Attendance

Absences for the following reasons are NOT cuts and notwithstanding E.C. 48200, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:   

1. Due to his or her illness.
2. Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.
3. For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic services rendered.
4. For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of his or her 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 services are conducted outside California.
5. For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided by law.
6. Due to illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent.
7. For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of his or her religion, attendance at a religious retreat, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization. When the pupil's absence has been requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.
8. For any student 16 years old or older, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, for the purposes of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Sec. 12302 of the Elections Code.
9. Participation in religious instruction or exercises in accordance with district policy.

• A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit thereof. The teacher of any class from which a pupil is absent shall determine the tests and assignments, which shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence.
• For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester.
• Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments.
• "Immediate family," as used in this section, has the same meaning as that set forth in Section 45194, except that references therein to "employee" shall be deemed to be references to "pupil" [E.C.46014, 48205]

 For additional attendance information including Truancy Intervention, Transfers, and Open Enrollment, refer to the SMJUHSD Handbook.

Parents/guardians who need to take their students out of school during the day must be prepared to show identification at the Attendance Office.  Only those persons listed on the student's medical emergency information will be allowed to take the student from school.  The school appreciates every effort made by parents to schedule appointments outside of the school day.  

• Being on time for class is expected.  The amount of time provided between classes is more than adequate for all students to arrive on time.  Students arriving to class after the bell rings will be considered "TARDY.  Initially, each teacher will deal with tardiness to class. Students will face disciplinary action as outlined below if tardies continue.