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Attendance Policies

California State Law mandates that all children aged six to eighteen years attend school unless they are exempted by law or have graduated from high school (E.C. 48200, E.C. 48400). Parents are reminded that they are responsible to comply with this compulsory education law by enrolling students and arranging for their regular attendance. 

 Emergency Contact Information

Only those parents or guardians with signatures on file will be permitted to sign out a student. It is district policy to have a current emergency card on file for each registered student. We must be able to contact a parent/guardian or other designated contact persons(s) during school hours should an emergency occur.

 Excused Absences

Absences are defined as “excused” when students are absent for the following reasons: illness, doctor’s appointments, or funeral of an immediate family member. Having ten (10) days of excused absences is considered excessive and students can be referred to SART meetings. Students with ten (10) days of absences due to illness will be required to provide doctor’s notes for all illness absences thereafter.

 Unexcused Absences

Absences are unexcused any time a student’s absence cannot be verified as an excused absence. Students may not have the opportunity to make up work when their absence is unexcused.

Excessive Absences

A student is considered to have excessive absences when he or she has missed ten (10) or more days in a school year. Students with excessive absences may be referred to the RUSD School Attendance Review Board (SARB).

 Truancies

Any absences MUST be cleared within five school days. Teachers may allow students to make up work or tests when the truancies have been cleared. Students with truancies will face consequences which can include exclusion from extracurricular activities (field trips, dances, sports and other school-sponsored events), detention, Saturday school, or placement in an alternative educational setting. Students who are truant are subject to disciplinary action and may be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB). 

Students aged eighteen and older are reminded that schools are not obligated to enroll them or to maintain their enrollment. Eighteen-year-old students with discipline or truancy problems may be dropped and advised of alternative educational opportunities. (B.P.6146b). 

 Tardy Policy 

Arlington High School has a tardy policy in order to maintain minimal classroom and learning disruptions. Consequences for students not arriving to school or class on time may include detention, and/or Wednesday or Saturday school, and/or loss of activities. In order for a tardy to be excused it must meet the excused absence criteria (illness, doctor’s appointment, court, or funeral).  Excessive tardy letters may be generated by the district as well. Students are encouraged to be where they are supposed to be WHEN they are supposed to be there.

Student Withdrawal

  1. Parents must accompany the student being withdrawn.
  2. The student must come to school with their school ID card, all text and library books, and pay any fines due. Fines MUST be paid in cash credit/debit card  (no personal checks).
  3. Once everything is cleared, the Attendance Office will give the parent/guardian a copy of the student's transcript, immunization record, and the withdrawal form with grades.
Change of Telephone/Address

If you are moving within the Riverside Unified School District or are changing your phone number(s), please inform the Attendance Office as soon as possible.