Attendance Recovery

Attendance Recovery allows students to recover a full day of attendance by completing additional learning time that meets state instructional requirements.

This helps:

• Keep students on track academically
• Support student engagement
• Improve school attendance records
• Protect school funding that supports student programs

Students in Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade who are enrolled in traditional (in-person) classroom programs may participate.

Students are not eligible if they are:

• Enrolled in independent study for more than 15 days
• Attending a nonclassroom-based or virtual charter school

Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) may also participate if AR aligns with their plan.

No. Attendance Recovery (AR) does not erase or delete an absence from your student’s official attendance record. However, when your student completes enough AR instructional time, the school can recover the lost attendance for funding purposes and recognize that your student made up the missed learning time.

This means your student’s absence still shows in their record, but their participation in AR demonstrates academic re-engagement and supports their overall progress.

To recover an absence, your student must:

• Attend an in-person AR session
• Participate in learning activities aligned to their grade level
• Complete enough instructional time to meet daily requirements (which may take multiple sessions)

Once the time requirement is met, one day of attendance can be recovered.

Students can recover up to 10 days per school year, or the number of days they were absent — whichever is less.

1. Make up for missed learning
AR gives your student a chance to catch up on what they missed in class — through tutoring, small group instruction, or enrichment activities that support their academic progress.

2. Protect important school funding
When students make up absences through AR, the school can recover the funding lost due to missed attendance. This helps maintain essential programs and services that benefit all students.

3. Improve attendance records for school-based opportunities
While the original absence stays in the record, participation in AR shows a commitment to learning and can positively reflect in local attendance reviews used for awards, recognitions, or school incentives.

4. Build better habits and engagement
AR helps reestablish the routine of learning, especially for students with frequent absences. It’s a chance to reconnect with school in a lower-pressure setting.

5. No cost, flexible schedule
AR is free and held outside of regular school hours — before or after school, on weekends, or during breaks — so it’s easier to fit into your family’s schedule.

Activities include:

• Small group or one-on-one instruction
• Standards-based academic work
• Tutoring or enrichment activities

These sessions are designed to support learning and keep students on track.

No. Participation is completely voluntary. Students and families choose whether to attend.

Yes. AR can be offered during summer break and other intersession periods, as long as students are supervised by qualified staff and learning activities meet the required standards.

Yes. Once a student completes the required time and activities, they will get credit for one day of attendance, which helps improve their attendance record.

However, it does not currently change how chronic absenteeism is calculated for state reporting — it just helps your student catch up academically and supports funding for schools.

No. Attendance Recovery is free for all eligible students. Students cannot be charged for attending.

Your school will provide more information about upcoming AR sessions and how to sign up when sessions become available. If you have questions, contact your school office or principal.

For more information about the Attendance Recovery program, please contact the Attendance Improvement Program at (916) 979-8604.