What is SARB?

SARB was established by the California Legislature in 1975 for the purposes of:

• Making a better effort to meet the needs of the students with attendance and behavior problems.
• Reducing duplication of services of the various agencies by using community and regional resources prior to any involvement with the judicial system.
• Insuring the right of access laws (compulsory education) for students ages 6 to 18 is responsibility implemented.

A SARB Board is a group of interested people who are community members or employees of the school or other agencies. The SARB is concerned about the health, welfare and attendance of all students. They meet at least once a month to resolve student attendance or behavior problems brought to their attention by the school district.

The SARB process starts with the identification of attendance and/or behavior problems followed by class, school site and district level interventions.

SARB's main task is to find solutions to the unresolved student attendance and discipline problems by bringing together, on a regular basis, representatives of agencies that make up the board.

SARB surveys available community resources, determines the appropriateness of their services and makes recommendations to meet the need of referred students.

SARB seeks to understand why students are experiencing attendance and behavior problems, and serves as a vehicle to correct those problems.

Who is referred to SARB?

• Students with chronic attendance problems.
• Students with chronic behavior problems which have not been resolved through school and community efforts.

What does SARB do for students?

SARB may do the following:

• Recommend changes in the student's program which might be unusual but necessary.
• Direct student and/or family to counseling.
• Help students and families understand the importance of school, why they must attend school, and that there are consequences for failure to comply with the law.
• Facilitate a student transfer to an alternative school or program when necessary.

Facts Related to Absenteeism

• Absenteeism causes major losses in educational achievement.
• Unemployment and under employment are common problems faced by dropouts.
• Absenteeism results in poor performance on tests.
• Absenteeism contributes to a higher dropout rate, delinquency, and vandalism.
• Absent pupils often become involved in daylight crime.
• Attendance is best when students are involved in school programs in which they can succeed
• Absenteeism raises the cost per student for education.
• Older children in a family frequently set attendance patterns for younger brothers and sisters.
• Absence patterns are established as early as kindergarten.

California Law Related to Attendance

• Education Code, Section 48200. 
  Students between the ages 6 & 18, are required to attend school full-time unless otherwise exempt.
• Education Code, Section 48260.5. 
  Habitually truant students may be subject to prosecution, fines, community service, and loss of driver's license. Parents of truant students are obliged to compel the attendance of the student at school. Parents are advised to meet with school officials, investigate alternative education programs in the district and attend classes with the student for one day.
• Education Code, Section 48263. 
  Habitually truant and habitually insubordinate students may be referred to SARB.
• Education Code, Section 48292, and Penal Code, Section 272. 
  Failure to attend school as required may result in the filling of a complaint against the parents with the District Attorney's Office.

Contact Information: 

Phone: (925) 335-5800

Fax: (925) 335-5961

SARB DATES

All SARB meetings are held at Martinez Unified School District, 921 Susana St.