SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Board Acts to Limit Student Absences
The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees has taken the first step to overturn an optional state education code allowing districts to excuse older students for “confidential medical services” without a note from a parent or guardian.
Under a new board policy endorsed by trustees this week, students in grades seven to 12 will not be released from school for any reason without permission from a parent or guardian. The board will take a final vote on the policy next month.
Supt. James A. Fleming said he only recently became aware of the somewhat-obscure 1986 state code.
“I think it places the school district in a position of potential liability,” Fleming told the board. “It also places the school district in the position, particularly with children as young as grade seven, of being able to make judgments too quickly and easily about excusing children for medical services without parental involvement.”
District officials say the change in policy is intended to stress “the important role parents and guardians play in maintaining high standards of student attendance.”
“The parents would be involved any time a child leaves school for any reason,” Fleming said.
Until now, the district did not have its own policy guiding student absences, instead relying on the state education code.
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