As a new parent at Corona del Mar High School (CdMHS), it's important to understand how the school manages various types of absences. The school adheres to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) policies and California Education Code regarding attendance.

Absence Classifications

• College Visits: These are generally categorized as unexcused absences.
• Family Travel: Similar to college visits, vacations and family trips are also classified as unexcused. The district encourages families to schedule travel during school breaks.
• Mental Health Days: Under California law (SB 14), absences for mental health or behavioral health reasons are recognized as valid excuses, akin to physical illness.

Short-Term Independent Study

For students who need to be absent for at least one full school day, CdMHS offers a Short-term Independent Study option, which requires:

• Approval: Must be sanctioned by an administrator.
• Contract: A signed contract by both parent and student is necessary before the absence.
• Restrictions: Contracts are not issued during the first two weeks of the school year.

Notification & Verification Process

Parents must inform the Attendance Office within 72 hours of the absence to avoid it being marked as truant. Verification can be done via:

• Voicemail: Call (949) 515-6005.
• Fax: Send signed notes to (949) 515-6070.
• In-Person: Deliver a signed note to the Attendance Office.

For absences lasting three days or longer, medical documentation is required. After ten days of illness without documentation, subsequent health-related absences will be unexcused without a doctor's note.

For more detailed policies, refer to the CdMHS Attendance Policy.