Student Absence Reporting: Online form or call 408-723-4260

Thank you for supporting your student’s success in school, both in and outside the traditional classroom. We recognize that some absences are unavoidable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please follow the school’s process for reporting all absences. Students are required to make up all missed assignments or to complete alternative assignments as determined by the teacher. Unexcused absences include any absence by a student, which was not approved by the parent and/or the school.

Students who miss school because of being quarantined will be able to make up all missed work, and their absences will be excused.

If your student will not be engaged in their daily scheduled learning due to illness or otherwise, please call our attendance line.

⇒If a student has one or more symptoms of COVID, tests positive with COVID, or is in close contact with someone who tests positive, parents and guardians must notify the school. Students will be required to get tested and provide the results to the school.

Symptoms of COVID: 

Fever or chills    

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

Headache

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea 

Our Student Handbook has full attendance policies on p. 19-21.

Absences:

• All high school students must have a parent/guardian verify the reason for their absence to the student services office (three or more consecutive medical absences must be verified with a Doctor’s note).
• SVCTE will make daily automated calls on all unverified absences.
• A parent/guardian of high school students must call the student absence line (408-723-4260) on the date of the absence, or within three days of the absence or provide a written note to the student services office with the following information:
• Caller’s name and relationship to the student, student name, date of, and reason for absence, and name of course or instructor.
• All students enrolled from high school regardless of age will be treated as minors (even if they are over 18).
• Any absence not verified within 3 days will be unexcused.
• Individual classes may have additional attendance requirements for students, such as internships, etc.
• If a student's absence is excused under Education Code §48205, he/she shall be allowed to complete any missed assignments that can be reasonably given, as determined by the teacher of the class. The student must satisfactorily complete the assignment or test within a three-day period of time. (Education Code §48205).
• Students with Chronic Absenteeism (determined by 10% or more missed days), may receive a failing grade, no credit for the class, and/or be transferred back to their home schools. (BP/AR 6154, 5113.1; Ed Code §49067).

High school students who are required to miss a class at Silicon Valley CTE in order to attend home high school mandated activities are allowed five home high school days apart from 10 absences per semester, provided they bring a signed Home High School Mandated Activity Verification form to the SVCTE Principal for signature prior to their absence(s).  Forms are available in student services at Silicon Valley CTE or  online at www.svcte.org under “Students.”

Semester Attendance Policy for High School Students

1. A 3rd absence will result in a letter home by mail. SVCTE records in the Student Information System. 
2. A 5th absence will result in a letter home by mail; copy forwarded to the district counselor; SVCTE records in the Student Information System. Along with the 5th absence letter, a sample Attendance Agreement/ Contract will be included.
3. A 7th absence will result in the student being placed on an Attendance Agreement/Contract. This contract will be signed by a student, parent/guardian, and the counselor. Students receive intensive intervention and support from multiple sources.
4. An 11th absence or violation of the Attendance Agreement will result in one of the following: (1) student withdrawal from SVCTE; (2) partial credit option, if selected by their district; (3) or student earning a failing grade.  All parents/guardians and home schools will be notified in writing. 

Attendance Policy for Adult Students

Adult (non-high school) students will be considered to be on academic probation after the fifth (5) unexcused absence; the student will be called into the Student Services or Counselor’s office for a conference, but no home notifications will be sent. Adult students will be dropped from Silicon Valley CTE, with no refund of fees paid, on their tenth (7) unexcused absence.

Tardiness

Students are expected to be on time to class each day, as would employees reporting to a workplace. Students who are late for class due to a late bus and who have an office-issued bus pass will not be considered “late.” All other tardies are considered unexcused. Students who arrive more than 20 minutes late should report directly to the Student Services office to receive a tardy slip in order to be admitted to class. Students with excessive tardiness will jeopardize their grades and/or enrollment at Silicon Valley CTE.