Children who attend school every day are more successful students. Regular attendance is essential and required by law. Average Daily Attendance (ADA) is counted only for students who are in actual attendance. If it is necessary for your child to be absent, please call Mountain View at (909) 398-0310 before 9:00 a.m. and include the name of the student, date of the absence, how long the student will be absent for, the reason for the absence, your name, and the student’s teacher’s name and room number. If it is not possible to call the school office, it is required that a note be sent the following day to excuse the absence.

Excused absences deemed valid by the California Education Code are: (1) illness; (2) medical appointment; (3) appearance in court; and (4) bereavement of an immediate family member.

To maximize attendance and learning, please attempt to schedule appointments during the afternoons of minimum days or other non-school hours so that your child may avoid early checkouts. Additionally, keep in mind that late arrivals to school compromise the learning of students who are tardy and are disruptive to the educational process. Late arrivals of 30 minutes are considered unexcused tardy unless a medical note is provided. After three consecutive excused absences from school for illness a medical note must be provided.

A courteous telephone call will be placed to notify family members of absences prior to marking absences unexcused. Any combination of three unexcused absences or tardies initiates notification of the attendance concerns to CUSD Student Services. They oversee the district’s School Attendance Review Board (SARB) designed to ensure that attendance policies are followed and students maximize their presence in school. Ultimately, we believe strongly in the research that says that regular attendance improves academic performance. Please continue to emphasize good attendance.

Independent Study Contracts on those occasions when a family emergency or vacation occurs during the regular school session and a student will be absent for 5 or more days, parents should request an Independent Study Contract for those days so that attendance credit is earned. The contract will include assignments that will assist the student in maintaining appropriate classroom progress. Prior notice is necessary for this. Please contact the school Attendance Clerk or your child’s teacher at least one week before the absence so that the study packet can be prepared for your child. Emergency contracts are also available.