Medical and Dental Appointments in California are an excused absence from school.
It has come to our attention that some California school districts have been making it extremely difficult for parents to take their children out of school for necessary healthcare appointments. Some of our families have said they have felt pressured by the schools to miss their children's necessary medical and dental appointments due to the schools not receiving funding if their child was absent for the attendance checks. While we all agree that proper school attendance is crucial, a child's health is important as well and healthcare appointments ARE an excused absence. We are re-posting the California Education Code so parents are better informed that medical and dental appointments are excused absences from school and school excuses will always be cheerfully provided!
California Education Code § 48205 defines when a pupil shall be excused from school. This includes when the absence is:
Due to the pupil’s illness.
Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.
For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic services rendered.
For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the pupil’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.
A full list can be found here: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=48205