Milpitas Unified School District

The Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) understands that school attendance is a protective factor for students, and promotes student engagement, inclusion, and overall well-being. Additionally, investments in teaching and learning are maximized when students attend school on a regular basis. 

Chronic absence, or missing 10 percent or more of school days due for any reason, is a sign of educational inequity because they can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third-grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school. The good news is that chronic absence is a problem that can be solved. It takes a collaborative focus on attendance that includes students, parents, and schools, and contributes to all students being more successful academically, socially, and emotionally. In addition, what works is taking a data-driven, comprehensive approach that begins with engaging students and families as well as preventing absences from adding up before they fall behind academically. The key is using chronic absence data as a diagnostic tool to identify where prevention and early intervention are needed. 

Therefore, MUSD is committed to efforts that align with California law, including attendance notifications and communication to parents, and to using data to identify at-risk patterns in absenteeism and apply appropriate intervention strategies that build healthy habits around school attendance as early as possible. 
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The following resources, used with permission of Attendance Works, can support families in building good habits around school attendance. 

• PreK & K Build the Habit of Good Attendance: English, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese
• Elementary Build the Habit of Good Attendance: English, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese
• Middle & High School Pay Attention to Attendance: English, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese

COMPULSARY ATTENDANCE LAWS

School attendance is the law! California Education Code (Ed Code) section 48200, requires that every child 6 to 18 years old must attend school every day and on time, unless there is an acceptable reason (defined by Ed Code) for the absence. Acceptable reasons for excused absences include, but are not limited to, illness, medical appointments, and attendance at family funeral services. Unexcused absences include non-bereavement travel (such as for pleasure, business, visa renewal, etc.), attending sporting events or concerts, babysitting, accompanying parents/older siblings on travel, and more. 

Parents/guardians are responsible for their child's school attendance and must notify the school when their child is not in school and include the reason, regardless of whether it is excused or unexcused.

TRUANCY

Ed Code states that a student is truant if that student:

• Is absent from school without an Ed Code-valid excuse three full days in one school year; or
• Is tardy or absent for more than a 30-minute period during the school day without an Ed Code-valid excuse on three occasions in one school year;

or any combination thereof (Ed Code, 48260(a)).  Ed Code requires public schools to send parents notifications of truancy in writing. This notification is meant to promote communication between the home and the school. Parents are always encouraged to contact the school site when questions of school attendance arise.

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM

Chronic absenteeism is when students have missed 10% or more of the school year. In this case, ALL absences are counted: excused, unexcused & suspensions. 

Healthychildren.org: 5 Ways to Help Your Kids Have a Healthy School Year
Begin with the basics, ensuring that students get nutritious meals, sufficient sleep and physical activity. All of these are key to academic and social success. Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better at school, for example. Many children qualify for free or reduced-price food at school, including breakfast. The forms for these services can be completed at the school office.

Healthychildren.org: School Attendance, Truancy & Chronic Absenteeism: What Parents Need to Know
Missing just two days a month of school―for any reason― can be a problem for kids in a number of ways. Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read on grade level by the third grade. For older students, being chronically absent is strongly associated with failing at school―even more than low grades or test scores. When absences add up, these students are more likely to be suspended and drop out of high school. Chronic absenteeism is also linked with teen substance use, as well as poor health as adults.

Sutter Health Grade Schoolers
A Healthy Start to the School Year: A balanced diet helps your child be healthy and fight off infections. Start the day with a nutritious breakfast. Try to include an item from each of the five food groups. Pack fresh fruit instead of sugary snacks, water instead of juice boxes and have plenty of healthy after-school snacks on hand.

Momjunction.com: 17 Simple And Useful Health Tips For Children To Follow
Good health in children depends on several factors, such as their nutrition, hydration, sleep routine, hygiene, and physical activity.