Attendance

Consistent school attendance is crucial for student success. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to excel academically, engage in meaningful discussions, and establish strong relationships with peers and teachers. Attendance is not only linked to academic achievement but also contributes to a student's overall development into a happy, healthy, and productive adult.

Importance of Attendance

• Improved Academic Performance: Regular attendance ensures students can actively participate in lessons, ask for clarification, and prepare for exams.
• Stronger Relationships: Being present in class helps build connections with teachers and peers.
• Protective Factor: Consistent school attendance is linked to positive long-term outcomes for students.

PAUSD Attendance Policy

The district recognizes that prompt and regular classroom attendance is essential for success. Frequent absences or tardies, including missing parts of lessons, discussions, and other classroom activities, negatively impact the student and the class as a whole.

Legal Requirement:
Under Education Code 48200, school attendance is compulsory. Non-attendance or persistent tardiness are serious concerns (Board Policy BP 5113).

Tardiness

• Arrival Time: Students must be in their classroom or lined up to enter by 8:10 AM when the 2nd bell rings.
• Tardy Process:
  • If arriving after the 2nd bell, students must check in at the school office.
  • A Tardy slip must be filled out and brought to the teacher.
• Way Tardy (After 8:40 AM):
  • Students who arrive after 8:40 AM are considered "Way Tardy" and will be marked absent.
  • Important: Absences due to tardiness after 30 minutes are considered absences under California Education Code 48260(a).
• Lunch Orders: Students arriving after 8:40 AM can request a "back-up" lunch if needed.
• Excused Tardies: Medical, dental, Covid-19 related, optometric, or chiropractic appointments are excused with a note from the medical provider.

Absences

• Reporting Absences:
  • Call the Attendance Clerk at 650.856.1337 ext 1 or email escondidoattendance@pausd.org to report an absence.
  • Provide the reason for the absence.
• Excused Absences:
  • Illnesses, medical appointments, and Covid-19 testing are excused.
  • Travel, family vacations, school visits, being a close contact, and non-specific refusal to attend are considered unexcused.
• Long-Term Absences:
  • A physician’s note is required if a student is absent for five (5) consecutive days due to illness.
  • A physician’s note is also requested when a student’s absenteeism rate is 10% or higher for the semester.

Truancy

• Unexcused Absences or Way Tardies:
  • After the 3rd unexcused absence or unexcused way tardy, a Truancy Letter will be sent to parents as required by California state law.

Early Dismissal

• Process for Early Pick-Up:
  • Parents may pick up their child early by notifying the school office and/or the teacher.
  • Please arrive a few minutes early to allow time for the student to gather their things.
  • The student will not be pre-arranged in the office; they will remain in class as long as possible.

Given the importance of consistent attendance, the district is committed to addressing poor attendance through various measures, including:

• Parent Meetings: To discuss and resolve attendance issues.
• Attendance Contracts: Developing agreements to improve attendance.
• District Attorney Mediation: For chronic attendance concerns.
• SARB Referral: Students with ongoing attendance problems may be referred to the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB).

For the health and safety of all students, please keep your child at home if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:

• Fever of 100°F or higher
• Productive cough or nasal discharge (yellow/green)
• Red, swollen, crusty, or draining eyes
• Draining ears
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting or severe nausea
• Head lice

If your child does not have any of these symptoms, they are encouraged to attend school.

Note: The decision to keep your child home is ultimately up to the parent. If you are unsure, please refer to the full Attendance & Welfare page.