The Student Attendance staff handles all matters relating to the attendance of our students:

• Monitors the computerized attendance accounting network at our schools.
• Provides an information system on attendance, enrollment and class size for use by other departments and authorized agencies.
• Files all necessary attendance and enrollment reports with the State of California, which generates a source of income for the district.
• Audits school attendance accounting procedures to assure compliance with the California Education Code.
• Maintains records on all graduated or previously-enrolled students.
  

School attendance is required for all children ages 6 through 18.

State law states that absences are excused only if the student is ill or there is a death in the immediate family (1-3 day limit). All other absences are unexcused. Any tardy over 30 minutes, except for medical reasons, is also unexcused. A student who has three unexcused absences and/or tardies will be considered truant. After four more unexcused absences or tardies, parents could be required to appear before a judge and pay a fine.

Many parents are unaware that going "out of town" with their children during school is an unexcused absence, as are "family emergencies." In both cases, planning ahead can avoid unexcused absences and possible prosecution by the District Attorney's Office. Some parents think that simply saying the student is ill will solve the problem. It is our district's policy that we may require a doctor's note for three consecutive days of absence.

It is our hope that parents will make school a number-one priority in the family. We encourage parents to make carpooling arrangements, plan trips during school holidays and vacations, and have a back-up person available to take students to school if they are ill or otherwise unable to do so.

When families must go out of town, the student can do independent study. Teachers need one week's notice to prepare materials.

Please click here to view the WPUSD school calendar for 2010-2011.

We at WPUSD work very hard to ensure that our students receive the best education possible. We cannot do that if our students are not in school -- on time, every day, when healthy. Please help us to provide our students with the outstanding education they deserve.

Every day a student attends school we receive $34 per student. This is called the ADA (Average Daily Attendance) revenue, and it is how we pay for educating our students.

Since July 1, 1998, school districts no longer receive funding from the State of California for students who are absent from school for any reason. We do not receive funding for any absence (excused or unexcused), including those related to illness, medical or doctor appointments or attending funeral services. In other words, WPUSD receives state funding only for students who actually attend school. If a child is absent for any reason, we lose revenue.

If you were to take your children out of school for a week's vacation, the district would lose $170 per child, even though we have no reduction in expenses for keeping the school open and educating your children's classmates. So it is very important not only to your children's education, but also to our District finances, that your students attend every scheduled school day.

Enrollment and Average Daily Attendance History