Taft Union High School

At Taft Union High School, student safety is a top priority. When a student is absent, parents and guardians will receive a notification by phone, text, or email. This process ensures the safety of all students and keeps families informed when a student is not in class.

If a student will be absent or tardy, parent/guardian must notify the school attendance office immediately by phone stating the reason and estimated time the student will be out of school; if a phone call cannot be made, a note signed by the parent/guardian may be presented by the student for each absence. An absence not cleared within 72 hours will be posted as truancy. The Attendance Office 24 hour phone line is: 661 763-2310.  

California requires students between ages 6 and 18 to attend school regularly, with parents legally responsible for their child's attendance. A student is considered truant after three unexcused absences or tardies, or a combination, and may be referred to a School Attendance Review Board (SARB) for persistent issues.

CDE – Truancy Policy

Because of the increased number of unexcused absences/cuts for our seniors over the past several years, the Taft Union High School District will implement new guidelines that encourage seniors to attend classes on a regular basis.  It has long been determined that students who attend school regularly have a higher grade point average as well as a higher graduation rate than those students who miss 10 or more class periods.  

One of the primary goals of the Taft Union High School District is not only to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become self-sufficient, but to also prepare them to be good citizens with a strong work ethic.  The Taft Union High School District believes that good attendance is crucial to the success of all of our students. 

Students with an attendance rate below 80% may lose eligibility to participate in senior year activities. This does not include participation in the graduation ceremony.

The following are considered excused absences:

• Illness
• Medical-related appointments
• Funeral services of immediate family members
• Jury duty

Note: Parents may excuse up to 14 days. A doctor’s note will be required for additional absences beyond this limit.

• Step 1: After 3 unexcused absences, the 1st truancy letter will be mailed home.
• Step 2: After 1 additional unexcused absence, the 2nd truancy letter will be mailed home.
• Step 3: After 1 more unexcused absence, a Habitual Truancy letter will be mailed home.
• Step 4: For any additional unexcused absences, the student and parent will be referred to SARB (School Attendance Review Board) or cited by a Truant Officer.

Truancy Prevention

The Taft High staff has agreed upon the following school-wide Tardy Policy. 

• Readmit-Tardy slips are issued to students for 1st and 5th periods if they arrive after the second bell of each period. 
• All other tardies are handled by the teacher with teacher consequences given. 
• Attendance interventions will be implemented by an Intervention Specialist. 
• Students with excessive tardies will lose off campus privileges. 
• Excessive tardies - referral to Assistant Principal for appropriate disciplinary action and parent/guardian meeting. 

Board Policy – BP 5112.5 (a)

Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, only 10th–12th graders will be allowed the privilege of going off-campus for lunch. All 9th graders will be required to remain on campus during lunch.

Students in grades 10 through 12 who leave campus must exit through the main gate on Wildcat Way and MUST have their student ID to do so. Students without their school-issued ID will not be permitted to leave during lunch.

All student deliveries of lunches will be turned away regardless of cost or inconvenience incurred by the requester.

Additionally, the off-campus lunch privilege is contingent upon acceptable attendance and behavior. Off-campus privileges will be revoked for students who: 

• Fall below 90% attendance
• Receive below a 2.0 GPA after the grading period
• Have outstanding detentions
• Accumulate five or more tardies

 *If students struggle to maintain appropriate standards for attendance and behavior, off-campus privileges may be revoked for a designated period of time. 

Students must have an off-campus pass from the Attendance Office to leave during the regular school day and during lunch period. 

All 9th graders will remain on campus for lunch. 9th graders will not be issued an off-campus pass during lunch time. If a 9^th grade student needs to leave right before lunch or during lunch time a parent/guardian must physically check them out at the switchboard.

Dress and Grooming AR 5132(a)

In cooperation with teachers, students and parents/guardians, the principal or designee shall establish school rules governing student dress and grooming. (cf. 0420 - School Plans/Site Councils)

• Clothing must provide full coverage of the chest, midsection, genitals, and buttocks at all times with no offensive language or images, no representation of illegal substances (including those illegal to minors only), or no representation of weapons or gang affiliation.
• Sheer or see-through clothing is not permitted. Undergarments should not be visible. 
• Shoes must be worn at all times; soft sole slippers are prohibited. 
• Bandannas are not permitted except for school spirit items. 
• Hats must be worn forward or backward. When requested by a staff member, students are to remove their hats. 
• Attire which may be used as a weapon is not allowed. This includes but is not limited to chains, wallet chains and items with spikes or studs. 

Gang-Related Clothing, Insignia, Symbols and Activities: The Governing Board desires to keep district schools and students free from threats or harmful influence of any groups or gangs. The type of dress, apparel, activities, acts, behavior or manner of grooming displayed, reflected or participated in by the student shall not: 

1. Lead school officials to reasonably believe that such behavior, apparel, activities, acts, or other attributes are gang related and would disrupt or interfere with the school environment, activities, and/or educational objectives; 
2. Present a physical safety hazard to self, students, staff and other employees; 
3. Create an atmosphere in which a student, staff and other person’s well-being is hindered by undue 10 pressure, behavior, intimidation, overt gesture or threat of violence; or 
4. Imply gang membership or affiliation by written communication, marks, drawing, painting, design or emblem upon any school or personal property or on one’s person. 

If the student’s behavior or other attributes are in violation of these provisions, the principal or designee will request the student to make appropriate correction. If the student refuses, the parent/guardian will be notified and the principal or designee will take appropriate corrective and disciplinary action. 

No grade of a student participating in a physical education class shall be adversely affected due to the fact that the student does not wear standardized physical education apparel where the failure to wear such apparel arises from circumstances beyond the student’s control. (Education Code 49066) (cf. 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)