Attendance

Attendance Expectations

Students who attend school consistently have a greater chance of excelling academically. Being present in the classroom provides students the ability to ask for clarification, engage in meaningful discussion, and take notes in preparation for examinations. Daily attendance promotes educational success and builds stronger relationships with peers and teachers. Consistent attendance is also recognized as a protective factor that provides students with the foundation to grow into happy, healthy, and productive adults. The Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) recognizes that success in school is related to prompt and regular classroom attendance. Frequent absences or tardies, which result in a student missing all or parts of presentations, demonstrations, discussions, explanations, and/or other classroom activities, are detrimental to the individual student and the class. 

Absence Reporting Procedure

It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to report their student’s absences. Only parents/guardians can excuse a student’s absence. Parents/guardians must call or email the School Office on the first day of absence. When a child is absent because of illness or for a doctor or dental appointment, call the school office 650-856-0845 or email fairmeadow@pausd.org before 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence and indicate the reason. If contact is not made, the school requires the returning student bring a note signed by the parent/guardian. In a situation where a health condition begins to impact attendance and learning, a referral to the District Health Services Office may be initiated. If a student is absent from class for any reason and the absence has not been cleared with the school staff, parents/guardians will receive a call from school staff. Any absence not cleared by the student’s parent/guardian within 72 hours will be treated as an unexcused absence. Detailed student attendance information is available for parents/guardians to review through the Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal.