Parents » Attendance

Attendance

At Valley Elementary, we believe that regular school attendance is essential to student learning, connection, and success. Every school day provides valuable opportunities for students to build relationships, develop skills, and grow academically and socially.

ATTENDANCE HOTLINE ~ 1-858-748-2038

Office Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

School Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 7:45 a.m. - 2:05 p.m., Thursday: 7:45 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.

Attendance Email: [email protected]

Attendance Hotline:1-858-748-2038;Main Phone Number~1-858-748-2007 

 

Please remember to submit a digital absence or call the attendance hotline each day your student is absent from school.

If your child is absent from school, it is necessary for a parent/guardian to call the office via the Attendance Hot Line (858) 748-2038 before 9:00 am. Please leave the following information:

 

Clearly state:

Student’s first and last name and grade

Your first and last name (must be parent or guardian)

Teacher’s name

Day(s) and date(s) of absences

Reason for the absence

Expected date of return

.

Absences must still meet district and state criteria for excused absences under California Education Code. Please be sure to write an explanation for the reason for absence.https://www.powayusd.com/apps/pages/excused-vs-unexcused-absences

 

Instructions for submitting a digital absence are available by clickingHERE. Thank you for your continued partnership in ensuring your child’s regular attendance and success.

Helpful Video links for families

 
 

ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES AND NOTIFICATIONS

  • Chronic Absenteeism: Under California Education Code Section 60901(c)(1), students who miss 10% or more of the school year are considered chronically absent. This includes both excused and unexcused absences.
  • Excessive Absences (excused and unexcused): Poway Unified School District considers eight (8) or more full-day excused or unexcused absences in a school year excessive. Families will receive attendance notification letters after 8, 10, and 12 absences. Please note: families of students on an IDT will also receive an IDT revocation notice.
  • Extended Illness: If your child is absent for five (5) or more consecutive school days due to illness, a doctor's note is required in addition to parent notification. If a child has a fever, they must not return to school until they have been fever free for a 24-hour period.
  • Medical Appointments: Please provide documentation from the medical office when your child is absent or arrives late due to a medical appointment

TARDIES

Like absences, tardies affect classroom learning time and should be avoided. School begins at 7:45 with the line-up bell at 7:40. Students who arrive at or after 7:45 must check in through the office and receive a tardy slip. Medical appointments are considered excused tardies (please provide doctor’s note).

 

PLANNED ABSENCES (OCIS Contracts):

Attendance is vital for school funding, and any absences reduce the funding the school gets from the state (unless the student is on an Off-Campus Independent Study Contract [OCIS]).

  • OCIS CONTRACTS:
    If there is a planned absence of up to 15 days, please notify attendance one week prior to the absence to set up a homework contract.
  • An OCIS contract allows your student to do the work that he or she would be doing if they were in class - and helps the school to continue to be funded by the state.
  • Absences accumulated while on an OCIS Homework Contract do NOT count toward a student’s absence total (unless the student does not complete all assignments before returning to school).

 

How We Support Families

When attendance becomes a concern, Valley's Attendance Team may reach out to families to better understand challenges, identify helpful resources, and develop strategies to improve attendance.

Students with ongoing attendance concerns may also be referred for additional support through the Poway Unified School District's attendance review process.