1. Issues for Attendance AccountingBy
Dr. Paul A. Rodriguez

2. Positive Attendance Students marked when they are actually present
“negative” systems assume student is present unless marked absent
Attendance collected in aggregate hours for all students
Any portion of an hour counts for a full hour

3. Compulsory Attendance
Applies to all persons between the ages of 6 and 18
There is no prohibition on serving students older than 18 if they have not earned a diploma
Continuation schools are mandated under ED 48432

4. ADA Computation Based on total number of hours earned by all students
15 hour per week cap for each student and is reduced proportionately to the number of days in the week
Minimum attendance day is 180 minutes adjusted for passing periods
Excess hours for a student can be applied back to prior weeks or poor attendance
Length of school year is the same as the district school years
Basic calculation is to total hours earned and divide by 3 determine the number of apportionment days earned which is then divided by the days of the month for monthly ADA and by 180 to determine annual ADA

5. Purpose of Attendance Accounting
Compliance with compulsory attendance law
Allocation of state funding apportionment
Requirements
Minimum school days is 180 minutes
Maximum attendance credit is 15 hours per week
May exceed a day of attendance credit for any one day
Working student may attend a minimum of four hours per week

6. Other Issues
If year-round schedule then inter-session time can use summer school allocation
Staff-development days count for apportionment and use day prior or day after for ADA calculation
Compulsory attendance laws require schools to maintain accurate attendance accounting
Excused absences are no longer allowed for apportionment accounting purposes. Attendance accounting is necessary to comply with compulsory attendance laws.

7. Audit and Reports Audit requirements
Notes and logs are source documents
These are “Class 3” records
Maintain individual student records
Reports/Recordkeeping
All forms/software approved by CDE
Teachers sign attendance records
Attendance reported in clock hours
Monthly summary report required
Records are Class 3

8. Involuntary transfer requires procedural action
Voluntary transfer open to all over age 16
Notice of voluntary alternative education programs is required to be posted at every high school and communicated to parents [EC (1)]
Involuntary transfer requires procedural action
Board Policy adopted
Written notice provided pupil and parent/guardian
Based on EC or habitual truancy
Hearing required
Applies to current and next semester

9. Adjunct Programs
Claim no more than one day of attendance for any student
Keep programs separate for attendance accounting purposes
Students can access services of other programs without ADA earning
Know the rules of attendance for other programs