Attendance Procedures

Absences

Daily Attendance and class participation are essential to the success of each student at Madison High School.

To report an absence, the parent or guardian must call the Attendance Office every day the student is absent at (858) 536-0336 x3029 (bilingual) or x3020.

Please leave a detailed message with the following information:

• Name of the student.
• Grade level or Student I.D.
• Your relationship with the student.
• Date(s) the student will be absent.
• Reason for the absence.
• Phone number where you can be reached in case there is a question about the reported absence. 

Attendance Policy

School Attendance is required by law. Education Code: 48200 of the State of California requires every child 6 through 18 years of age to attend school every day and on time.

Appointments 

Students are encouraged to make all medical and dental appointments before/after school hours. If a medical or dental appointment must be made during school hours, the parent or guardian should call the attendance office to arrange a BLUE SLIP (please notify the attendance office ahead of time to prevent any delays).

Student Illness While at School

Students who are ill and need to go home during the school day must first be seen by the school nurse, school health clerk, or a school administrator, who will notify the parents as needed.

Tardy Policy

All students are expected to be on time for each class. Students arriving late to class can cause the student to miss valuable learning instruction and can also be disruptive to the learning environment of others. Excessive tardiness can lower citizenship grades, affecting eligibility for campus activities, sports, and graduation events.  

• Students who are late must report directly to the attendance window at the main office to receive a tardy clearance slip to take to the classroom teacher.
• Tardy Students are responsible for attending detention.
• Failure to clear tardies will result in assignments to Saturday School "Core Academy."
• Failure to attend Core Academy within two opportunities will result in a referral to a vice principal for further action.
• Excessive tardies will result in placement on LOP.
• Car trouble, oversleeping, and missing the bus are unexcused tardies.

Truancy

A student is truant when he/she is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof. Education Code 48260

Chronic Absences

A student who is absent on 10 percent or more of the schooldays in the school year when the total number of days a student is absent is divided by the total number of days the student is enrolled, and school was taught. Education Code 60901(c)(1)

Independent Study Contract

Parents must contact the attendance office at least two weeks before departure to request a contract for absences requiring a student to miss five or more school days. This contract may allow the student to receive homework and attendance credit for days missed. The principal's approval is required. Only students in good standing are afforded this privilege. Family vacations should be limited to publicized school vacation periods.

PowerSchool Student/Parent Portal Access

We encourage parents/guardians and students to check the Student/Parent Portal to ensure accurate attendance reporting.