Attendance

Reporting Student Absences

The parent/caregiver is responsible for ensuring their child gets to school daily. 

If a student will remain at home, the parent/ guardian/caregiver must communicate with the school in one of the following ways before or on the day of the absence:

• Submit an absence notification via ParentVue (Instructions)*
• Email to attendance (cc950@sfusd.edu)
• Written note
• Phone call (415-469-4519)

(*After an absence you will not be able to report an absence through ParentVue and must email, use the school form: if available, call, or send a note with your student.)

In all communications with the school regarding a student's absence please provide the following:

• Your name and identify yourself as the parent/guardian/caregiver of the student
• Student’s name
• Date(s) of the absence(s)
• Reason for the absence
• Signature of a parent/caregiver and current date  (if a written note)

We encourage parents/guardians/caregivers to review their student's attendance record regularly and communicate any discrepancies to the school. 

Students and Families can learn more about SFUSD Attendance policies in the Student and Family Handbook. 

VALID EXCUSED ABSENCES

State Education Code for Excused Absences:

1. Due to his or her illness.
2. Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.
3. For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic services rendered.
4. For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of his or her immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.
5. For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.
6. Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent.
7. For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of his or her religion, attendance at religious retreats, or attendance at an employment conference, when the pupil’s absence has been requested in writing by the  parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.
   • Attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester.
8. For the purpose or serving as a member of a precinct board for an election (Section 12302 of the Elections Code.
9. For the purpose of spending time with a member of the pupil's immediate family, who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Section 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support position. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.
10. For the purpose of attending the pupil's naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.

A pupil absent from school shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefore. 

*** The teacher of any class from which a pupil is absent shall determine the tests and assignments to be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence.

San Francisco Unified Board Policy for Excused Absences:

1. Students may be excused from assignments at the teacher’s discretion when they are unavoidably absent from school. (Board Policy 5113)
2. Court appearances either as a defendant or as a subpoenaed witness.
3. Observation of a holiday or a ceremony of the student’s religion.
4. An employment conference when requested in writing by the parent/guardian/caregiver and approved in advance by the principal.
5. An absence while the student is in Juvenile Hall, the Children’s Shelter or other shelter care or other custodial facilities.
6. Personal or family emergency requiring the student’s absences when approved at the discretion of the school administrator.
7. Administrative summons or when detained by other classified or certificated personnel.
8. Appointments, conferences or interviews with attorneys, law enforcement officers, probation officers, and immigration appointments.

Verification of student absences is accepted only from parents/guardians/caregivers.

*Please refer to the Student and Family Handbook - 4.1 Attendance Guidelines for more information

Starting in the 2024-25 school year SFUSD schools will be able to receive FULL DAY absence notifications from your ParentVUE app or on the ParentVUE website. All partial absences or changes needed to be made to a Parent Submitted Request will need to go through your school site's front office.

For more information on how to do this visit: www.sfusd.edu/PSA

Students must have an excusable reason for their tardy to be excused. A student will not be excused for reasons such as traffic, missed bus/late, etc.

PTLs are distributed by the Attendance Office. If a student needs to leave early/during the day due to an Illness or a Doctor/Dental appointment, a Parent/Guardian will need to call, email, or send a note in order to receive a PTL. The note to receive a PTL should include the following information: 

Student’s Name

Date

Time

Reason for early departure

Phone Number

Signature of Parent/Guardian

Parent/Guardian On-Site Pick-Up: Please check in with Ms. Sasha at the Main Office where they’ll notify the students teacher that the student is being picked up early.

We look forward to seeing your child every day–however, there are times when it is okay for a student to stay home from school. More Information.

• Make sure your child goes to bed early and gets a good night’s sleep.
• Develop a morning routine (get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth) and stick with it.
• Talk with your child about the importance of attending school every day for academic success.
• Arrange a time every night without interruptions for your child to do homework.