San Mateo High School Attendance Procedures

Being present at school everyday is key to student learning and success in high school. All students are expected to be on time to all of their classes each day. 

If a student must miss a day of school, arrive late or leave early their parent/guardian must report their absence directly with the Attendance Office within 3 days of the absence so that they can be excused. Absences not cleared after 3 days will be considered a cut.

Report absences to the Attendance Office by:

• Completing the Absence Reporting Form (http://bit.ly/SMHSAttendance)  online
• OR calling (650) 558-2308 or (650) 558-2309

Absences may be excused for the following reasons (SMUHSD BR 5113)

1. Personal illness, including absences for benefit of the students’ mental or behavioral health
2. Quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer
3. Medical, dental, optometrical or chiropractic services or appointment
4. Attendance at funeral services for a member of the student’s immediate family
5. Justifiable personal reasons including: appearance in court, observance of religious holiday or ceremony

 

If a student misses more than 14 days due to illness, a physician verification will be required to excuse future absences.

Permit to Leave: If a student has to leave school early, they MUST get a Permit to Leave from the Attendance Office BEFORE leaving campus. Leaving school without a permit from the attendance office is considered a cut and may not be excused by a note or call afterwards. A parent/ guardian must complete the SMHS Absence Reporting Form or call the Attendance Office before 8:30 am. Then students must stop by the Attendance Office during brunch or lunch to pick up their permit to leave. Students must show the permit to leave to their teacher and any other adult as they leave campus.

Cuts: Students who are found to have been off campus during the school day will have their belongings searched, parent/guardian contacted and be assigned 2 hours of detention per the Discipline Matrix. Parents will be notified daily of their students’ cuts each day via the automated phone system. 

Tardies: Students who are found to be tardy to class in a Tardy Sweep will be assigned an hour of detention. Students who do not attend Detention will be assigned additional consequences including Saturday School and Reset Monday.  Parents will be notified daily of their students’ tardies each day via the automated phone system. 

Teachers are encouraged to assign consequences as described in their classroom management plan and inform parents/ guardians of tardies.

Students must attend all of their classes each day and have a parent/guardian report absences to the Attendance Office. 

Students who have 8 or more periods with truancies/ unexcused absences (attendance codes T, U) and 30+ min tardies (attendance code B) will not be eligible to participate in student activities for the following month, including dances and sports events. Students and families will receive emails monthly with a summary of the month’s attendance and their eligibility to participate in student activities.

Student Services will review attendance each month in order to identify students who will not be eligible for student activities and students in need of additional interventions to support strong attendance. For example, students who accumulate more than 21 period truancies will be notified via district Truancy letters and placed on an Attendance Action Plan.

Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism

Attendance is closely monitored and families will receive regular communication and support regarding their student’s attendance. Families will receive communication via email, mail and phone calls from the school regarding their student’s truancy.  Students who continue to be truant, and their parents/guardians, will be required to attend meetings with school administrators, staff and district social worker (School Attendance Review Team-SART) to develop an Attendance Action Plan. If truancy continues, students may be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) who attempts to understand why students experience attendance problems and makes every effort to assist in improving attendance. Learn more on the district website.

Attendance Codes

Excused Absences * Students are permitted to make up all work missed.

• A - Activity/School Business
• G - Religious - A student’s absence from school for religious reasons 
• I - Illness - the school may require the certificate of a doctor if it is deemed advisable. This is mandatory after five consecutive days. 
• M - Excused Tardy- A student has a note from a staff member clearing the student’s tardy or the student has a note from parent/guardian with an excusable reason for tardy
• S - Suspended
• X - Excused

Unexcused Absences *Students may be permitted to make up work at the teacher’s discretion

• B - Tardy (30+ minutes) - If a student arrives to class after 30 minutes past the start of class.  
• L - Late/Tardy (regardless of minutes of class time missed)
• T - Truant/Cut (No make-up work allowed) - Cuts are defined as any absence not cleared by parents/guardians or student left campus without permission
• U - Unverified Absence - Parent has not reported the absence to the attendance office.  They have two days to report the absence or else it will be considered a truancy (T). The code will be changed from U to T.
• N- Nonexcused- Parent has reported a students' absences for reason that does not qualify as an excused absence (ie. family vacation, college visit, family emergency)