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District Departments » Student Services » School Attendance Review Board (SARB)

School Attendance Review Board (SARB)

  • School Attendance Review Board

    What is the purpose of SARB?
    The purpose of the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) is to build relationships with students and families in order to mitigate the barriers that students face in attending school. SARB is used as a positive intervention to improve graduation rates and reduce dropout rates for students with continuous attendance challenges. During the SARB meeting, comprehensive services and referrals to community agencies can be offered to students and families who need intensive help beyond what the district can provide. 

    The SARB process begins at the school. The school can do the following:

    • Phone calls or letters to the parent
    • Parent meetings with the counselor, teacher, or administrator
    • Attendance contract with the student, school, and parent
    • School Attendance Review Team (SART) meetings

    If the student's attendance does not improve after these steps are taken, the student is referred to SARB.

    SARB meets on Wednesdays at the Paso Robles District Administrative Offices, 800 Niblick Road, Paso Robles, to work with parents and students to re-engage students back in school and to solve attendance problems.

    What happens at the SARB hearing?

    • The school Assistant Principal or counselor reports on the attendance record.
    • SARB members ask the student and parent to explain why the student is not going to school.
    • SARB members make recommendations to assist the family and student.

    How to you get help from SARB?

    • Call your school and speak to the counselor, Assistant Principal, or Principal for a referral.

     What can SARB recommend for students?

    • Help students with credit recovery.
    • Counseling programs for the student and/or family.
    • Parenting classes to support parents.
    • A student transfer to an alternative school or program.
    • Assistance from other agencies and programs (counseling, restorative justice and mental health)
    • After-school tutoring.

    Specific laws related to attendance:  

    • Education Code, Section 48200. Students between the ages of 6 and 18 must attend school.
    • Education Code, Section 48260. A student is a habitual truant when he/she is absent from school without an excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than any 30 minute period during the school day three times.
    • Education Code, Section 48263. Truant students may be referred to SARB.
    • Education Code, Section 48293(a). A parent or guardian may be held responsible if a student does not follow the SARB contract.
    • Truancy Ordinance. A city ordinance which allow law enforcement to cite students who are not in school.