Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Reporting Requirements for Severance of Attendance

Information related to California Education Code (EC) 48203, which requires the superintendent of a school district or the principal of a private school to report the severance of attendance of children with exceptional needs.

Senate Bill 1327 (Soto, signed on July 7, 2006, expands reporting requirements to include all children with exceptional needs as defined in EC Section 56026 and all children with qualifying handicaps pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Effective January 1, 2007, the newly amended EC Section 48203 requires that the severance, expulsion, exclusion, exemption, transfer, or suspension beyond ten schooldays of these students to be reported to the county superintendent of schools.

This mandated report must include the name of the pupil, the age of the pupil, the pupil’s last known address, and the reason for the severance, expulsion, exclusion, exemption, transfer, or suspension beyond ten school days.

It is the duty of the county superintendent to examine these reports and draw to the attention of the county board of education and the governing board of the school district any cases in which the interests of the child or the welfare of the state may need further examination.

Reporting Exclusions and Disciplinary Removals External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
Mental Health Advocacy Services provides information on reporting the exclusion or disciplinary removal of students with disabilities.

Questions:   Educational Options Office | cwa@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Thursday, January 09, 2025
Recently Posted in Attendance Improvement
  • Accessible Image Text for the CA Attendance Guide (added 19-Aug-2025)
    From the California Attendance Guide, an accessible text for images in the Guide.
  • Acknowledgements (added 19-Aug-2025)
    Thank you to the organizations and individuals who helped create the California Attendance Guide.
  • County Office of Education Guidance (added 19-Aug-2025)
    From the California Attendance Guide, county office of education (COE) best practices and lessons learned about reducing chronic absenteeism.
  • District Guidance (added 19-Aug-2025)
    From the California Attendance Guide, school district best practices and lessons learned about reducing chronic absenteeism.
  • Resources to Improve Attendance and Engagement (added 19-Aug-2025)
    From the California Attendance Guide, resources that are available to improve attendance and engagement as best practices and lessons learned about reducing chronic absenteeism.

  • Sample Truancy Letter (added 19-Aug-2025)
    From the California Attendance Guide, a sample truancy letter that may be useful in reducing chronic absenteeism.
  • School Guidance (added 19-Aug-2025)
    From the California Attendance Guide, school best practices and lessons learned about reducing chronic absenteeism.
  • Terminology and Laws (added 19-Aug-2025)
    From the California Attendance Guide, terminology and laws to support best practices and lessons learned about reducing chronic absenteeism.
  • Uses and Sources of Quantitative Attendance Data (added 19-Aug-2025)
    From the California Attendance Guide, key uses and sources of quantitative attendance data as best practices and lessons learned about reducing chronic absenteeism.