12/02/2017 ParentSurveyforDraftingAttendancePolicyGoogleForms

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Summary

School(s)currentlyattendedbyyourchild(ren)inSUSD
ArgonautElementary 5 13.5%
ArgonautEle FoothillElementary 1 2.7%

FoothillElem SaratogaElementary 31 83.8%

RedwoodMiddle 10 27%
SaratogaEle

RedwoodMid

0.0 7.5 15.0 22.5 30.0

Upuntilthisyear,wereyouundertheimpressionthatfamiliesinourdistrictcouldpulltheirchildrenoutofschool
forupto10consecutivedayswithoutanyrepercussionsexceptruntheriskofbeingremovedfromclassrosterif
the10daylimitwasexceeded?
Yes 21 58.3%
41.7% No 15 41.7%
Other 0 0%

58.3%

WheredidyouobtainthiserroneousattendanceInformationbeforethis20162017academicyear?
Schoolofficestaff 11 33.3%
18.2% Parents 6 18.2%
21.2%
StudentDirectory 3 9.1%
Alwaysknewthistobefalse 6 18.2%
18.2%
Other 7 21.2%
33.3%

Areyouawareofthestrictenforcementofstudentattendancetakingplacethisacademic20162017year?
No 7 19.4%
Yes 28 77.8%
77.8% Other 1 2.8%

19.4%

HowdidyoulearnabouttheNewenforcementoftheattendancepolicyforthis20162017academicyear?

40%

28.6%
22.9%

Onlywhenyourfamilywasissuedatruancyletter 8 22.9%
SchoolAdministrationStaff 1 2.9%
StudentDirectory 1 2.9%
SUSDTruancyPetition 1 2.9%

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SUSDalwaysenforcedthispolicy 0 0%
OnlywhenSuperintendentJohnson'sDistrictwidecommunicationdiscussedthispoint 10 28.6%
Other 14 40%

TheBoardscurrentattendancepolicyconsidersthefollowingasexcusedabsences
basedonjustifiablepersonalreasons:A)religiousholidaysorcelebrationsB)
appearanceincourtC)attendanceatafuneralD)attendanceatanemployment
conference(requirespreviousapprovalbytheschoolprincipal)andE)workingatan
electionprecinct.However,itexplicitlyconsidersabsencesduetoafamily
vacationasunexcused.Ifachildisoutofschoolformorethan3daysduetoan
unexcusedabsence,he/sheisconsideredtruantundertheCaliforniaEducation
Code.TheBoardhasdiscretionunderthelawtoconsiderafamilyvacationa
justifiablepersonalreasonforabsenceand,therefore,changeitspolicytoinclude
absencesduetofamilyvacationsasexcusedabsences.

DoyouthinktheBoardshouldbroadentheattendancepolicytoincludeabsencesduetofamilyvacation/activityas
excusedabsences?
Yes 32 86.5%
No 5 13.5%

86.5%

Inmostcases,thecurrentboardpolicy,doesnotexcusedayslosttotravelevenif
theeventcausinganabsenceisconsideredexcused.Insomecasestravelalone
maytriggertheissuanceoftruancyletters.

DoyouthinktheBoardattendancepolicyshouldbeexpandedtoincludetraveltimetoallexcusedabsences?
Yes 33 89.2%
No 4 10.8%

89.2%

Doyouthinkthereshouldbealimitonthenumberofdaysachildcouldbeconsideredexcusedforafamilyactivity
peracademicyear?
Yes 19 51.4%
40.5% No 15 40.5%
Other 3 8.1%

51.4%

Ifthechancesofreachingmiddlegroundwithdistrictimproveswhenwelimitthemaximumdaysachildcouldbe
absentandhaveitconsideredexcusedoratleastnottriggertruancy,wouldyoubeokaywithlimitingthedaysa
childcouldbeabsent?
Yes 29 80.6%
No 7 19.4%

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19.4%
Whatisthemaximumnumberofschooldaysthatshouldbegrantedtoachildperacademicyearfor'excused'family
activityabsences?
80.6%
0days 2 5.4%
3days 1 2.7%

62.2%
5days 2 5.4%
7days 4 10.8%
10days 23 62.2%
Other 5 13.5%

Asmentionedabove,currentBoardpolicyconsidersabsenceduetoaparticipation
inareligiousholidayorcelebrationasanexcusedabsence,butdoesnotexplicitly
includenonreligiousfamilycelebrations.Instead,itstatesthelistof"justifiable
personalreasonsinclud[es],but[is]notlimitedto"thatlist.Therefore,anindividual
familywouldhavetoseekauthorizationfromtheDistricttoattendanonreligious
celebrationandhavetheirchild'sabsencefromschoolbedeemed"excused".

DoyouthinktheBoardshouldexpandtheattendancepolicytoexplicitlyincludeabsencesduetoattendanceat
nonreligiousfamilyevents(i.e.Graduations,specialanniversaries,births,competitionssportingorother,etc.)as
excused?
Yes 34 91.9%
No 3 8.1%

91.9%

Doyouthinkthereshouldbealimitonthenumberofdaysachildcouldbeconsideredexcusedforattendanceata
nonreligiousfamilycelebrationperacademicyear?
Yes 20 54.1%
45.9%
No 17 45.9%

54.1%

Iftheremustbealimitofgrantedschooldaystoattendanonreligiousfamilyeventandhavethoseabsences
markedasexcused,whatwouldbeanacceptablenumberperacademicyear?
0days 2 5.4%
3days 1 2.7%
51.4%
5days 5 13.5%
7days 5 13.5%
10days 19 51.4%
13.5% Other 5 13.5%

Excusedabsencesundercurrentboardpolicystates:"Allstudentsabsentfrom
schoolunderanyoftheabovestatedreasonsareentitledtocompleteall
assignmentsandtestsmissedduringtheperiodofabsence.Completionmustbe
withinareasonableperiodoftimeandshallbegivenfullcredit."

Wouldyoulikethisentitlementextendedtoallabsencesregardlessofreasonfortheabsence?

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Yes 32 86.5%
No 4 10.8%
Other 1 2.7%

86.5%

Inthepast,ifyourchildrenwereabsentfromschoolforprolongedperiodsoftime(notconsideringwhattodayare
excusedabsences):

83.3%

Youapproachedeachteachertorequestworkpacketsthattheteacherbelievednecessarysochilddoesnotfallbehinduponhis/herreturn 30 83.3%
Youjustleftandhadyourchildrencatchupontheirreturn 2 5.6%
Youmadesureyourchildrenworkedonschoolworkyoubelievedcoveredschoolcurriculum 2 5.6%
Other 2 5.6%

Ifyourequestedorweregivenworkpacketsfromteachersinthepast,attheendofabsencedidyourchild[ren]
usuallycompletethework?
100%complete 31 88.6%
Approx.75%+complete 3 8.6%
Approx.2550%complete 0 0%
Leftincomplete 1 2.9%
88.6%

Ifyourchild'sabsencecouldbemarkedexcusedonlyundertheconditionyourchildreturntoschoolhaving
completedtheworkpacket100%,wouldyouagreetohaveyourchilddothework?
Yes 29 80.6%
No 4 11.1%
Other 3 8.3%

80.6%

Ifyourchildren'sabsencesarenotmarkedasexcusedandthereisaboardpolicythatallowsthemtobeabsentfora
certainperiodoftimewithouttriggeringtruancy.Wouldyoustillrequestworkpacketsforyourchildren?
Yes 34 94.4%
No 1 2.8%
Other 1 2.8%

94.4%

Today,Googleclassroomsarebeingusedbymostgrades,ifyourchildweretobeabsentforaprolongedperiodof
timedoyoubelieve:

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Yourchildwillmostlikelybeabletoaccessandsubmitworkpostedbyteachersremotely
86.1%
31 86.1%
YourchilddoesnothaveaccesstoGoogleclassrooms 2 5.6%
YourchildprefersnottoworkviaGoogleclassrooms 1 2.8%
Other 2 5.6%

Priortothisacademicyear20162017:wereyoueverissuedatruancyletterbecauseyourchild[ren]'sabsences
weremarkedasunexcusedandexceeded3ormoredays?
Yes 1 2.7%
No 36 97.3%

97.3%

Haveyoubeenissuedatruancyletterforthisacademicyear20162017becauseofyourchild[ren]'sabsenceswere
markedasunexcusedandexceeded3ormoredays?
Yes 13 35.1%
64.9% No 24 64.9%

35.1%

Haveyourchildrenbeenabsentinthisacademicyearandtheir'unexcused'absenceshaveexceeded3ormore
schooldays,youdidNOTreceiveatruancyletterandyoudidNOTdiscusstheirabsenceswithanyadministratorfor
specialconsideration?

38.9%

52.8%

Yes,strangelymychid[ren]'sabsenceswereoverlookedwithoutmyoranyone'sintervention 3 8.3%
No'unexcused'absencesformyfamilyatpresentforthisyear 19 52.8%
No,myfamilywashitwithtruancy 14 38.9%

Haveyoufalselyreportedanexcusablereason(suchaschild'sillness)toavoidhaveanabsencemarkedas
unexcused?
Yes 3 8.1%
No 34 91.9%
Allthetimemyfamilyrequiresit. 0 0%
91.9%
Other 0 0%

Forthisacademicyear20162017yourfamilyreceivedatruancyletter:

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Wasableto

Wasabletor

Wasunablet

Didnotchalle

Didnotcare

Neverreceiv
Wasabletohaveitanulled 1 2.8%
Other
Wasabletoreducethenumberofdaysconsideredtruant 3 8.3%
0 5 10 15
Wasunabletomodifythedaysabsent 3 8.3%
Didnotchallengeit 7 19.4%
Didnotcare 1 2.8%
Neverreceivedatruancyletterthisyear 20 55.6%
Other 4 11.1%

Havetardiesbeenanissueforyourfamily?
Yes 4 10.8%
No 30 81.1%
Onlyduringchallengingweatherconditions 1 2.7%
81.1%
Onlywhentrafficisrerouted 1 2.7%
Other 1 2.7%

Haveyourtardiesbeenexcused?
No 3 8.8%
35.3% Yes 3 8.8%
Neverchallengedthem 7 20.6%
Don'tcareaboutthem 5 14.7%
14.7%
Neverhadatardy 12 35.3%
20.6% Atmostreceived2orlesstardiesinanacademicyear 3 8.8%
Other 1 2.9%

Haveyouhadatruancylettertriggeredonlybytardies?
No 33 94.3%
Yes 2 5.7%

94.3%

Haveyouhadatruancyletterbecauseofacombinationoftardiesandunexcusedabsences?
Yes 4 11.1%
No 32 88.9%

88.9%

Pleasefeelfreetoaddanypoint[s]youwouldliketoseeinourattendanceproposaldraft.

Wemustbeabletocometogetherandfindareasonable,commonsensesolutionforourdistrict.LegallyseeamendmentofJanuary
1st,2013totheCAEdlawinregardstoattendance,ourboardcandefineitsownattendancepolicyembracingthetruenatureofour
familycenteredschoolcommunity.Ifirmlybelievethisstrongfamilytieisoneofthekeyfactorscontributingtotheoverallsuccessof
ourchildrenandconsequentlyofourdistrict.

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Issuinglettersiscounterproductiveandlowerstheendpointoutcomesforthestudents.Everyonewhoisresponsibleknowsthat,even
thedistrict.ThisisallforsatisfyingCaliforniaStaterequirementsandisfinancial.Thiselementaryschoolnothighschool.
Ihonestlydon'treallycarehowtheythreatenme.Wewillcontinuetodofamilytravelasweseefitandappropriateforoursituation.I
doappreciatetheworkyou'reputtingintothis!Butwehavetakenourkidsoutofschoolseveralyearsagobutmanagedtosendthem
toschoolfor1/2dayonthedayofdeparturesothatthey'dbeabsent10.5days,versus11.Weweretoldat11daysabsent,they
couldremoveusfromtheroster,makingroomforotherstudentswhomightbeonawaitlist.Eventhoughwedidthat,ourolderchildren
stillmanagedtogetintoaprivateschooljustfineevenwiththoseabsencesontheirtranscript.Ithinktheyoughttoputtheirenergies
elsewhereratherthanmicromanagingparentsacrosstheboard.Focusonthefamilieswhoareclearlyabusingthesystemandthose
whoseeschoolas"freechildcare"whenthefamilyisn'tdoingsomethingelsemorefun.
StupidLawforourdistrict.ThisiswhywehaveapresidentlikeTrump.Peoplearetiredofthesestupidlaws.Ourkidsarewelladjusted
andverysmart.Theywillbesuccessfulindividualsbecauseheyhaveparentsthatcare.
Ifeelthattheboardshouldworkonrealissuesaffectingourcommunity(likelackofhandsonscience,etc)ratherthanpolicing
enforcementofridiculouspoliciesthatdealwithanonexistentissueinourschool,putstheadministrationatoddswiththeparent
communityfornoreasonanddoesnotbenefitanyone.
Wetreatschoolingisveryimportant.Wewillalwaysmakesureheisuptoorexceedthecurrentacademicrequirementfromschoolin
manydifferentways.WehopeschoolcanspendmoretimeonourSTEMprogramandjoinscienceOlympicorroboticprograms
insteadofworkingonthetruancyletterandmonitoringbecausekidsofourschooldistrictareabunchofgoodworkinghardkidswith
responsiblefamilymembers.
Ourunexcusedabsencesrateislessthan2%.mostofyearsarelessthan1%.ItmeansallparentsintheschooldistrictDOCARE
children'sworkatschool.So,weshouldmakeattendancepolicywiderorlooseexplanationaslongasobeyingtheCalifornia
educationlaw.
Eitherconsideryearroundschool(moretwothreeweekbreaksforfall/spring)orexcusethestudentswhocompletestudypacket.It's
absolutelyabsurdthatNancyJohnsonsaidthatourdistrictcannotaffordtohiresomeonetoadministerthestudypacket.
Seriously??!?!Firstofall,whydoyouneedtohiresomeonetoadministerthepacketwhentheteachersarealreadypreparingforthe
curriculumonaweeklybasis?
I'mofthemindthateachfamilyhasarighttodeterminehowmanydaystheirchildcanmissschoolforwhateverreason.HOWEVER,
theschool/teachersshouldnotbeheldaccountableforthestudent'spossiblepoorperformanceintheclassroomduetoabsence.If
parentsaregoingtokeeptheirkidsoutofschool,theycan'tblametheteachersifthechildfallsbehindorperformsbadlyontests.
Parentsmusttakeownershipoftheirdecisiontopullkidsoutofschoolbybeingresponsibleforthemakeupworkandteachingtheir
childrenwhattheymissed.NOTtheteachers.
Ingeneral,Icompletelyagreethatchildrenshouldnotskipschoolorbetardyonaregularbasis.Iagreethatthecurriculumshouldbe
coveredinfullbychildren.However,theremaybefamilycircumstanceswhenchildrenhavetomissschoolforacoupleofdays.Inmy
opinion,twoacademicweeks(10days)isareasonableallowanceforskippingschoolduringacademicyear.Iwouldnotmakethe
workpacketamustforthose2weeks,onlyoptional.
Thissurveyisverybiased.ItisobviouslytriggeredbyaparentwhokeepstheirchildoutofschoolanddoesnotunderstandtheEnglish
wordfortruancy.Itjustmeansunexcusedandit'saCalifornialawnotSchoolDistrictissue.Ifyouwanttodoyourownthingthenlook
intohomeschoolingbutthisisreallyaridiculouswasteofschoolresourcestotryandchangeCaliforniarulesorthedistrictrulesand
thedefinitionoftruancy.Ifyouneedtotakethekidsoutofschoolforadayortwo,fine,butit'sstillunexcusedbydefinition.Nobig
deal.Ifyouwanttotrytochangetherules,youobviouslyhaveyourkidsoutofschooltoomuchandneedtheruleschangedforyour
ownagendaanditdoesn'teffectthemajorityofthefamilies.Thereiswaytoomuchtimeoffschoolasitisanditseemsreasonableto
takevacationsduringwinter,spring,summer,Dec...Ifyourcan'tmakeyourvacationduringthosetimes,thenrethinkthevacation.If
it'sgraduation,thentheonedayhereorthereshouldnotbeabigdeal.Infact,take10andleavetheDistrictalonetohandlemore
importantissuesabouthowtoteach,notgiveyouleniencytokeepyourkidsoutofschool.Ifyourchildisnotinschooltheymaydo
worseongrading,toowhichreflectspoorlyontheteachersforyourabsences.Itdoesusallgoodtogetthekidstoschoolfortheir
education,theemphasisonthevalueofschoolandthereporting.
Ourkidshavetheentiresummerofffortravel.Itisimportanttheybephysicallypresentatschoolsotheycanlearn.Expecting
teacherstomake"workpackets"forafamilyvacationisaridiculousrequesttomakeonteacherswhoarealreadystretchedfortime.
IamdeeplyoffendedthatIamnotcapableofdecidingwhatisgoodformychildren.Ialsofoundthetruancyletteroffensive.Irealize
theschoolhasstudiesthatindicatesuccessrateofastudentbasedontimespendinschool.However,Iwouldliketoknowwhat
parametersareusedtojudgesuccess.Iwouldlikeaneducatedandwellroundedchildthatinteractswiththeworldaroundthem.This
includestheirfamilyandbuildingastrongbondwithnature.Ibelievethatthesuccessahumanresidesintheirabilitytofindbalance.
Thisbalanceincludeseducation,athletics,competition,familyandenjoyingtheworldwelivein.Successcan'tbemeasuredin
degree's.Iwantmychildrentobefulloflifeandthis,inmyopinioncanonlybeaccomplishedwithbalance.

Numberofdailyresponses

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