Attendance and Tardy Policy

CHS no longer accepts phone calls to excuse absences.

Absences can be excused by submitting a note to the office or by sending an email to chsattendance@cusd.claremont.edu . Please include Name of Student, Grade Level, Day of Absence and Reason.

Students who attend school regularly derive the most benefit from the instructional program. Students with good attendance records achieve higher grades, enjoy school more, are more successful in their pursuit of higher education, and are more employable after leaving school. The California Administrative Code Title V, Section 300, states that every pupil shall attend school punctually and regularly, and conform to the regulations of the school.

It is the policy of Claremont High School that students attend class regularly; that work missed because of school related activities or illness be promptly made up; that truancy is unacceptable; and that other absences approved by the parent be minimized or avoided whenever possible. Students who are frequently absent from or tardy to class without sufficient cause, may be enrolled in an alternate school setting at the discretion of the principal.

Definitions
Excused Absences:
Excused absences are those that are recognized by the State as LEGAL excused absences.

Excused Family Absences

  1. Illness
  2. Medical/Dental Appointments
  3. Family Funeral

School excused absences

  1. Field trips
  2. Athletic and academic events
  3. School office appointments
  4. Suspensions

Personal excused absences are recognized by the school as being warranted.

  1. Appearance in court
  2. Holiday or ceremony of student’s own religion
  3. Verified family emergency
  4. Funeral services for other than member of immediate family
  5. College Visits

Unexcused Absences:
Absences not defined above as excused are unexcused absences and they include:

  1. Unverified absence
  2. Truancy
  3. Absence due to leaving campus without permission
  4. Tardy more than 20 minutes

Students who are late to class often fail to realize that the teacher may have already recorded them as absent. It is always in the student’s best interest to remain after class and ask the teacher to correct the “absence” to a “late.”

There are no school sanctioned “ditch” days.

Tardies:
A tardy occurs when the student is not in their assigned seat when the final bell rings.

Verifying Full Day Absences
When a student is absent from school for any reason, the parent must notify school. A note or email stating the reason for the absence on or before the return day is preferred. All absences must be cleared within three (3) school days from the last consecutive day of absence. After that time, all absences will be considered unexcused. Under state funding guidelines, it is fraudulent for a parent to falsely excuse a student’s absence or tardiness. Parents will receive an automated call when their student has an unexcused absence, one or more periods.

Absences can be excused by submitting a note to the office or e­mail to chsattendance@cusd.claremont.edu . Please include Name of Student, Grade Level, Day of Absence and Reason.

Permission To Leave Campus

  1. For a student to legally leave campus, once the school day begins, parents must call or write the attendance office and request a permit to leave for their student, indicating the reason and time for dismissal. If the parent cannot reach an attendance clerk, please contact the receptionist for assistance. Before a student leaves school, he or she must have a permit to leave issued by the school.
  2. Before a student leaves school, he or she must have a permit to leave issued by the school.
  3. Students initiating a request to leave school must report to the attendance office (between periods or with teacher approval) and request a permit to leave. Parents will be contacted for their permission, except for confidential medical care (Education Code 46010.1).
  4. Under no circumstances should a student leave during the school day without securing permission. Leaving campus without permission is an infraction of Claremont High School Rules and Regulations. The student will also be considered truant. Claremont Police Department may issue a citation.

Leaving Campus When Sick
A student, who wishes to go home because of illness, must obtain a “Permit to Leave School” from the Health Office.

If a student is off campus at lunch and becomes ill, the parent or guardian must contact the attendance office by the end of the school day in order to excuse the absence.

Off Campus Permits
“Off Campus Permits” are available for students to leave on a regular basis. Examples are an R.O.P. class, a college course, or a similar educational program. “Off Campus Permits” are also available for lunch use for selected students. Seniors, juniors, and sophomores may be eligible through excellent attendance in the previous semester. Freshmen are not eligible for Off Campus Permits. However, eligibility for the fall semester is based upon the previous spring semester attendance. Off Campus Permits are earned by having no more than a total of three uncleared absences, six tardies, and no truancies in all classes combined during the previous semester. Students who leave campus without permission, or who leave without their school ID and off campus pass will receive a Saturday School assignment and lose the following semester of eligibility for an off campus pass.

Makeup of School Work
Students shall be allowed to complete, to the extent reasonably possible, all assignments and tests missed due to excused, personal excused, and school excused absences. Generally, a student will have one day to make up work following a one day absence, two days following a two day absence, and so on. However, students should plan to make up all work within a week. In the event of a lengthy illness, the student should see their counselor to make special arrangements. Makeup work shall, where practicable, be reasonably equivalent to work missed. It must be recognized that it may not be possible to meet certain objectives taught during the absence regardless of the reason for the absence. No makeup of assignments and/or tests shall be permitted in cases of truancy or unexcused absences.

Consequences for Unexcused Absences and Tardies
Education Code 48263 states that students must attend school on a regular basis. Administrative action shall be taken with students who have excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused. This may result in filing legal action with Student Attendance Review Board and subsequently with the District Attorney.

Extended Absence Homework Request
Parents may call the school receptionist when a student is or will be absent for three or more days. Office staff will make a written request to teachers for assignments. Homework may be picked up at least 24 hours after the request is made. Parents are also encouraged to contact teachers via email.

Travel Independent Study Contracts
If your family is going to be out of town five days or more, please contact the school receptionist to make the necessary arrangements for an independent study contract.