Attendance
The objective of Los Osos Middle School is to establish a successful educational environment. In order to do this, students must attend school daily.
Call our 24-hour telephone message service at 805.534.2837 to report an absence.
It is the parent's/guardian's responsibility to contact the school by 10am on the day the student is absent. Please leave the following details when leaving a message:
1) The student’s name
2) Date(s) and/or periods of absence
3) Reason for absence (please be specific)
4) Name of caller and relationship to student
5) Daytime phone number of caller
- Failure to verify an absence within 24 hours , by indicating the day(s), date(s), and reason will result in a truancy/cut and detentions assigned accordingly.
- Students are responsible for completing missing assignments. The time allowed to make up work is equal to the time of the absence, for excused absences only .
Attendance Policies
Roadmap for Attendance Notices
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE NOTICES
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TRUANCY LETTER 1 - Generates after 3 unexcused absences (which classifies a child as truant).
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TRUANCY LETTER 2 - Generates after 6 unexcused absences with conference invite and notification of School Attendance Review Board (SARB).
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TRUANCY LETTER 3 - Generates after 9 unexcused absences (which classifies a child as habitually truant).
EXCUSED ABSENCE NOTICES
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EXCESSIVE EXCUSED 1 - Medical Letter generated after 10% of missed school days.
SARB HEARING
Generates after a student has missed 10% of the school year and has at least 9 absences.
GLOSSARY OF ATTENDANCE TERMS
TRUANT/TRUANCY
A child is classified as truant when they have missed thirty minutes or more of instruction on three separate days without a valid reason.
CHRONICALLY ABSENT
A child is chronically absent when they have missed 10% of the school year. This includes all absences (excused, unexcused, suspensions, physician notes, etc.).
EXCUSED ABSENCE
Absences that can be considered excused per Ed Code are: (1) personal illness or injury; (2) personal medical or dental appointment; (3) funeral of immediate family member; (4) quarantine under the direction of health officer; (5) religious observance. A doctor’s note is required after 10 excused absences. (Please refer to online handbooks available on school websites for most current policies.)
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE
Absences that do not meet the requirement of an excused absence are considered an unexcused absence.
PRE-SARB MEETING (SARB)
SARB is a School Site Team which brings together parent(s)/guardian(s), the student, the site principal, and any other administration and attendance support staff. The goal of this team is to identify possible solutions to improving the students' attendance.
DISTRICT ATTENDANCE REVIEW TEAM (SARB)
SARB is a District Team which brings together parent(s)/guardian(s), the student, a District Office staff member, the site principal, and any other administration and attendance support staff. The goal of this team is to provide additional support to identify possible solutions to improving the students' attendance.
Attendance Clerk
![A smiling woman with dark hair and glasses, wearing a blue shirt, against a gray background.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1761072529/slcusdorg/slcusdorg/gxnstuzvgkh04vkk2337/NELLYOCHOA.jpg","width":239}])
Nelly Ochoa
School Attendance Review Board (SARB)
When a child has persistent problems in school relating to truancy, attendance, or behavior, and when traditional avenues of classroom, school, or district guidance and intervention do not resolve the situation, school district and county resources are brought together to form the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB). The purpose is to focus on the child’s needs, and to review the case, make recommendations, including possible change of school placement, and formalize referrals for programs and services, which will facilitate student success in the educational setting.