Parents » Attendance

Attendance

 

Attendance Hotline ~ 1-858-748-0047 ext 2112

If your child is absent from school, parent/guardian must call the office via the Attendance Hotline (858)748-0047 extension 2112.  Please leave the following information:

  • Student’s name and grade
  • Teacher’s name
  • Day(s) and date(s) of absences 
  • Reason for the absence including symptoms
  • Expected date of return

If your child is absent for five (5) consecutive days or more due to illness, a doctor's note, in addition to parent notification, will be required. If your child is late or absent due to a medical appointment, please provide documentation from the medical office.

Please be aware that students in grades TK–5 who are absent for 10 percent or more of the school year are considered chronically absent under California Education Code Section 60901(c)(1). Poway Unified School District considers eight (8) or more full-day excused absences in a school year to be excessive. Once a student reaches eight or more absences, they may be referred to Midland's Attendance Team. Our Attendance Team is committed to partnering with families and developing strategies to support student attendance and improve the overall school experience.

Short-Term Off-Campus Independent Study (OCIS)

 

Supporting Consistent Student Attendance:

Consistent student attendance is an important part of student success. At Midland, we want our students here every day, ready for a great day of learning and positive interactions with their peers and teachers. Being present at school provides students with opportunities to learn, participate, build relationships, and be part of our school community. 


We also understand that there are times when an extended illness, family circumstance, or other unique situation may make it necessary for a student to be away from school. When these circumstances arise, we are here to partner with families and support your child’s continued learning. 


What is OCIS?
Short-Term Off-Campus Independent Study (OCIS) is a voluntary educational option available to students who will be absent from school. Through an OCIS contract, students are provided assignments to complete while they are away from campus.

Students may participate in OCIS for up to 15 cumulative school days per school year.

Whenever possible, OCIS contracts should be arranged in advance of the planned absence. The maximum amount of time allowed between the assignment of OCIS work and its completion is 20 school days. This 20-day timeline includes the time needed for the student to complete and return the assignments and for the teacher to review the submitted work. 

Please note that if parents have already notified the school of an absence for example, through ParentVue, your child’s absence will be coded and if a OCIS contract is requested, after this, your child may only receive academic credit for their absence. Please be aware academic credit will not be eligible to count towards student attendance. 

Midland OCIS Procedures:

To help ensure that OCIS contracts are prepared accurately and that teachers have adequate time to provide meaningful assignments, Midland follows the procedures below:

  • Once an OCIS contract is signed by the parent requesting OCIS, teachers have up to five school days to prepare the assignments. If the parent signs the contract the day before the absence begins, teachers still have up to five school days to prepare the work.
  • Once the teacher has signed the OCIS contract and assigned the required coursework, you will receive a notification when the packet is ready for pickup at the school office, unless alternative arrangements have been made with the teacher.
  • OCIS is intended to support absences that are more than a very brief period. Requests for two days or fewer may be discouraged, as the process of preparing and completing an OCIS contract may not be appropriate or necessary for a short absence.
  • Student completion: Students have 5 school days to complete and return their OCIS assignments, unless other arrangements have been made with the teacher, or office staff.
  • Teachers have up to 10 school days after work is submitted to review assignments and record completion.
  • To support families when students are absent for an extended period due to illness or other circumstances outside of the family’s control, Midland offers retroactive OCIS contracts. For eligible absences, families may request a retroactive OCIS contract for absences that occurred within the previous seven days. Office staff will also reach out to families when a retroactive OCIS contract may be appropriate to help support continued student learning during an extended absence.
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Partnering With Families: 

Our goal is to make the OCIS process clear and manageable for families while maintaining higher  expectations for student learning and attendance. If you anticipate that your child will be absent from school for an extended period, please contact the school office as soon as possible so we can help determine whether an OCIS contract is an appropriate option. 

To learn more about OCIS or to request an OCIS contract, please contact the school office at (858)748-0047 or complete the OCIS Contract Request Form.

Academic Credit OCIS Contracts: 

If a parent or guardian has already reported a student’s absence (e.g., through ParentVue), the absence will be recorded accordingly. If an OCIS contract is requested after the absence has been reported, the student may be eligible for academic credit only. In these cases, the absence will remain on the student’s attendance record and will not be adjusted for attendance purposes.