/she missed, the teacher may lower the student’s grade for nonperformance. Students with excessive unexcused absences may be given a failing grade and not receive credit for the class.

 

If the teacher exercises this option the following will be observed (BP 5121a):

 

  • The teacher will review grading standards regarding attendance with all students enrolled in their classes at the beginning of each semester.
  • At the beginning of the school year, the teacher will send home a notice to the parents stating the grading policy as it pertains to attendance and will require the student to return the notice with parent signature.
  • The teacher will not reduce the grade before the fourth unexcused absence. As with the regular attendance policy, three unexcused tardies equal one unexcused absence.
  • When the student approaches one absence prior, the teacher will make contact with the parent to discuss the student’s grade.
  • A failing grade assigned to the student on the basis of excessive unexcused absences will be noted on the student’s transcripts with “F” grade and “failed due to excessive unexcused absences” in the comment section.
  • Should the student’s class schedule be changed at any time in the semester, the student’s attendance record will transfer with the student’s new class.

 

Absences from school without prior knowledge and consent of the parents/guardian, leaving school prior to the end of the day without permission, failure to attend class or detention or dropping a class before a change of schedule is approved will be considered truancies. 

 

Students who miss school because of an excused absence shall be given the opportunity to complete all assignments and tests that can be reasonably provided.  As determined by the teacher, the assignments and tests shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the assignments and tests missed during the absence. Students shall receive full credit for work satisfactorily completed within a reasonable time. Students who miss school because of unexcused absences shall be given the opportunity to make up work. Teachers shall assign makeup work as necessary to ensure academic progress, not as a punitive measure. Phone requests for work by parent/guardian may only be made after a student has been absent three days.  A minimum of 24 hours is necessary to obtain missed work from the student’s teachers.

 

Students arriving late to class pose a significant disruption to the learning process. As such students that receive three tardies or one or more period truancies may be referred to Saturday School.  Saturday School is held from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on selected Saturdays.  Letters will be mailed to the parents one week prior to the assigned Saturday School. Students assigned to Saturday School will arrive at the Activity Center prior to 8:00 a.m. Failure to attend Saturday School will result in after-school detention or in-school suspension. 

 

Paso Robles High School is a closed campus. Students are not permitted to leave campus once they arrive to start the school day. If a student leaves campus or is out of class without permission they are considered truant.  If a student must leave campus prior to the close of school, permission of the parent/guardian must be obtained and the student must possess an off campus permit.  Off Campus Permits must be requested by the end of Nutrition, in order for the Attendance Office to have the time to verify the validity of the requests.  Permits will be issued only during this time if the parent/guardian has given verbal or written permission to the school.  After nutrition, parents will be asked to come in to the Attendance Office to check their student out of school. Only persons listed on the Emergency Card will be allowed to take students off campus. Off campus permits for medical/dental reasons must be returned to the Attendance Office with the doctor’s/dentist’s verification to receive proper attendance credit.

 

Students who leave campus during the school day without obtaining an off campus permit will be considered truant, which may result in disciplinary action. In the event that a student leaves campus without first checking out through the Attendance Office, parents/guardians cannot verify the absence as excused after-the-fact. Off Campus Permits for medical/dental reasons must be returned to the Attendance Office with doctor’s/dentist’s verification to receive proper attendance credit. Off-Campus requests should include the following information: student’s name, date leaving, time leaving, time returning, reason for absence and signature of parent/guardian with a phone number where they can be reached on the day of the off-campus request. Parents are not allowed to go directly to the classroom to get a student.  Security personnel will escort the student to the Attendance Office.

 

If you have any questions regarding the attendance policy at Paso Robles High School please contact Mr. Thomas Harrington, Assistant Principal, tharrington@king.prps.k12.ca.us or (805) 237-3315 Ext. 5139.