Student Absences: Excused vs. Unexcused

Excused vs. Unexcused Absences

What Families Need to Know

An absence is excused only when the reason meets California law’s criteria — a parent/guardian call alone does NOT make an absence excused.

✓ Excused Absences Per Ed Code	✗ Unexcused Absences
Student illness, incl. mental/behavioral health Medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic appts. Funeral services / bereavement, immediate family Court appearances or jury duty (student) Religious holidays, ceremonies, or retreats Certain military-family circumstances Student’s U.S. naturalization ceremony Qualifying cultural ceremonies or events Certain civic/political events, grades 6–12	Family vacations or trips Oversleeping Transportation issues Missing school for a non-school activity Staying home for convenience “Personal reasons” without an excusable reason Other reasons not authorized under CA law

✓ Excused Absences Per Ed Code

✗ Unexcused Absences

Student illness, incl. mental/behavioral health
Medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic appts.
Funeral services / bereavement, immediate family
Court appearances or jury duty (student)
Religious holidays, ceremonies, or retreats
Certain military-family circumstances
Student’s U.S. naturalization ceremony
Qualifying cultural ceremonies or events
Certain civic/political events, grades 6–12

Family vacations or trips
Oversleeping
Transportation issues
Missing school for a non-school activity
Staying home for convenience
“Personal reasons” without an excusable reason
Other reasons not authorized under CA law

Make-Up Work & Grading Per Board Policy

Excused Absence	Unexcused Absence
Make-up opportunity is REQUIRED Full credit when work is completed on a reasonable schedule Grade may not be reduced solely due to an excused absence	Make-up work MAY be offered (BP 6154) Not guaranteed the same way excused absences are guaranteed Decision should reflect site/classroom practice — not a blanket rule since all situations are not exactly the same

Note: The ability to make-up work and/or grading practice should NOT be connected to the completion of an OCIS contract. This is a separate attendance process.

Chronic Absenteeism = All Absences

Both excused AND unexcused absences count toward chronic absenteeism. A student is chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of enrolled school days — regardless of excused/unexcused status.

Every missed day is lost instructional time. Excused/unexcused distinctions document attendance accurately and meet CA requirements — they don’t change that fact.

Bottom line: Excused → make-up required, full credit available. Unexcused → make-up MAY be allowed per Board Policy 6154. Both count toward chronic absenteeism.