2018-19 Absenteeism by Reason

This report displays the annual K–12 public school absence data by Race/Ethnicity, Program Subgroup, or Academic Year (Multi-Year) for the selected report level (state, county, district, or school). This report provides a total count of cumulatively enrolled students who were eligible to be included in the absence calculations (Eligible Cumulative Enrollment) and a count of students who were determined to have missed one or more days of school between July 1 and June 30 (Count of Students with one or more Absences). The total number of absences (Total Days Absent) is calculated from the Count of Students with One or More Absences. From the Total Days Absent, the count of absences by type of absence are calculated for the four different types of absences (Excused Absences, Unexcused Absences, Out-of-School Suspension Absences, and Incomplete Independent Study Absences). These are used to calculate the percent of total absences by type of absence.

Absenteeism data are submitted by local educational agencies (LEAs) and charter schools to the California Department of Education (CDE) as part of the annual End of Year 3 (EOY 3) data submission in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). Cumulative enrollment and absenteeism data are reviewed and certified in CALPADS as being accurate by authorized district or school personnel. In order to certify data in CALPADS, authorized district or charter school personnel are required to review the accuracy of all data associated with the applicable CALPADS submission. CALPADS data certification must be performed by district superintendents, charter school administrators, or their designees. Please contact the district or school if you have any questions about their certified CALPADS data.

Source: Absenteeism and Cumulative Enrollment data were submitted and certified by LEAs and/or charter schools as part of the annual CALPADS EOY 3 submission.

Average Days Absent: Total Days Absent divided by the total Count of Students with One or More Absences.

Count of Students with One or More Absences: Number of students in Eligible Cumulative Enrollment who missed one or more days of school at a selected entity.

Eligible Cumulative Enrollment: Number of non-exempt students in the Cumulative Enrollment* during the academic year expected to attend more than 30 days at a selected entity.

Excused Absences: Excused Absences are absences reported for the days a student was absent with a valid excuse. A valid excuse includes, but is not limited to, the reasons for which a pupil shall be excused from school pursuant to EC Sections 48205 and 48225.5 and may include other reasons that are within the discretion of school administrators and, based on the facts of the pupil's circumstances, are deemed to constitute a valid excuse.

Excused Absences (Percent): Total of Excused Absences (Count) divided by the Total Days Absent.

Incomplete Independent Study Absences: Incomplete Independent Study Absences are absences reported for the days an independent study student did not satisfy statutory and regulatory requirements necessary to earn attendance credit.

Incomplete Independent Study Absences (Percent): Total of Incomplete Independent Study Absences (Count) divided by the Total Days Absent.

Out-of-School Suspension Absences: Out-of-School Suspension Absences are absences reported for the days a student was absent from the regular classroom for the entire school day due to an out-of-school suspension pursuant to EC 48911.

Out-of-School Suspension Absences (Percent): Total of Out-of-School Suspension Absences (Count) divided by the Total Days Absent.

Race/Ethnicity Status: Information about student race/ethnicity is determined based on the most recent data available in CALPADS at the selected entity.

Student Group Status: Information about student group statuses (i.e., English learner, students with disabilities, socioeconomically disadvantaged, migrant, foster, and homeless statuses) is based on data available in CALPADS used to make a determination for each student indicating that they belonged to the student group at the selected entity during that academic year.

Total Days Absent: Total number of days missed (for any reason) at a selected entity.

Unexcused Absences: Unexcused Absences are reported for the days a student was absent without a valid excuse and does not include students who are absent due to an out-of-school suspension or who attended in-school suspension.

Unexcused Absences (Percent): Total of Unexcused Absences (Count) divided by the Total Days Absent.

Note: The following data counts are used in calculations on the Absenteeism by Reason report, but they are not displayed on the report: Total Days Absent, Excused Absences (Count), Unexcused Absences (Count), Out-of-School Suspension Absences (Count), Incomplete Independent Study Absences (Count). However, these data counts are included in the supporting downloadable data file available at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sd/sd/filesabr.asp.

* Cumulative Enrollment consists of the total number of unduplicated primary and short-term enrollments within the academic year (July 1 to June 30), regardless of whether the student is enrolled multiple times within a school or district. Cumulative enrollment is calculated at each reporting level (e.g., school, district, county, and state) and therefore is not necessarily additive from one reporting level to the next. For example, if a student is enrolled in multiple schools within a district during the academic year, they are counted once at each school, but only once in the district’s cumulative enrollment.