Attendance Accounting

Attendance is the Primary Source of our District's Revenue

Apportionment Attendance  vs.  Compulsory Attendance

A student can be present for apportionment purposes, yet not comply with compulsory education laws (i.e. partial-day truancies such as tardies, leaving early or cutting class.)

• Apportionment laws require students to be scheduled to attend at least the statutory minimum day, applicable to grade level, for funding purposes.  (EC 46010)  For apportionment purposes, a student is deemed present, unless absent the entire day.  (5CCR Section 404)  Apportionment questions should be directed to Attendance Accounting.

• Compulsory attendance laws require children between the ages of 6-18 to attend school regularly and punctually, full time.  (EC 48200)  Compulsory education concerns should be directed to Student & Community Services.

Minimum Instructional Minute Requirements

Every school day must meet minimum day standards, otherwise ADA for the school day cannot be claimed and won't count towards the annual minute requirements.

Annual Instructional Minute Requirements

Hourly programs (such as Continuation & CDS) do not have an annual instructional minute requirement, but are funded based on actual minutes provided, up to relevant caps.

Changes to Bell Schedules

To ensure compliance, all proposed revisions to site bell schedules should be reviewed by Attendance Accounting, prior to implementation.

K-8 Class Size Maximums

Class averages are measured from the first attendance month through P-2.  SDC classes are exempt.  (EC 41376)

Statutory School Day/Year

FISCAL YEAR: July 1^st - June 30^th (EC 37200)

SCHOOL YEAR: 180 instructional days         (EC 46201)

ATTENDANCE  MONTH: Consists of 20 days, four weeks of five days each, including legal holidays and non-school days, but excluding weekend makeup classes (EC 37201)

STATE REPORTING PERIODS:

• P-1, All complete attendance months prior to 12/31
• P-2, All complete attendance months prior to 4/15               Used for  principal funding apportionment
• Annual, July 1— June 30                                                          Used for NPS, CDS, Lottery apportionment

Submission of Attendance

Teachers are required to take attendance, for each class taught by them, and do so personally, on a daily basis.  Attendance may not be recorded by volunteers or delegated to students.  (EC 46000, 5CCR Section 401 (c))

As of July 2010, our approved procedures require teachers to submit attendance electronically.  Teachers are expected to submit/record accurate attendance, in a timely manner.  Those unable to submit attendance electronically, shall be provided with an manually generated roster.

Absence Verification

Due to confidentiality, only district employees may verify absences.  Under no circumstances may parent volunteers or TAs verify absences.    Verifications may be accepted from a parent/guardian, parent representative or a student (if 18  or older,) by any reasonable method which establishes the fact of the absence.  (5CCR Section 421, AR 5113(b)) 

Acceptable methods of verification include:

• Placing/Receiving Calls
• Teacher Communication
• Written Communication (Notes or e-mails)

Student & Community Services allows parents  to verify an absence at any point during the school year.  However, individual school site disciplinary action may still apply.

Kindergarten Continuation Form

Compulsory attendance laws do not apply to kindergarten.  Therefore the law requires that both the district and student’s parent/guardian agree that it is beneficial for the student to continue in kindergarten for not more than one additional year.   Failure to obtain the dated signature of the parent/guardian prior to the admission anniversary date, on the state approved form will result in the loss of ADA generated by that student.  (EC46300(g))  Original certified forms are to be filed in the student’s CUM.

Record Retention

School site attendance records are classified as Class III – Disposable records.  Class III records, including support documentation must be maintained for a minimum of three years after the end of the fiscal year.  (5CCR Section 437)

• 2021-22              Discard after  June, 2025

All records from 2017-18 and prior may be destroyed.

Home Hospital (HH)

This educational option is available for students who are temporarily hospitalized or undergoing medical treatment, which limits their ability to participate in their regular school programs.  (EC 48206.3)

• Written parental request should include a    referral from a licensed physician
• SDC students cannot be placed into HH,  unless their IEP authorizes the placement
• Instruction must commence within 10 days of parental request for HH
• (Hospital Students Only) Admission to the  hospital automatically makes the students a resident of the school district where the hospital is located 
• Student must be enrolled in program ‘H’ for the duration of enrollment in HH
• Attendance is maintained manually
• One hour of instruction = one day of ADA, (unless otherwise noted in an IEP)

For more information, please contact Alternative Education.

Independent Study  (IS)       

IS an educational option provided to students who will be away from their seat-based instruction for an extended period.  Laws for IS are numerous and complex.  Short-term independent study is managed at each individual school site, on a case-by-case occurrence.  Long-term independent study is managed through Alternative Education.

• Minimum of 3 school days
• Participation is strictly voluntary, a classroom option must always remain available
• Written agreement, including approved dates and assignments, must be signed and dated by all parties, prior to the IS commencement date (5CCR Section 11702)
• A supervising (credentialed) teacher is assigned overall responsibility,  (EC 51747.5)
• SDC student’s IEP  must reflect IS as a viable educational option
• Assignments must be equal in quality and quantity to classroom based curriculum
• Students must have access to the same instructional materials provided to the classroom-based pupils, free of charge
• Student is not considered absent, but rather enrolled in IS
• Graded representative samples must be maintained (EC 51747.5, 5CCR Section 11700(b)(2))
• The due date for completed work cannot extend beyond the end date of the agreement.  Failure to turn in work by the agreed deadline prevents the pupil from earning apportionment. 
• Supervising teacher determines the ‘Time Value of Work Preformed’ for apportionment (EC 51747.5(b), 51747 (c), 51747.5(a))
• Academic log must be maintained to identify the student’s progress while on IS

For long-term Independent Study inquiries, please contact Alternative Education.

Saturday School  - Apportionment Recovery    

Weekend school is a make-up offering intended to respond to lost instructional time and state funding, due to absence.  (EC 37223)

• Student participation is voluntary, unless truant
• Parental consent is required
• Classes must be conform to at least the statutory minimum day requirements
• Students must be engaged in instruction and supervised by a credentialed employee
• Only prior absences day may be recovered,excluding suspensions (banking not permitted)

NOTE: Charter and Community Day Schools are not eligible to receive state apportionment for weekend apportionment recovery.

Attendance/Enrollment Permissions in AERIES

Full‐permissions consists of the ability to update a student’s enrollment and attendance records.  Site administrators determine who requires full permissions, based on job responsibilities.  Attendance personnel are required to attend training annually in order to maintain permissions.  

Due to prior audit findings site administrators and Clerical Substitutes are not permitted to have attendance/enrollment permissions in AERIES.