Attendance

It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to report their student’s absences. Only parents/guardians can excuse a student’s absence. Parents/guardians must e-mail or call the Attendance Office on the first day of absence.

Voicemail messages can be left at all times: (650) 329-3711 or palyattendance@pausd.org for e-mail.

If a student is absent from class for any reason and has not cleared the absence with the Attendance Office, they will receive an automated notification via Parent Square to alert the parent/guardian that they have been marked absent. A notification is a reminder that the absence must be cleared.  Any absence not cleared by the guardian within 72 hours will be treated as an unexcused absence.

Detailed attendance information including student attendance records by course, period and day are available for both students and parents to review through the Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal.  If a student has been marked absent by mistake, the student should have his/her teacher sign a roll sheet correction form (available in the Attendance Office) and bring it to the Attendance Office so their attendance record can be cleared.

“Excused Absences” fall into one of two categories:

1. Health – Absences due to illness, medical appointments, or quarantine.

2. Warranted – These include, but are not limited to the following:

   • Court Appearance

   • Bereavement

   • Pre-arranged college visits (seniors and second-semester juniors – forms online and in Attendance Office)

   • Conference or meeting with employer

   • Funeral service for member of immediate family

   • Religious Purposes

College Visits

Seniors and second-semester juniors, with written prior approval (forms online and in Attendance Office), may take five (5) days to visit college campuses. Students who do not submit a Prior Approved Absence form 24 hours in advance will receive an unexcused for classes/days missed and may lose the opportunity to make up assignments/tests.  

Warranted Absences

• The Prior Approval Process for warranted absences is:

  • Obtain a Prior Approved Absence form from the Attendance Office or online.

  • Get required signatures (student, parent, teacher, and administrator) and return form to Attendance Office 24 hours before absence.

The teacher of any class from which a student is absent shall determine what assignments the student shall make up and in what period of time the student shall complete such assignments.  Upon satisfactory completion, full credit shall be granted.  The tests and assignments shall be equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, that which the student missed during the absence. Teachers shall assign such makeup work as necessary to ensure academic progress, not as a punitive measure.

“Unexcused Absence” examples include, but are not limited to:

• Truancy

• Missing the bus

• Shopping

• Babysitting

• Over-sleeping

• Car trouble/traffic problems/bike problems

• Staying home to do homework

• Staying home due to being up late the previous night (even if related to school activities – dances, drama, sports, etc.)

• Family vacations

We realize there are times families need to travel for various reasons during the school year. However, family trips are not considered excused absences as per Education Code 48205. We want parents to understand that classroom instruction and the interactive dynamic of the classroom experience are irreplaceable. While unexcused, students may be given the opportunity to make up missed work. Teachers may assign such makeup work as necessary to ensure academic progress, not as a punitive measure. Families are required to contact teachers and make arrangements ahead of time.

Absences, which do not qualify as excused as defined in Education Code, shall be considered in this category. Education Code 48260 (subdivision (a)) provides that a student is truant if that student is:

• Absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year, or

• Tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day.

• Without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year or any combination thereof.

Being punctual is an important personal habit to develop to promote school success. Students who are late for class miss valuable instruction and unnecessarily interrupt their classes. A student is considered “tardy” if not in the room or at the place designated by the teacher/school staff at the beginning of each period. Students arriving late to class shall be marked tardy unless they arrive with a written excuse from a staff member.

Absences or leaving class or school without parent, guardian or school approval will be marked as “UAB.”  Parents will be allowed 72 hours following an absence from school to clear any unexcused absences. Unexcused absences are considered extremely serious and detrimental to school success. Administrators and counselors will involve parents in resolving the unexcused absence periods. Unexcused absences may result in a possible referral to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB), if necessary.