What is a truant?

Students shall be classified as truant if absent from school without a valid excuse three full days or corresponding number of periods-grades 7-12 in one school year, or tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof. Such students shall be reported to the Superintendent or designee. (Education Code 48260)

What Does the Law Say?

• California Education Code section 48200 says, “each person between the ages of 6 and 18 years…..is subject to compulsory full-time education. 

• California Education Code section 48260 says, “any pupil subject to full-time compulsory education who is absent from school without a valid excuse for three days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than 30 minutes during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination, thereof, is a truant.” 

• California Education Code section 48262 says, “any pupil is deemed a habitual truant who has been reported as a truant three or more times per school year…..” 

• California Education Code section 48263.6 says, “any pupil subject to full-time compulsory education who is absent from school without a valid excuse for 10 percent or more of the school year, from date of enrollment to current date, is deemed a chronic truant.”