Attendance Office

Benicia Unified School District Virtual Learning Attendance Codes

Hello Parents/Guardians

Student attendance is vital for student success but we understand that sometimes a student may need to miss school. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify BMS via the attendance line EACH DAY their student is absent. 

To clear an absence:

  • A parent/guardian must notify the school every day by calling the 24-HOUR attendance hotline at 707-748-2989
  • Absences must be cleared within 72 hours.
  • Medical notes can be emailed directly to cbazan@beniciaunified.org

Additionally, if you need to pull your student from school early for an appointment or any other reason, we appreciate you letting the office know in advance so that we can have a pass ready for the student and expedite this process for you. You can send a student to school with a signed note to give to the office BEFORE school or you can call the front office to notify our staff.

Common attendance codes you may see on AERIES

M = Medical note showing Dr. visit
E = Excused: parent called office to report reason of absence, such as illness
J = Absence no contact/not cleared
U = Unexcused absence
T = Tardy
X = Excused tardy/Leave early
Y = Tardy or leave early over 30 minutes

Short Term Independent Study

This is an option available to students and families for students who will miss school from 3-14 school days due to a medical reason. We are not able to place students on short term independent study at this time for any other reason outside of a medical reason (this includes family vacation). If you need more information or want to complete a short term independent study application, please contact our office.

Long Term Independent Study

This is an option available through BUSD Student Services. Pursuant to Education Code 51745, as amended by Assembly Bill 130 for the 2021-2022, we are offering an independent study option for students whose health would be put at risk by attending in-person instruction. Enrollment in the independent study course is an optional educational alternative in which no student is required to participate. All independent study instruction will be delivered virtually. 

https://beniciaunified.org/departments/student-services/independent-study/

After 10 or more excused absences in a school year, a student will be required to have a signed medical note from a physician for any additional absences. A doctors’ office stamp alone will not be accepted as a doctor’s signature. (AR 5113) All absences must be cleared within 72 hours of the absence, even with a signed doctor’s note.  Otherwise, the absence will be unexcused regardless of the reason.

The District is obligated, under statutory law, to notify a parent/guardian by letter when a pupil is absent from school without a valid excuse (unexcused absence) on three days in one school year, tardy more than 30 minutes during the school day without a valid excuse on three days in one school year, or a combination of the two. This notification is known as Truancy Letter #1. (Education Code 48260). With an additional 3 absences, Truancy Letter #2 will be sent home and an appointment with a vice principal will be made to sign a SART (School Attendance Review Team) Contract. Upon the 3rd Truancy Letter, families will be referred to our district-level SARB (School Attendance Review Board) and will have to go before a panel to explain absences, whereupon a student may be put on contract and a parent can risk being cited for truancy by the Benicia Police Department, community service, attendance contracts and appearance before a judge in court.

Contact Information

Attendance Line

(707) 748-2989

Attendance Clerk

Office Line

(707) 747-8340