Attendance Policy

Any absence, excused or unexcused, should be reported to the office even if you have informed the teacher or collected work on the day of absence. If the absence is not reported to the office within 3 school days, the absence will be marked unexcused. Not all absences/tardies are excusable even if reported to the office. Contact the office at 661-588-6050 with any attendance questions or concerns.

How to notify the school office of your student’s absence:

Leave a message on the attendance line with the reason for the absence. The attendance line is available 24/7 at 661-588-6044, then press “1”
Email the Attendance Clerk at cbraun@ruesd.net , include the reason for the absence in your email.

Excusable absences:

According to the California Education Code (E.C sections 49701 and 48205), your student will be excused for an absence when it is:

Personal illness for the student
Student’s medical or dental appointment
Funeral of immediate family member,one day within California and 3 days outside of California
Mandatory court appearance for student
Spending time with an immediate family member who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position.

Unexcused absence:

Out of town / Vacation
Staying with a sick relative or going to a relatives Dr. appointment
Family emergencies are not an excused absence
Otherwise would have been excused, but the parent/guardian failed to notify the office within 3 school days.

Returning to School:

Covid tests are not required to return to school, but are still recommended. A student may return to school after an illness once symptoms have improved if the student has been:

Fever, vomit and diarrhea free for 24 hrs without medication

A Doctor’s note is required:

After 3 consecutive days of an illness
After 12 non-consecutive days out due to illness within a school year or the absence will be unexcused.

Late to School:

Student must report to the office before going to class
Parent/Guardian should call the school or send a note explaining the tardiness
If late due to medical/dental appointment please provide Dr. note to excuse tardy
Unexcused tardies of 30 minutes or more could be considered truant.

Independent Study:

If you are interested in placing your student on independent study you will need to contact the office,even if you have informed the teacher or collected work. Your student will not be considered to be on independent study without a signed contract from the office.Steps for successful completion of independent study:

Contact the office to fill out the independent study contract
Teacher will send work home with the student before the student is scheduled to leave. This work needs to be completed while on independent study.
All work must be completed and turned in to the teacher the day the student returns from independent study or the absences will be changed to unexcused and the contract will be considered incomplete.

Freedom Middle School

Teen Health Parent Presentation

Attendance Matters