Attendance and Tardy Policy

Every year Katella has a waiting list of students who wish to attend. These are students who want to attend Katella High School.

Students who are habitually tardy are disruptive and compromise the academic integrity of the classroom.  Students who do not attend school regularly demonstrate that they do not care about their education and would rather be elsewhere.  Accommodations can be made for those students who do not want to be here; we can transfer them to a school better suited to their needs and learning styles. By removing these students from our rolls, we will have seats for students who do want to be here to learn.

It is unfortunate that we must have an attendance policy that some may consider strict.  However, there are some students who will skip school and have no regard for arriving on time.  There are also parents who may misrepresent or make excuses for their children.  The law says students must be in school and the State Education code defines a habitual truant as any student who misses more than three days (unexcused/unverified).  Your son or daughter  will not learn all of the material if he or she is not in class every day.

Absences

The State of California lists 6 valid reasons for students to miss school.  Students are allowed to make up missed work ONLY if their absence is based on a valid reason. Students who miss for other reasons will not be allowed to make up and get credit for missed work. Education Code Title V, Section 420 provides that when verified the following absences will be excused:

1.                illness

2.               quarantine by health officer

3.               medical, dental or optometric appointments

4.               attending funeral services of an immediate family member

5.               religious holiday

6.               school field trip or activity

These absences must be verified through a note from the parent/guardian, teacher or doctor within 3 days.  A “U” (unexcused) will be used by the attendance office until a doctor’s note is presented.   Students who do not have their absence cleared the day of the absence, need to go to the attendance office and pick up a readmit to show to all teachers.

Illnesses up to three days may be verified by the parent.  Illnesses of longer duration or that are chronic and cause the student to miss a few days each week or month will require a doctor’s note.

An UNVERIFIED ABSENCE IS THE SAME AS UNEXCUSED.  The teachers’ individual policies regarding making up work after excused absences will be found in their class curriculum letter/syllabus.  Missed assignments and exams due to UNEXCUSED absences cannot be made up. 

The school will take reasonable action in attempting to notify the parents of a student’s unexcused absences. The school district will send letters home after 6 and 12 absences respectively.

Habitual truants WILL BE referred the School Attendance Review Board for consideration by the District Attorney.

 Tardiness

Tardiness creates a significant disruption to the educational process.  Tardiness is not acceptable.  Students can’t learn when they are not in class and this may result in a lower grade in the class.

Students who arrive late for school must sign in at the attendance office upon arrival and have a prior phone call or note from their parent/guardian.  There is no grace period for arriving late.   If a doctor/dental note is not presented during first period, students will be assigned a detention and sent to class.  Their detention slip will serve as their pass to class.

NO EXCUSES WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR FIRST PERIOD TARDIES, except for doctor/dental note.  If students have difficulty getting to school on time they may need to wake up earlier, or make other arrangements.   (Car trouble, day care, transportation of other students, and parent work schedules will not serve to excuse tardies to school).   Please help your son/daughter plan ahead so that he or she can get to school on time.

Only notes from teachers or staff will be accepted to excuse tardy students during the school day.

KATELLA HAS A CLOSED CAMPUS AND STUDENTS CANNOT LEAVE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN CLEARED THROUGH THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE.  Students who leave campus for any reason, without signing out though the attendance office, will be assigned an after school detention or an On Campus Suspension.

Consequences

Tardy = 1 hour detention

Single Class Cut = 2 hours of detention (two days of a 1 hour detention)

Four or more class cuts or UNVERIFIED absences in one day = On Campus Suspension.

Going off-campus or being “out-of-bounds” =after school detention or On Campus Suspension.

15 or more unexcused absences = may result in a failing course grade for the semester.

Habitual truants and their parents will meet with his/her administrator and the student will be placed on a behavior contract.

Continued truancy, after meeting with the School Attendance Review Board and district attorney, will result in a transfer out of Katella High School.

Minimum Day Students

Students with a minimum day must have a minimum day sticker on their ID card.  This sticker is their pass off campus early and allows them to purchase items from the Student Accounts Office prior to the end of the school day.