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Attendance Procedures

Importance of Attendance

It is well established that faithful and regular school attendance is related to student progress and achievement. In order for your child to do his or her very best, it is important that he/she be in school as many days as possible. We need your help in ensuring your child has good attendance. We ask that students and parents abide by an attendance rate of 95%; parents agree to support regular attendance, and promptly observe the opening and closing times of the instructional day. Students must maintain a 95% or greater attendance rate, including absences and tardies. Students with an attendance rate less than 95% are in jeopardy of losing precious learning time. Missing 2 days a month will cause your child to be chronically absent.

When do absences become a problem?

  • Chronically Absent: Missing 15 or more days or 10% of the school year

  • Satisfactory Attendance: Missing 8-14 days or 5-9% of school year

  • Excellent Attendance: Missing 1-7 days or less than 4% of school year

Excused and Unexcused Absences

We understand that sometimes your child can not come to school. Below are examples of excused and unexcused absences.

Excused Absences

1. Illness or injury

2. Quarantine

3. Medical, dental, optometry, or chiropractic appointment

4. Funeral of immediate family

5. Court appearance

Unexcused Absences

1. Vacation/ trip

2. Child does not want to go to school

3. No transportation

4. Family member is sick

If your child is avoiding school, please bring your child to school and let the teacher or office staff know. We will help resolve the situation.

Tardies, Truancy and Excessive Absences

Please be aware: 

  • If your child is more than 30 minutes late to school, they are considered tardy. 

  • If your child has 3 or more unexcused absences, they are considered truant. 

  • If your child has 8 or more excused absences, they are considered excessively absent. 

  • If your child is absent more than 10% of the school year, they are considered chronically absent.

Students with excessive absences/tardies will be referred to the school site for a Student Engagement Support Plan (SESP) meeting. School staff will work together with families to provide support and resources to help children improve their attendance rate. If attendance rates do not improve, the student will be referred to the District for a School Abatement Board Review (SARB).

Independent Study

If you plan to take your child out of school for five (5) or more days (i.e. out-of-town trip), please let their teacher and the office know at least two weeks in advance. An independent study contract may be set up which will help maintain the continuity in your child’s education. If the student does not complete the independent study contract, their absences will be marked unexcused.

Reporting Absences

This year Redwood City School District will be using Safe Arrivals; a new, efficient way for

parents to report absences. With SafeArrival, you can report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods:

1. Using your mobile device, download and install the SM Home app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.


2. Report through the SafeArrival website: home.schoolmessenger.com

3. Call the toll-free number 1-800-403-5535 to report an absence using the automated phone

System. 

Families can report absences in advance up until 10 am. If you do not report an absence, you will receive a text, email, and/or phone call requesting the reason for your child’s absence. If no reason is provided, your child will be marked unexcused.

**To sign up for and use Safe Arrivals, your email and phone number must match the information you provided to the school during registration. If you’ve changed your email or phone number, please let Office Staff know**

TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS

  • Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, or facing some other difficulty. 

  • Missing 10%, or 2 days a month is the same as missing over 100 lessons a year. 

  • By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

  • Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.

  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.

  • Make school attendance a priority: Discuss the importance of showing up to school.

  • Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up.

  • Try not to schedule medical appointments during the school day.

  • Find out if your child feels engaged in their classes, and feels safe at school

  • Make sure your child is not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues or school discipline policies.

  • Monitor your child’s academic progress

  • Stay on top of your child’s social contacts.

  • Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.

  • Notice and support your child if they are showing signs of anxiety.

  • Communicate with teachers and school staff and seek help when needed