California schools send automated notices if your child has too many unexcused absences or tardies.
They start with gentle reminders and can escalate to meetings with school staff or district review boards.
In extreme cases, truancy can lead to fines or legal action — but that’s RARE!
Independent study can cover some absences but requires special paperwork and can be a hassle for schools.
Don’t freak out! Most of the time, schools just want to work with you to get your child back in class and sort out what’s going on.
What Is Truancy?
In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), a student is considered truant if they have:
3 unexcused absences,
3 tardies exceeding 30 minutes, or
Any combination of the above within a single school year.
What Happens When Your Child Is Truant?
Did you start getting letters this year? It might be because LAUSD has implemented an automated system that sends Mandated Truancy Letters to families when a student reaches the truancy threshold. These letters are typically sent monthly and will continue until the student's attendance record is cleared with the school's Attendance Office.
What Counts as an Excused Absence?
According to California Education Code, valid reasons for excused absences include:
Illness or medical/dental appointments
Funeral services for an immediate family member (1 day within California, 3 days out of state)
Religious ceremonies or holidays (with prior approval)
Court appearances
Quarantine under the direction of a health officer
Other justifiable personal reasons approved in advance by the school
Basically a polite way of saying:
👉 It’s entirely at the school’s discretion whether or not your reason for absence counts as excused.
In real life, this can vary a ton depending on the principal, school culture, or even the office staff. Some schools are pretty understanding if you’re, say, attending a family wedding in another state… others might say, “Nope.” Or just ignore your emails.
So if you’re planning to use this category for an absence, definitely check in with the office ahead of time and get it in writing.
❓ Common Scenarios: Excused or Not?
My child had COVID-19: ✅ Yes, with appropriate documentation.
We visited family for a religious holiday: ✅ Yes, if approved in advance.
We traveled overseas for a family event: ❌ No, unless approved as a justifiable personal reason.
We took a vacation during the school year: ❌ No, vacations are not excused absences.
Here’s the real scoop on what can happen if you rack up too many truancy notices in LAUSD:
1. Parent Notification
LAUSD will send official notices to let you know that your child has unexcused absences (or excessive tardies).
These letters typically escalate in “tiers,” starting with a gentle nudge and ramping up from there.
2. School Meetings
If the notices keep coming, the school might request a parent conference to talk about why your child is missing school and how to fix it.
3. SART (School Attendance Review Team)
Next step: a SART meeting.
This is a more formal sit-down at the school level to try and work out solutions and supports.
4. SARB (School Attendance Review Board)
If things still don’t improve, your case can be referred to the SARB, which is a district-level team.
This group has the power to enforce attendance laws and can recommend additional interventions.
5. Possible Legal Action
In extreme cases, ongoing truancy can result in a referral to the District Attorney’s office.
Parents can face fines, required classes, or other legal penalties if truancy is deemed severe and persistent.
What about Independent Study?
It’s basically like a mini home-school program - you take your kid out of class (maybe for travel, family stuff, or an extended absence) and the school sends you packets of work so your child can still get credit for attendance (if completed and returned).
Sounds great, right? And it can be! But here’s the catch:
It’s tricky for principals:
When a family requests independent study, the school has to jump through a ton of hoops - they need to fill out special paperwork, assign a teacher to track your kid’s progress, and report everything to the district. If they don’t follow every single rule to the letter, the district can actually dock the school’s funding (because it’s tied to attendance).
So while schools do want to help families out, principals get a lot of flack for approving too many independent study requests or not doing them perfectly. It’s not that they’re trying to be difficult - they’re just trying to keep their school’s funding intact and avoid angry phone calls from district auditors.
Still want to request it?
✈️ Template: Requesting Independent Study During Travel
Subject: Request for Independent Study During Travel
Dear [Principal's Name],
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inform you that our family will be traveling from [start date] to [end date] due to [brief reason, e.g., family obligations, cultural experience, etc.]. During this period, we would like to arrange an independent study program for [Student's Full Name], who is in [Grade Level].
We are committed to ensuring that [Student's First Name] stays current with their assignments and maintains academic progress during our absence. Please let us know the necessary steps to initiate this process and any forms we need to complete.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Contact Information]
Note: Independent study agreements typically require advance notice and approval from the school. It's essential to initiate this process as early as possible to ensure compliance with district policies.
For more detailed information, refer to the LAUSD Parent-Student Handbook.
