School Attendance Review Board (SARB)

Frequently asked questions about truancy and the School Attendance Review Board

What is the School Attendance Review Board (SARB)?

The purpose of SARB, founded in 1975, is to:

• Help students who are not going to school.
• Students with chronic attendance problems are referred to SARB.

The SARB process begins at the school site.
The school can do the following:

• Phone calls or letters to the parent.
• Parent meetings with the counselor, teacher or administrator.
• Attendance contract with the student, school and parent.
• School Attendance Review Team (SART) meetings.

If the student’s attendance does not improve after these steps are taken, the student is referred to SARB. SARB Hearings are held in the Board Room of the Castro Valley School District Offices on specific dates that are communicated to applicable families via appointment.

At the SARB Hearing:

• The school principal or assistant principal and/or counselor share the attendance record.
• SARB members ask the student and parent to explain why the student is not going to school.
• SARB members make recommendations to assist the family and student.
• The student and parent sign a SARB attendance contract.

What does the contract mean?

• The contract is a promise that the student will go to school every day and be on time.
• The student/parent will either bring a doctor’s note or have the student checked by the school nurse for illness related absences.
• The student/parent also promise to follow all other conditions on the contract, which could include obeying school rules, participating in parent education and skill building programs, attending counseling sessions, or other requirements.
• The contract is valid until the student turns 18 years old.

What can SARB recommend for students?

• Counseling programs for the student and/or family.
• Parenting classes to support parents.
• A student transfer to an alternative school or program.
• Assistance from other agencies and programs (Counseling and mental health services)
• After-school tutoring.
• Coordinated health care support between your doctor and the school nursing staff.

How do I get help from SARB?
Call your school and ask the principal or counselor for a referral to SARB.

Specific laws related to school attendance:

Education Code 48200 – Students between the ages of 6 and 18 years must attend school.

Education Code 48260 – A student is a habitual truant when he/she is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy for more than any 30 minute period during the school day three times.

Education Code 48263 – Truant students may be referred to SARB

Education Code 48293 (a) – A parent or guardian may be held responsible if a student does not follow the SARB contract.

Truancy Ordinance – A county ordinance which allows law enforcement to cite students who are not in school.