48205.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:(1) Due to the pupil’s illness, including an absence for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavioral health. 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, optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.
(4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services or grieving the death of either of a member of the pupil’s immediate family, or of a person that is determined by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the pupil as to be considered the pupil’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than five days per incident. 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, including absences to care for a sick child, for which the school shall not require a note from a doctor. parent.
(7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an attendance or appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s his or her religion, attendance at a religious retreat, retreats, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization, organization when the pupil’s absence absence of the pupil is 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 of the school district.
(8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code. Code or engaging in other leadership or civic engagement activities that satisfy the criteria established by the Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (e).
(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.
(11) For the purpose of participating in a cultural ceremony or event.
(12) (A) For the purpose of a middle school or high school pupil engaging in a civic or political event, as provided in subparagraph (B), provided that the pupil notifies the school ahead of the absence.
(B) (i) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) is required to be excused for only one schoolday-long absence per school year.
(ii) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be permitted additional excused absences in the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.
(13) (A) For any of the purposes described in clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive, if an immediate family member of the pupil, or a person that is determined by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the pupil as to be considered the pupil’s immediate family, has died, so long as the absence is not more than three days per incident.
(i) To access services from a victim services organization or agency.
(ii) To access grief support services.
(iii) To participate in safety planning or to take other actions to increase the safety of the pupil or an immediate family member of the pupil, or a person that is determined by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the pupil as to be considered the pupil’s immediate family, including, but not limited to, temporary or permanent relocation.
(B) Any absences beyond three days for the reasons described in subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the discretion of the school administrator, or their designee, pursuant to Section 48260.
(14) Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.
(b) A pupil absent from school under this section 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 therefor. for the assignments and tests. The teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence.
(c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed one schoolday four hours per semester.
(d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments.
(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: By February 1, 2009, the Superintendent shall appoint a workgroup to develop the criteria and definitions to be provided to school districts to guide them in determining activities that constitute eligible leadership and civic engagement activities pursuant to paragraph (8) of subdivision (a). Within 90 days of being appointed, the workgroup shall complete this work. The workgroup shall include pupils, teachers, school district principals, school district superintendents or county superintendents of schools, representatives from nonprofit youth leadership organizations, and representatives from the Department of Finance. The Superintendent shall prepare and disseminate a letter containing information developed by the workgroup to all school districts. The letter shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) A “civic or political event” includes, but is not limited to, voting, poll working, strikes, public commenting, candidate speeches, political or civic forums, and town halls. Leadership means “a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.” Civic engagement means “a process that involves individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern.”
(2) “Cultural” means relating to the practices, habits, beliefs, and traditions of a certain group of people. Activities that are similar to the following shall be considered as eligible leadership and civic engagement activities: community improvement, youth in government, improving educational quality, involvement in educational policy, appearing before government bodies, and service learning that results in a community benefit.
(3) “Immediate family” means the parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the household of the pupil. If the academic performance of a pupil is marginal, the site administrator may deny the pupil the opportunity to participate in an otherwise eligible leadership or civic engagement activity.
(4) A site administrator or designated certificated employee may require documentation of a pupil’s leadership or civic engagement activity, or may require the participating pupil to bring those skills and that experience to a larger group of pupils at his or her school.
(4) (f) “Victim services organization or agency” “Immediate family,” as used in this section, has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (7) of subdivision (g) of Section 230.1 of the Labor Code. that set forth in Section 45194, except that references in that section to “employee” shall be deemed to be references to “pupil.”