Senate BillFailedEducation
SB 721: Pupil attendance: excused absences: career technical education.
What SB 721 does, verified February 3, 2026
This bill would amend the education code to include career technical education enhancement as a type of excused absence for middle school and high school students. Students participating in this program can be excused for one school day per year, but school administrators may grant additional absences in their discretion. The bill also requires students to notify the school ahead of time. If the state determines that the bill imposes additional costs, it will reimburse local agencies and school districts for those costs.
Bill journey
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5GovernorPending
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Last action: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
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| Feb. 02, 2026 | Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Apr. 16, 2025 | April 23 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Apr. 04, 2025 | Set for hearing April 23. |
| Mar. 24, 2025 | April 2 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Mar. 19, 2025 | Set for hearing April 2. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 21, 2025 · 1,392 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 721
| Introduced by Senator Dahle |
February 21, 2025 |
An act to amend Section 48205 of the Education Code, relating to pupil attendance.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 721, as introduced, Dahle. Pupil attendance: excused absences: career technical education.
Existing law, notwithstanding the requirement that each person between 6 and 18 years of age who is not otherwise exempted is subject to compulsory full-time education, requires a pupil to be excused from school for specified types of absences, including, among others, if the absence was due to the pupil’s illness.
This bill would include as another type of required excused absence an absence that is for the purpose of a middle school or high school pupil participating in career technical education enhancement, as defined, provided that the pupil notifies the school ahead of the absence. The bill would require a middle school or high school pupil who is absent from school to engage in career technical education enhancement to be excused for only one schoolday-long absence per school year. The bill would also authorize a middle school or high school pupil who is absent from school to engage in career technical education enhancement to be permitted additional excused absences in the discretion of a school administrator, as provided. To the extent that this bill would impose additional duties on local educational entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 48205 of the Education Code is amended to read:48205.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:(1) Due to the pupil’s illness, including an absence for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavioral health.
(2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.
(3) For purposes of having medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.
(4) For purposes of attending the funeral services or grieving the death of either a member of the pupil’s immediate family, or of a person that is determined by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the pupil as to be considered the pupil’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than five days per incident.
(5) For purposes of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.
(6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent, including absences to care for a sick child, for which the school shall not require a note from a doctor.
(7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an attendance or appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, attendance at a religious retreat, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization, when the pupil’s absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board of the school district.
(8) For purposes of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.
(9) For purposes of spending time with a member of the pupil’s immediate family who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Section 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.
(10) For purposes of attending the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.
(11) For purposes of participating in a cultural ceremony or event.
(12) (A) For purposes of a middle school or high school pupil engaging in a civic or political event, as provided in subparagraph (B), provided that the pupil notifies the school ahead of the absence.
(B) (i) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) is required to be excused for only one schoolday-long absence per school year.
(ii) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be permitted additional excused absences in the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.
(13) (A) For any of the purposes described in clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive, if an immediate family member of the pupil, or a person that is determined by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the pupil as to be considered the pupil’s immediate family, has died, so long as the absence is not more than three days per incident.
(i) To access services from a victim services organization or agency.
(ii) To access grief support services.
(iii) To participate in safety planning or to take other actions to increase the safety of the pupil or an immediate family member of the pupil, or a person that is determined by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the pupil as to be considered the pupil’s immediate family, including, but not limited to, temporary or permanent relocation.
(B) Any absences beyond three days for the reasons described in subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the discretion of the school administrator, or their designee, pursuant to Section 48260.
(14) Due to the pupil’s participation in military entrance processing.
(15) (A) For purposes of a middle school or high school pupil engaging in career technical education enhancement, as provided in subparagraph (B), provided that the pupil notifies the school ahead of the absence.
(B) (i) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) is required to be excused for only one schoolday-long absence per school year.
(ii) A middle school or high school pupil who is absent pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be permitted additional excused absences in the discretion of the school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.
(15)
(16)
Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.(b) A pupil absent from school pursuant to this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit for those assignments and tests. The teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence.
(c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed one schoolday per semester.
(d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments.
(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Career technical education enhancement” means an experience that uses the workplace or real work to provide pupils with the knowledge and skills that will help them connect school experiences to real-life work activities and future career opportunities.
(1)
(2)
A “civic or political event” includes, but is not limited to, voting, poll working, strikes, public commenting, candidate speeches, political or civic forums, and town halls.(2)
(3)
“Cultural” means relating to the practices, habits, beliefs, and traditions of a certain group of people.(3)
(4)
“Immediate family” means the parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the household of the pupil.(4)
(5)
“Victim services organization or agency” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 12945.8 of the Government Code.Text of SB 721 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions