Students with too many tardies or absences can expect transfer papers to another campus as part of the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District's new policy to crack down on truants.
School officials say the new policy is tough, but it's working - the district has cut unexpected absences almost in half since the start of this school year.
"It's working very well. Both campuses are very quiet this year. (Students) don't have the same free time to interact and get into difficulties," said Hugh Riddell, assistant principal of discipline at Mountain View High. "Kids are in class and not roaming around."
According to data collected during the first semester, there has been a significant reduction in both unexcused and excused absences at both high schools. Riddell said there were 1,087 unexcused absences recorded at Mountain View during first period classes for one semester last year compared to 625 this year. Riddell said students' grades have improved, too.
"We do have truants. It's very frustrating, but we've seen a significant, positive effect so far with the new program," said superintendent Rich Fischer
District officials launched a new attendance policy last September that requires students to be transferred to the district's continuation schools after 15 unexcused absences in one semester. Under the new policy Riddell said three tardies in one class equals one unexcused absence.
If students comes to class more than 15 minutes late, they are considered absent. He said after 10 absences, students must attend Saturday School and a mandatory conference with their parents and school administrators within a week after being notified by the school.
Riddell said the district developed the new policy to address absenteeism and confusion associated with the existence of two different attendance policies at Mountain View and Los Altos high schools.
"The inconsistency was killing us as a district. We didn't have severe consequences, and the students were learning to play the game pretty well." Riddell said under the former policy students could miss class 10 times and school officials could do little more than send a warning home.
Riddell said he believes the new policy is working because this is the first time a student's placement at school has been threatened. He said the new policy includes parents, which places added pressure on students to go to class.
"Teens are the ultimate social animal," Riddell said. "The most important thing for them is to be around others teens. If you say 'you're going to get separated from the group and can't go to high school anymore,' all of a sudden . . . there's a serious change."
Once students "prove themselves" for one semester, they may be transferred back to their schools, Riddell said.
Brigitte Sarraf, associate superintendent of educational services, said the program has " made a huge difference in creating a positive school climate. "Very few students are out of class during school so it feels much more like a true learning environment."