Attendance

We firmly believe student achievement - both academic and personal - happens through direct teacher instruction and guidance, support from non-instructional staff, and through peer interaction and collaboration. Our policies reflect this belief and have been put in place in order to increase daily student attendance and reduce student truancy. 

Below are some key terms and definitions regarding attendance and truancy:

• Compulsory Attendance Policy: California law mandates compulsory, full-time education for all school-aged children until age eighteen, unless exempted by statutory provision (high school diploma, California High School Proficiency Exam Certification, expulsion, etc...). The parent/guardian or other person having custody or control of the pupil is responsible, by law, for sending the pupil to school.
• Definition of Truancy: The California Legislature defined a truant in very precise language. In summary, it states that a student missing more than 30 minutes of instruction without an excuse three times during the school year must be classified as a truant and reported to the proper school authority. A pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than a 30 minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, shall be classified as a truant and shall be reported to the appropriate administrator as outlined in EC Section 48260 (a). 
• Definition of a Chronic Truant: EC Section 48263.6: Any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse for ten percent of more of the school days in one school year, from the date of enrollment to the current date, is deemed a chronic truant, provided that the school has complied with its attendance policies, as outlined in: EC Section 48263.6,  EC sections 48260, 48260.5, 48261, 48262, 48263, and 48291. 

CVCHS tardies are monitored by each class period. Students are considered tardy if they are not in their assigned seat or location when the final class bell rings. Teachers may assign detention or other consequences for student tardies. Students are allowed 5 excused tardies per semester as we understand that unexpected circumstances early in the morning can cause a student to arrive to school late. The Discipline Office will assign consequences for every 10 tardies a student accumulates. 

Single-Period Unexcused Absences 

Step 1: Upon the 6th single period unexcused absence the parent/guardian will be notified. This will result in the assignment of Lunch Detention or After School Detention by the Dean of Attendance.

Step 2: Upon the 12th single period unexcused absence the student will meet with a school administrator and parent/guardian will be notified. This will result in the assignment of Saturday School. 

Step 3: Upon the 18th single period unexcused absence the student will meet with a school administrator, counselor and parent/guardian for a SART 1 meeting.  This will result in the assignment of Saturday School and the completion of an Attendance Contract (SART). 

Step 4: Upon the 36th single period unexcused absence the student will meet with a school administrator, counselor and parent/guardian for a SART 2 meeting. This will result in the assignment of Saturday School and the completion of an Attendance Contract (SART). 

Step 5: Upon the 50th single period unexcused absence the student will be referred for SARB (Student Attendance Review Board) with the Contra Costa County Office of Education and the Contra Costa County District Attorney.

Step 6: Students and families will meet with the Contra Costa County Office of Education and the Contra Costa County District Attorney where student attendance is closely evaluated to determine possible intervention and/or consequences assigned by the Contra Costa County Office of Education.  

• Eligibility for School-Sanctioned Events: Students at steps 3 through 5 will also be placed on non-eligibility lists for school-sanctioned activities. Additionally, students will not be able to gain permission from CVCHS to attend school-sanctioned activities from other schools requiring authorization from CVCHS. Students may petition their eligibility by visiting the Discipline Office where their attendance will be reviewed for signs of improvement. Students must have an attendance of at least 90% between the time of the review of their last SART contract and the last day to purchase a ticket for said event in order to successfully petition their eligibility to attend a CVCHS sanctioned activity. 
• Eligibility for Athletic Participation: Students at steps 4 through 5 who are also participants in a school-sanctioned sport/activity will be removed from participation for the remainder of the season. Students may petition to have their eligibility reinstated prior to the end of the season by visiting the Discipline Office where their attendance will be reviewed, (with the Athletic Director), for signs of improvement. Students must have an attendance of at least 90% between the time of the review and their last SART contract to receive consideration of their petition. The Athletic Director will also attend all SART 2 meetings for student-athletes. 

Valid reasons for excusing a student absence include:

• Illness or injury of the student, or medical condition which necessitates the absence of the student 
• Student attendance at a medical, dental, optometry, or chiropractic appointment 
• Student attendance at a funeral service of an immediate family member 
• A quarantine imposed by a city or county health official 
• Student service on a jury 
• Up to five (5) days to obtain required immunizations 
• Exclusion from school for reasons of public health, lack of immunizations, and/or physical examination 
• Court appearance 
• Observance of a holiday and/or ceremony of his/her religion 
• Employment interview or conference

Note: Personal trips or vacations longer than 5 school days requires the student to visit with their counselor to be placed on short-term Independent Study. This must be arranged prior to the personal trip or vacation and cannot be implemented retroactively. 

In order to maintain accurate attendance records please remember to excuse student absences within the allotted time frame - 48 hours (2 days). Absences not excused via parent/guardian documentation after 48 hours following the end of the absence will be recorded as an unexcused absence. There are no exceptions. For critical issues requiring a student to be absent for several days or longer please contact your counselor.  

Excused absences are not intended to be used excessively throughout the school year. Once a student has 10 excused full day absences they will be placed on Medical Verification, and a meeting will be scheduled with parent/guardian, counselor and school nurse in order to determine if the student has medical needs that contribute to frequent absences. Without medical verification or valid documentation, future student absences will be recorded as unexcused. 

Detention (including lunch and after school assignments)
Detention can be assigned to students by teachers and administrators. Lunch detention can be assigned and issued on the same day, whereas after school detentions require parent notice of 24 hours. Students choosing not to attend a detention assignment will receive a referral and a disciplinary action. Students may reschedule their detention assignment, however this must take place in advance of the detention assignment and must be arranged only with a Discipline Office staff member. Students are expected to complete school work during detention and are not allowed access to their personal cell phones. 

Saturday School
Saturday School is assigned to students by the Discipline Office. Students and families will receive notification of a Saturday School assignment at least 72 hours in advance of the issued assignment. Students choosing not to attend a Saturday School assignment will receive a referral and disciplinary action. Students may reschedule their Saturday School assignment, however this must take place in advance of the Saturday School assignment and must be arranged with the Discipline Office. Students are expected to complete school work during Saturday School and will not be allowed access to their personal cell phones.