Attendance at Hoover

Attendance is taken in every single class. Students are marked as "in attendance", "tardy" or "absent." Absences need to be accounted for, or a student is considered truant (unexcused absence). 

Attendance is critical for our students' learning and also counts toward their citizenship status and ability to participate in school activities.

If your child is absent from school for 3 days or more we require a note from a medical professional.  CA Education Code 48205 states that a student shall be excused from school when the absence is: 

1. Due to their 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 appointment
4. For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of their 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. Jury Duty attendance by student.
6. Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the student 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 their religion, attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment conference, attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization, or a visit to a college or university, when the student’s absence has been requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved in advance by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.
8. For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.
9. To spend time with an immediate family member who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in CA Education Code 49701, and has been called to duty for deployment to a combat zone or a combat support position or is on leave from or has immediately returned from such deployment. 
10. To attend their naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.
11. To participate in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction, subject to the following conditions: the student has parent/guardian written consent for the absence; is in grades 4-12; shall attend at least the minimum school day; and shall be excused from school for this purpose on no more than four days per school month, and no more than 60 minutes on a single day once a week, during the last hour of the school day.

If your child has any of the following symptoms within the past 24 hours, please keep your student at home and contact the school office ASAP at 415-759-2783. 

Fever of at least 100.4°F/38°C or higher

Cough

Severe headache

Sore throat

Difficulty breathing

Vomiting or diarrhea

Loss of taste or smell that started in the last 10 days (children may say that food “tastes bad” or “tastes funny”)

If your student needs to leave school early for any reason they need to bring in a signed note from a parent or guardian and give it to the attendance secretary in the morning, before school starts. The student will be issued a "Permit to Leave School."

If the student is leaving during the middle of a class period, the student should show the Permit to their teacher at the beginning of the period.

If your child is going to be absent from school for any reason, please contact the school that morning so your child will not be not listed as truant (an unexcused absence).

You can contact Ms. Nastor (attendance secretary) via phone or email (see info above). 

If you do not contact the school, you will receive an autodial notification asking why your child is not at school.

When you return to school, please have your child bring in a parent or guardian signed note explaining their absence. You may use this form HERE.

Regular daily class attendance is important. If you will be missing classes for an extended period of time, the school must be notified in writing by the parent/guardian 10 school days in advance of the anticipated absence so that you may receive your assignments from your teachers.  Your grade and/or enrollment at Hoover may be jeopardized as a result of extended absences.

Definition of Unexcused Absence: Missing a full day of school or being tardy or absent for 30 minutes or more without a valid excuse. It should be noted that being tardy in any amount of minutes beyond the bell is unacceptable and may result in loss of some school privileges or eligibility for attendance incentive recognitions. 

Missing class or school without an excused or approved reason, whether the absence is student or parent/guardian/caregiver-initiated (e.g., for childcare or household shopping).

Absences for which advance approval is necessary and was not obtained before the absence.

When a student has 3 unexcused absences, SFUSD sends the parent/guardian a letter informing them that the student has been classified as a truant.

The school may request a meeting with the student and parent to agree on action steps. 

Absences excused by State law

Verification of student absences is accepted only from parents/guardians/caregivers, or the student if s/he is 18 years old or older.

State Education Code 48205 states that a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:

(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, attendance at an employment conference, attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization, or a visit to a college or university, when the pupil’s absence has been requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved in advance by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.

(8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to 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, 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. 

Additional information regarding SFUSD Attendance Policies and Procedures are included in the Parent Handbook.