Attendance

Every school day matters for your student's success and achievement. Our goal is to ensure your student has access to the best possible education. Regular attendance is essential to student learning, so we would like to share some important information. Students are required by law to attend school from the ages of 6-18. Studies have shown that students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate from high school and move on to post secondary education.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES/TRUANCIES

Students who have multiple unexcused absences or truancies are notified via mail and are required to attend school site intervention meetings. If interventions put in place at the school site level are not successful, the school will refer the student to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) . Prior to being referred to the SARB panel the following steps will be followed:

3 or more unexcused absences	Student is classified as a truant Letter 1 mailed home to parent/guardian Student may be assigned Saturday School (high school)
6 or more absences	Student is classified as a repeat truant Letter 2 mailed home to parent/guardian Student/Parent is invited to a Parent/District Attorney Meeting
8 or more unexcused absences	Student is classified as a habitual truant School Attendance Review Team (SART) meeting is scheduled with administrator, parent, student and other school site staff
10 or more unexcused absences	Student/Parent eligible to be referred to School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Hearing at the Tustin Police Station.
Continued unexcused absences	Tustin Unified School District may refer the case to Orange County District Attorney's Office or to the Orange County Probation Department.

INDEPENDENT STUDY CONTRACTS

Independent Study contracts may be requested when a student will be missing 5 or more consecutive days of school. A parent/guardian must meet with an Administrator/designee five school days prior to schedule leave of absence to request an Independent Study Contract. The administrator determines whether or not an independent study contract will be approved. A pre-arranged excused absence shall be a minimum of 3 consecutive school days and cannot exceed 3 weeks. When circumstances justify a longer time, the Administrator may extend the maximum length of an assignment to a period not to exceed 8 weeks, under a written request with justification.

How it works:
Parent to notify school office and teacher. Office staff will prepare the independent study contract which must be signed by the parent, student and teacher PRIOR to the student’s absences. Classroom teacher will provide the work to the student on the last day the student is present at school. The student must return to school with the completed work and give to the teacher on the first day of his/her return. No partially completed work will be accepted for credit.
Independent Study Contracts will not be authorized the first two (2) weeks nor the last two (2) weeks of school.

Administrative Regulation AR 6158.2

Independent Study for 2021-22 AR 6158.2

Instruction

The Board of Education has adopted a policy to implement the requirements of AB 130. With the enactment of Assembly Bill No. 130 (Ch. 44, Stats. 2021, hereafter “AB 130”), school districts and county offices of education are required to offer independent study for the 2021-2022 school year, with limited exceptions.

This Regulation is intended to implement the additional requirements of AB 130. To the extent that there is any conflict between this Regulation and AR No. 6158, the provisions of this Regulation shall govern.

1. Monitoring Student Progress

In addition to the number of missed assignments permitted by BP 6158 before an evaluation is conducted to determine whether it is in the best interests of a pupil to remain in independent study, or whether the pupil should return to the regular school program, the pupil’s level of satisfactory progress shall be considered. Satisfactory educational progress shall be determined based on all of the following indicators:

(A) The pupil’s achievement and engagement in the independent study program, as indicated by the pupil’s performance on applicable pupil-level measures of pupil achievement and pupil engagement, including but not limited to the student’s attendance and absenteeism.

(B) The completion of assignments, assessments, or other indicators that evidence that the pupil is working on assignments.

(D) Progressing toward successful completion of Independent Study, as determined by the supervising teacher.

2. Content Standards

The provision of content aligned to grade level standards that is provided to pupils in the independent study program shall be at a level of quality and intellectual challenge substantially equivalent to in-person instruction.

3. Re-engagement Strategies

The District will take measures to re-engage pupils who are not generating attendance for more than three schooldays or 60 percent of the instructional days in a school week, or who are in violation of their written agreement pursuant to Education Code section 51747(g), BP 6158 and this policy. Procedures for tiered reengagement strategies shall include all of the following:

(A) Verification of the pupil’s current contact information.

(B) Notification to parents or guardians of lack of participation within one school day of the absence or lack of participation.

(D) A clear standard for requiring a pupil-parent-educator conference to review a pupil’s written agreement and reconsider the independent study program’s impact on the pupil’s achievement and well-being, consistent with the provisions of BP 6158 and this policy regarding missed assignments and satisfactory educational progress.

“Pupil-parent-educator conference” means a meeting involving, at a minimum, all parties who signed the pupil’s written independent study agreement pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 51747 or the written learning agreement pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 51749.6.

The above section shall not apply to pupils that participate in short-term independent study for 3 to 15 school days.

4. Instructional Delivery Methods

Instruction shall be provided to all pupils in the longer term (more than 15 school days), independent study program through Tustin Connect, and in accordance with the pupil’s written agreement, and shall include the following:

(A) For pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 3, inclusive, daily synchronous instruction shall be provided for all pupils throughout the school year.

(B) Pupils in grades 4 to 8, inclusive, will be provided opportunities for both daily live interaction and at least weekly synchronous instruction for all pupils throughout the school year.

(C) Pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, will be provided opportunities for at least weekly synchronous instruction for all pupils throughout the school year.

“Live interaction” means interaction between the pupil and District classified or certificated staff, and may include peers, provided for the purpose of maintaining school connectedness, including, but not limited to, wellness checks, progress monitoring, provision of services, and instruction. This interaction may take place in person, or in the form of internet or telephonic communication.

“Synchronous instruction” means classroom-style instruction or designated small group or one-on-one instruction delivered in person, or in the form of internet or telephonic communications, and involving live two-way communication between the teacher and pupil. Synchronous instruction shall be provided by the teacher of record for that pupil pursuant to Education Code Section 51747.5.

The above section shall not apply to pupils that participate in short-term independent study for 3 to 15 school days.

5. Returning to In-Person Instruction

Pupils whose families wish to return to in-person instruction from independent study may notify the designated contact person, as set forth in the pupil’s written agreement. Upon notice from the pupil’s family that a return to in-person instruction is desired, the Independent Study Administrator shall provide for the pupil’s return to the school of the pupil’s previous in-person attendance, space permitting, or such other school is appropriate for the pupil’s grade level with consideration to school capacities and place of residence, no later than five instructional days after the request is received.

This section shall not apply to pupils that participate in short-term independent study for 3 to 15 school days.

6. Master Agreement

Each pupil’s written agreement for independent study shall include, in addition to those provisions required by BP/AR 6158 the following:

(A) The manner, time, frequency, and place for reporting the pupil’s academic progress, and for communicating with a pupil’s parent or guardian regarding the pupil’s academic progress.

(B) The specific resources, including materials and personnel, that will be made available to the pupil. These resources shall include confirming or providing access to all pupils to the connectivity and devices adequate to participate in the educational program and complete assigned work.

(C) A statement of the level of satisfactory educational progress allowed before an evaluation of whether or not the pupil should be allowed to continue in independent study.

(D) A statement detailing the academic and other supports that will be provided to address the needs of pupils who are not performing at grade level, or need support in other areas, such as English learners, individuals with exceptional needs in order to be consistent with the pupil’s individualized education program or plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794), pupils in foster care or experiencing homelessness, and pupils requiring mental health supports.

Signed written agreements, supplemental agreements, assignment records, work samples, and attendance records assessing time value of work or evidence that an instructional activity occurred may be maintained as an electronic file. An electronic file includes a computer or electronic stored image of an original document, including, but not limited to, portable document format, JPEG, or other digital image file type, that may be sent via fax machine, email, or other electronic means. Either an original document or an electronic file of the original document is allowable for auditing purposes.

Written agreements may be signed using an electronic signature that complies with state and federal standards that may be a marking that is either computer generated or produced by electronic means and is intended by the signatory to have the same effect as a handwritten signature. The use of an electronic signature shall have the same force and effect as the use of a manual signature if the requirements for digital signatures and their acceptable technology, as provided in Section 16.5 of the Government Code and in Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22000) of Division 7 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, are satisfied.

For the 2021–22 school year only, the District shall obtain a signed written agreement for independent study from the pupil, or the pupil’s parent or legal guardian if the pupil is less than 18 years of age, the certificated employee who has been designated as having responsibility for the general supervision of independent study, and all persons who have direct responsibility for providing assistance to the pupil no later than 30 days after the first day of instruction.

7. Independent Study Enrollment and Notice

For the 2021–22 school year only, the District shall notify the parents and guardians of all enrolled pupils of their options to enroll their child in in-person instruction or independent study during the 2021–22 school year. This notice shall include written information on the District’s internet website, including, but not limited to, the right to request a pupil-parent-educator conference meeting before enrollment pursuant to this section, pupil rights regarding procedures for enrolling, disenrolling, and reenrolling in independent study, and the synchronous and asynchronous instructional time that a pupil will have access to as part of independent study.

Upon the request of the parent or guardian of a pupil, and before signing a written agreement with the pupil’s parent or guardian, the District shall conduct a phone, videoconference, or in-person pupil-parent-educator conference or other school meeting during which the pupil, parent or guardian, and, if requested by the pupil or parent, an education advocate, may ask questions about the educational options, including which curriculum offerings and nonacademic supports will be available to the pupil in independent study, before making the decision about enrollment or disenrollment in the various options for learning.

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE 51745 – 51749 Independent Study Programs

Assembly Bill No. 130 (Ch. 44, Stats. 2021)

First Read and/or Adopt: 08/19/21

STUDENT ATTENDANCE REVIEW BOARD (SARB)

The School Attendance Review Board is an intervention designed to help students and their families identify the issues related to their students' poor attendance. The SARB Panel consists of members from Tustin Unified School District such as, CWA Social Worker, Special Education Administrator, District Nurse, School Site Administrator and/or Counselor, in addition a representative from OC Probation, local law enforcement agency, and OC Social Services Agency are also on the panel. Our comprehensive panel is looking to identify solutions that are reasonable and effective for the student and family. In the event the parent and/or student is not cooperative, the panel may file with OC Probation or the OC District Attorney's Office.

SARB Hearings are held at the Tustin Unified School District in the Board Room, 300 South C Street, Tustin, CA 92780.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY TRUANCY MEETINGS

Any further questions regarding the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) Process please contact: