Parents must call to report their child's absence. There is a 24-hour Absent Line at (949) 234-5935.

Late arriving students need to report to the Attendance Office to sign in and get a tardy slip.

Students need to bring a note from a parent explaining the tardy. Illnesses, medical, and dental reasons are excused.

Absences can only be excused within 72 hours. If we have not received a call within 72 hours, the absence will remain unexcused.

 

If a student needs to leave campus for a medical or dental appointment, the student needs to report to the front desk before school with a note from a parent or guardian.

 

A Special Excuse will be given to the student to leave class at the stated time on the note, and the student will wait in the office for the parent or guardian. The parent or guardian needs to come to the office to sign their child out.

 

Capistrano Unified urges parents to make sure their children attend school regularly and to schedule medical and other appointments so that a student misses none or only a small portion of the school day. The district also asks that travel or other absences be avoided during the time school is in session. The school calendar is designed to minimize problems for families which plan vacations around traditional holiday periods and thereby minimize student absences.

 

Following an absence, a student is required to bring a written excuse from home when returning to school. Illnesses, and doctor and dental appointments are considered excused absences. Children should not be sent to school when they are not feeling well. Absences without parent verification are recorded as unexcused.  If not verified, these unexcused absences will become a truant.

 

Our school administration requires a “satisfactory explanation from the parent or guardian of a pupil, either in person, telephone, or by written note, whenever the pupil is absent for part or all of a school day.” (Div. 2. Calif. Adm. Code, Title 5.)

 

A parent must call to report a student absent. For your convenience, the parent or guardian may phone the 24-hour Absent Line at (949) 234-5935.

 

Click HERE for CUSD Attendance Policies.

 

Students who will be away from school for one (1) to fifteen (15) days, other than illness, may be able to receive class work and remain up to date.  To request an STIS, please notify the office AT LEAST FIVE (5) SCHOOL DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF ABSENCE so that the request can be reviewed, and if approved, class assignments may be organized.  This process helps students to keep up with schoolwork, but there is no substitute for teacher instruction and class interaction.  Please schedule vacations appropriately. Click HERE for the STIS request form.

 

No child is permitted to leave school once arriving on campus without permission from the school office. If parents are taking their child out of school early, they must go to the school office to have the child released. The office must be notified in advance if someone other than a parent is to pick up the child.  When possible, please send a note with your student and have them turn it in at the attendance window before school to get their early-out slip.  Please make sure to bring some form of identification when picking up your child.

 

Children should be encouraged to be prompt as part of their training. They are expected to be at school on time. If a child is late, the child should bring an excuse from home to the school office. Frequent tardiness without a valid excuse is considered truancy under state law.

 

Late arriving students are to ALWAYS come to the front desk to sign in with a note from a parent. The note should explain the tardy. Illness, medical, dental, funeral, or court is excused. The student will then receive a tardy slip to class.

 

A student is considered truant if tardy three times for more than 30 minutes each time, or if the student misses a day of school and it is considered an unexcused absence. After three unexcused absences, the student is referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB). Unexcused absences are all absences that do not meet the following criteria listed in the California Education Code.  The criteria which allow for excused absences are: an illness, medical or dental need (a doctor’s note may be required); the funeral of an immediate family member; a justifiable personal reason when the student’s excused absence has been requested in writing in advance and has been approved by the principal or the principal’s designated representative.