ARTICLE 2. Absences [46010 - 46015]
( Article 2 enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010. )
The total days of attendance of a pupil in the schools and classes maintained by a school district, or schools or classes maintained by the county superintendent of schools, during the fiscal year shall be the number of days school was actually taught for not less than the minimum schooldays during the fiscal year less the sum of the pupil’s absences.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 998, Sec. 12. (AB 176) Effective September 30, 2024.)
Commencing in the fall of the 1986–87 academic year, the governing board of each school district shall, each academic year, notify pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, and the parents or guardians of all pupils enrolled in the district, that school authorities may excuse any pupil from the school for the purpose of obtaining confidential medical services without the consent of the pupil’s parent or guardian.
The notice required pursuant to this section may be included with any other notice given pursuant to this code.
(Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 196, Sec. 1. Effective June 27, 1986.)
(a) For the purpose of determining “changes in enrollment” pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, as required by subdivision (d) of Section 41204, the total days of attendance by pupils in schools and classes maintained by a school district shall, in the 1997–98 fiscal year, be separately determined both as if subdivision (b) of Section 46010, as it read in the 1997–98 fiscal year, did and did not apply. The days of attendance figure resulting from the application of subdivision (b) of Section 46010 shall be used in calculating average daily attendance for comparison with average daily attendance in the 1996–97 fiscal year. The days of attendance figure determined without applying subdivision (b) of Section 46010 shall be used in calculating average daily attendance for comparison with average daily attendance in the 1998–99 fiscal year.
(b) For the purpose of determining “changes in enrollment” for the 2008–09 fiscal year pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, as required by subdivision (d) of Section 41204, the total days of attendance by pupils in schools and classes maintained by a school district, in the 2007–08 fiscal year, shall be separately determined both as if the California School Age Families Education Program (Cal-SAFE), as set forth in Article 7.1 (commencing with Section 54740) of Chapter 9 of Part 29, as it read on January 1, 2008, did and did not apply. The days of attendance figure resulting from the application of the Cal-SAFE program shall be used in calculating average daily attendance for comparison with average daily attendance in the 2006–07 fiscal year. The days of attendance figure determined without applying the Cal-SAFE program shall be used in calculating average daily attendance for comparison with average daily attendance in the 2008–09 fiscal year.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 2, Sec. 20. Effective July 28, 2009.)
Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 46010 or any other provision of law, for purposes of calculating days of attendance in order to compute any apportionment of state funding under this code, a pupil enrolled in a regular day class, including opportunity classes and classes conducted in county community schools, for the minimum day that is applicable to that pupil is deemed to be present for the entire schoolday, unless he or she is absent for the entire schoolday. This section does not apply to any pupil whose attendance is required under this code, or under Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, to be recorded by clock hours.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 66, Sec. 25. Effective June 30, 1993.)
Absences due to illness or quarantine shall be verified by the district or the county superintendent of schools in such manner as the Superintendent of Public Instruction may provide.
(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)
For purposes of any procedure for verification of absences from school, a student 18 years of age or over, with respect to his own absences from school, shall have all of the responsibilities and powers which, in the case of a minor, would be charged to the parent, guardian, or other person having charge or control of the minor.
(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)
(a) If there is an increase in actual student attendance of any school maintained by a school district to which Section 46013.7 has been made applicable, then an increase in the revenue limit of a school district shall be calculated as follows:
(1) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prescribe the manner in which actual student attendance is calculated.
(2) Divide the actual student attendance in the 1979–80 fiscal year by total enrollment in the 1979–80 fiscal year.
(3) Divide the actual student attendance in the current fiscal year by total enrollment in the current fiscal year.
(4) Subtract the quotient calculated pursuant to paragraph (2) from the quotient calculated pursuant to paragraph (3).
(5) Divide the difference calculated pursuant to paragraph (4) by 0.02.
(6) If the quotient calculated pursuant to paragraph (5) is equal to or greater than one, then divide that quotient by 100.
(7) If the quotient calculated pursuant to paragraph (5) is less than one, then the district shall not be affected by the provisions of this section.
(8) Multiply the quotient calculated pursuant to paragraph (6) by the revenue limit per unit of average daily attendance in the current fiscal year, and multiply that product by the total enrollment of the school which generated the increased actual student attendance. This is the amount by which revenue limit shall be increased.
(b) The revenue limit increase calculated pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be allocated as follows:
(1) If the school receives funds pursuant to either Chapter 3.1 (commencing with Section 44670) of Part 25 or Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 52000) of Part 28, then one-half of the increase shall be added to such funds; the other half of the increase shall be added to the general fund of the district.
(2) If the school does not receive funds pursuant to either Chapter 3.1 (commencing with Section 44670) of Part 25 or Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 52000) of Part 28, then one-half of the increase shall be used to initiate a program pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 52000) of Part 28 at the school; the other half of the increase shall be added to the general fund of the district. If a program is not initiated pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 52000) of Part 28 within one year, then those funds shall be deposited in the general fund of the district and the apportionment of funds to the district from Section A of the State School Fund for the then current fiscal year shall be reduced by the same amount.
(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1329, Sec. 4.)
The Superintendent of Public Instruction may authorize 30 schools in 28 school districts to continue to use the attendance accounting and reporting procedures prescribed by Section 46013 for the 1985–86 school year through the 1993–94 school year, and shall not require these districts to keep parallel attendance accounting and reporting procedures as required under existing laws otherwise applicable. Subsequent to the 1982–83 fiscal year, no school district shall be eligible to receive a revenue limit increase pursuant to Section 46013.
(Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 917, Sec. 29.)
Pupils, with the written consent of their parents or guardians, may be excused from school in order to participate in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction at their respective places of worship or at other suitable place or places away from school property designated by the religious group, church, or denomination, which shall be in addition and supplementary to the instruction in manners and morals required elsewhere in this code. Such absence shall not be deemed absence in computing average daily attendance, if all of the following conditions are complied with:
(a) The governing board of the district of attendance, in its discretion, shall first adopt a resolution permitting pupils to be absent from school for such exercises or instruction.
(b) The governing board shall adopt regulations governing the attendance of pupils at such exercises or instruction and the reporting thereof.
(c) Each pupil so excused shall attend school at least the minimum school day for his grade for elementary schools, and as provided by the relevant provisions of the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education for secondary schools.
(d) No pupil shall be excused from school for such purpose on more than four days per school month.
It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Legislature that this section shall be permissive only.
(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that pregnant and parenting pupils are entitled to accommodations that provide them with the opportunity to succeed academically while protecting their health and the health of their children. The Legislature hereby establishes the following accommodations as rights of pregnant and parenting pupils:
(1) A pregnant or parenting pupil is entitled to eight weeks of parental leave, which the pupil may take before the birth of the pupil’s infant if there is a medical necessity and after childbirth during the school year in which the birth takes place, inclusive of any mandatory summer instruction, in order to protect the health of the pupil who gives or expects to give birth and the infant, and to allow the
pregnant or parenting pupil to care for and bond with the infant. It is the intent of the Legislature that the pupil, if the pupil is 18 years of age or older, or, if the pupil is under 18 years of age, the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, notify the school of the pupil’s intent to exercise this right. Failure to notify the school shall not abridge the rights established by this paragraph or any other right established by this subdivision.
(2) A pregnant or parenting pupil who does not wish to take all or part of the parental leave to which they are entitled pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not be required to do so.
(3) A pregnant or parenting pupil is entitled to receive more than eight weeks of parental leave pursuant to paragraph (1) if deemed medically necessary by the pupil’s physician.
(4) When a pupil takes parental leave pursuant to paragraph (1), the supervisor of attendance shall ensure that absences from the pupil’s regular school program are excused until the pupil is able to return to the regular school program or an alternative education program.
(5) During parental leave taken pursuant to paragraph (1), a local educational agency shall not require a pregnant or parenting pupil to complete academic work or other school requirements.
(6) A pregnant or parenting pupil may return to the school and the course of study in which he or she was enrolled before taking parental leave pursuant to paragraph (1).
(7) Upon return to school after taking parental leave pursuant to paragraph (1), a pregnant or parenting pupil is entitled to opportunities to make up work missed during his or her
leave, including, but not limited to, makeup work plans and reenrollment in courses.
(8) Notwithstanding any other law, a pregnant or parenting pupil may remain enrolled for a fifth year of instruction in the school in which the pupil was previously enrolled when it is necessary in order for the pupil to be able to complete state and any local graduation requirements, unless the local educational agency makes a finding that the pupil is reasonably able to complete the local educational agency’s graduation requirements in time to graduate from high school by the end of the pupil’s fourth year of high school.
(9) A pupil who chooses not to return to the school in which he or she was enrolled before taking parental leave pursuant to paragraph (1) is entitled to alternative education options offered by the local educational agency.
(10) In accordance with subdivision (d) of Section 221.51, a pregnant or parenting pupil who participates in an alternative education program shall be given educational programs, activities, and courses equal to those he or she would have been in if participating in the regular education program.
(11) A pupil shall not incur an academic penalty as a result of his or her use of the accommodations specified in this subdivision.
(b) (1) A complaint of noncompliance with the requirements of this section may be filed with the local educational agency under the Uniform Complaint Procedures set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
(2) A local educational agency shall respond to a complaint filed pursuant to
paragraph (1) in accordance with Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
(3) A complainant not satisfied with the decision of a local educational agency may appeal the decision to the department pursuant to Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations and shall receive a written decision regarding the appeal within 60 days of the department’s receipt of the appeal.
(4) If a local educational agency finds merit in a complaint, or if the department finds merit in an appeal, the local educational agency shall provide a remedy to the affected pupil.
(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) “Local educational agency” means a school district, a county office of education, a school operated by a school district or a county office of education, a charter school, the California Schools for the Deaf, or the California School for the Blind.
(2) “Pregnant or parenting pupil” means a pupil who gives or expects to give birth or a parenting pupil who has not given birth and who identifies as the parent of the infant.
(3) “Pupil” means a pupil enrolled in a local educational agency.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 942, Sec. 4. (AB 2289) Effective January 1, 2019.)