School Attendance Review Board (S.A.R.B.)

California Education Code (EDC) 48200 states that all people between the ages of 6 and 18 are required to receive a full-time education. This includes attending a public school full-time for the length of the school day as determined by the school district's governing board. Parents, guardians, or other people in charge of a child are responsible for ensuring they attend school. If a child is truant or chronically absent the school district must notify the child's parent or guardian and inform them of their obligations to ensure that their student(s) attend school. 

If any student is habitually truant, has irregular attendance, or is habitually insubordinate or disorderly during attendance at school, the student may be referred to a School Attendance Review Board (SARB). The SARB committee will work with the parent and the student to determine appropriate interventions for the student and family. (EC 48263)

What does it mean to be truant (EC 48260):

• Truant means a student who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year, or tardy/absent for more than 30 minutes in any period during the school day without a valid excuse.
• Habitual Truant means a student who has been reported as truant three or more times within the same school year, provided the school has made an effort to hold at least one parent/guardian conference with the student/parent after either of the previous two Truancies. 
• Chronic Truant means a student who has been absent from school without a valid excuse for 10 percent or more of the school days in one school year, provided the school has made attempts to address the previous absences. 

What does it mean to be chronically absent (irregular attendance at school):

• Chronic absenteeism is when a student misses 10% or more of the total number of school days in a year, for any reason. 
• Parentally excused absences, including doctor’s notes, count toward chronic absenteeism.  

The purpose of the SARB is to work with families to ensure that their student’s behavior is appropriate while at school, and that they attend school on time and regularly.  The SARB holds parents and students accountable by:

• Enforcing the compulsory attendance laws
• Monitoring student attendance and informing parents of chronic tardiness or absenteeism
• Offering support services and referrals to other agencies for students and families in need
• Enforcing sanctions when appropriate (typically occurs if the panel needs to reconvene on the same student)
• Referring non-compliant parents to court