Your Attendance Matters
Each day at school is important and multiple studies have shown a direct link between positive school attendance and positive life outcomes. IVA teachers and staff also miss our students whenever they are absent! If your child has a minor illness and you're not sure whether or not it's appropriate to miss school, this one-pager from the National Association of School Nurses is very helpful.
Key Points from Attendance and Independent Study Policies
- Guardians may opt into Independent Study anytime their student will be absent, up to fifteen cumulative days per school year. Independent Study requires families to sign a contract and requires the student to complete work while they are away from school. This is strongly suggested for any and all absences.
- Any unexcused absence is considered a truancy. Guardians may excuse an absence by calling the office, writing a note, or emailing attendance@ivalongbeach.org.
- Excessive truancies in a school year (3 or more) may result in additional supports such as an administrator conference, an attendance contract, or referral to a Student Attendance Review Board.
- Common excused absence reasons are personal illness or doctor's appointments. A guardian may excuse an absence for personal illness or medical appointment up to ten times in a school year. After ten absences, a doctor's note is required.
- Most "personal" absence reasons are not excusable, including vacation. Please review the IVA Attendance Policy for a full list of justifiable personal excuses.
