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, for justifiable personal reasons when the pupils absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative, as provided. Existing law specifies that a justifiable personal reason includes observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupils religion.

This bill would include observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupils religion as a type of required excused absence without the requirement that the absence be requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative. To the extent that this bill would impose additional duties on local educational agencies, 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.

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, for justifiable personal reasons when the pupils absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative, as provided. Existing law specifies that a justifiable personal reason includes observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupils religion.

This bill would include observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupils religion as a type of required excused absence without the requirement that the absence be requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative. To the extent that this bill would impose additional duties on local educational agencies, 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.

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, for justifiable personal reasons when the pupils absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative, as provided. Existing law specifies that a justifiable personal reason includes observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupils religion.

This bill would include observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupils religion as a type of required excused absence without the requirement that the absence be requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative. To the extent that this bill would impose additional duties on local educational agencies, 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.

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 1763

Author: Lee (D), et al.

Introduced: 2/9/26

Vote: 21

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 6/17/26

AYES: Pérez, Ochoa Bogh, Cabaldon, Choi, Cortese, Gonzalez, Reyes

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 8/13/26

AYES: Cervantes, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Dahle, Grayson, Richardson

NO VOTE RECORDED: Wahab

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 73-0, 5/21/26 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Pupil attendance: excused absences: religious observance

SOURCE: Jewish California

DIGEST:

This bill requires that a student be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion by removing the existing requirement that the student’s absence be requested in writing by a parent and approved by the principal.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires a student between the ages of 6 through 18 to attend school full-time, in the school district where either parent or legal guardian resides, except as specified. (Education Code (EC) § 48200)
2. Clarifies that excused absences are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance (ADA) and shall not generate state apportionment payments. (EC § 48205)
3. Requires that a student be excused from school when the absence is:
   1. 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;
   2. For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election;
   3. For the purpose of spending time with a member of the student’s immediate family who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position;
   4. For purposes of attending the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen;
   5. For purposes of participating in a cultural ceremony or event;
   6. For the purpose of a middle or high school student engaging in a civic or political event for no more than one schoolday per year, provided that the student notifies the school ahead of the absence;
   7. Due to the pupil’s participation in military entrance processing;
   8. For any of the following purposes, if an immediate family member of the student, or a person that is determined by the student’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the student as to be considered the student’s immediate family, has died, so long as the absence is not more than three days per incident;
      1. To access services from a victim services organization or agency;
      2. To access grief support services; a
      3. To participate in safety planning or to take other actions to increase the safety of the student or an immediate family member of the student, or a person that is determined by the student’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the student as to be considered the student’s immediate family, including, but not limited to, temporary or permanent relocation; and
      4. Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator. (EC § 48205)
4. Specifies that absences beyond three days for the reasons described in h) above are subject to the discretion of the school administrator or their designee. (EC § 48205)
5. Provides that a valid excuse may include other reasons that are within the discretion of school administrators and based on the facts of the pupil’s circumstances. (EC § 48260)
6. Clarifies each person between the ages of 6 through 18 years is subject to compulsory full-time education, and each person subject to compulsory continuation education must attend the public full-time day school or continuation school or classes and for the full time designated as the length of the schoolday by the governing board of the school district where the parent or guardian is located. (EC § 48200)
7. Authorizes a principal or teacher to require a satisfactory explanation from the parent or guardian of a pupil, either in person or by written note, whenever the pupil is absent a part of or all of a school day. Prohibits that requirement from being imposed until the following day. (California Code of Regulations. Title 5, § 306)

This bill requires that a student be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, rather than requiring that the student’s absence be requested in writing by a parent and approved by the principal.

Comments

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “California is home to the most diverse population in the nation and became the first to become a “minority-majority” state in 2000. With a broad and diverse range of religious traditions and faiths, our state’s schools should better accommodate excused absences for religious reasons. AB 1763 recognizes the State’s rich diversity by providing students the academic credit protections for absences for religious observances of holidays and ceremonies, without being subject to different requirements than other excused absences.”
2. Excused absences do not generate ADA. In California, school funding is primarily calculated using ADA. Each time a student is absent, that absence negatively impacts that local educational agency’s (LEA’s) ADA, ultimately reducing their overall funding. While each absence may be insignificant relative to overall funding levels, in the aggregate, absences impact overall funding. Under current law, all absences, whether excused or unexcused, reduce overall ADA.

Students can currently have an absence excused for the observance of a religious holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion; however, this bill seeks to reduce the potential burdens of getting the excusal by removing the statutory requirement for those absences to be first requested by a parent or guardian and then approved by a principal or designated representative.

If a school notes that a student is absent and has not received an indication from the student or parent that the absence was for the observance of a religious holiday or ceremony, per regulation, a principal or teacher may require a satisfactory explanation from the parent or guardian of a pupil, either in person or by written note. The explanation shall not be required until the following day.

1. Unexcused Absences Trigger Truancy Provisions. While excused and unexcused absences may be treated the same for funding purposes, they are not treated the same for attendance purposes. A student absent from school without a valid excuse on any day or tardy for more than 30 minutes, or any combination thereof, for three days in a school year is considered a truant. After a student has been reported as a truant three or more times in one school year and after an appropriate school employee has made a conscientious effort to hold at least one meeting with the parent and the student, the student is deemed a habitual truant. When it has been determined to be a habitual truant, the student may be referred to a school attendance review board or to the county probation department. These interventions are designed to divert students with serious attendance and behavioral problems from the juvenile justice system and to reduce the number of students who drop out of school.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

• To the extent there are students who do not attend school as a result of this measure, it could result in additional, unknown Proposition 98 General Fund savings. However, each time a student is absent, that absence negatively impacts the average daily attendance (ADA) of the local educational agency (LEA). While each individual absence may be insignificant, in the aggregate, the absences reduce the overall amount of funding that LEAs receive from the state.

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/13/26)

Jewish California (source)

30 Years After

Adat Shalom Los Angeles

ADL

Agudath Israel of California

AJC - Los Angeles

AJC - San Diego

AJC Northern California

Bay Area Center to Counter Antisemitism

Bay Area Jewish Coalition Education & Advocacy

Beverly Hills Synagogue

Board of Rabbis of Southern California

California Catholic Conference

California Jewish Democrats

California Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Chai Marin

Church State Council

Contra Costa Jewish Democrats

Democrats for Israel Los Angeles

Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist of America

Hillel of San Diego

Holocaust Museum LA

Informed Policy Advocates

Intercultural Networks Group

JCAN

JCC/Federation of San Luis Obispo

JCRC Bay Area

JCRC Santa Barbara County

JCRC, Jewish Long Beach

Jewish Center for Justice

Jewish Coalition of Berkeley

Jewish Community Relations Council of Sacramento

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Jewish Democratic Club of Marin

Jewish Democratic Coalition of the Bay Area

Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties

Jewish Family Service LA

Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Jewish Family Service of the Desert

Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley

Jewish Federation Bay Area

Jewish Federation Los Angeles

Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara

Jewish Federation of Orange County

Jewish Federation of San Diego

Jewish Federation of the Desert

Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys

Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region

Jewish Federation of Ventura County

Jewish Free Loan Association

Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation

Jewish Silicon Valley

JFCS East Bay

JFCS Long Beach and Orange County

National Council of Jewish Women -SF

Northern California Jewish Labor Committee

Oakland Jewish Alliance

Palo Alto Jewish Alliance

Progressive Zionists of California

SF Jews in School

Simon Wiesenthal Center

StandWithUs

The Jewish Coalition of Berkeley

Valley Beth Shalom

Two Individuals

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/13/26)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 73-0, 5/21/26

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ransom, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Chen, Gallagher, Garcia, Lackey, Ramos, Celeste Rodriguez

Prepared by: Therresa Austin / ED. / (916) 651-4105

8/14/26 15:57:52

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

AB 1763 (Lee) - Pupil attendance: excused absences: religious observance

Bill Summary:

This bill requires that a student be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion by removing the existing requirement that the student’s absence be requested in writing by a parent and approved by the principal.

Fiscal Impact:

To the extent there are students who do not attend school as a result of this measure, it could result in additional, unknown Proposition 98 General Fund savings. However, each time a student is absent, that absence negatively impacts the average daily attendance (ADA) of the local educational agency (LEA). While each individual absence may be insignificant, in the aggregate, the absences reduce the overall amount of funding that LEAs receive from the state.

Background:

Existing law provides that excused absences are deemed to be absences in computing ADA and shall not generate state apportionment payments. The law specifies a list of reasons that constitute an excused absence, which include:

1. Due to the pupil’s illness, including an absence for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavioral health; quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer; have a medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic services during school hours.
2. For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the pupil’s immediate family or spending time with a member of the pupil’s immediate family who is an active duty member of the uniformed services.
3. Jury duty or justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an 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.
4. Attending a naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen; participating in a cultural ceremony or event.

Existing law provides that a valid excuse may include other reasons that are within the discretion of school administrators and based on the facts of the pupil’s circumstances.

Proposed Law:

This bill requires that a student be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, rather than requiring that the student’s absence be requested in writing by a parent and approved by the principal.

Related Legislation:

SB 350 (Ashby, Chapter 601, Statutes of 2023) extends the time permitted for an excused absence for attending a funeral from up to three days to five days for each incident, expands the authorization from a funeral of an immediate family member to include a person determined by the student’s parent to be considered immediate family, and includes accessing grief support or victim services due to the death of an immediate family member or close associate as an additional excused absence.

AB 1503 (Lee, Chapter 846, Statutes of 2023) extends the excused absence provision for a student to attend a religious retreat from four hours or a half-day to one full day.

SB 955 (Leyva, Chapter 921, Statutes of 2022) authorizes one excused absence per year for a middle or high school student to participate in a civic or political event, provided that the student notifies the school ahead of the absence.

Staff Comments:

In California, school funding is primarily calculated using ADA. Each time a student is absent, that absence negatively impacts that school district’s ADA, thereby reducing its’ overall funding. While each individual absence may be insignificant, in the aggregate, absences do have impact on overall funding. Under current law, all absences, whether excused or unexcused, result in a reduction of overall ADA.

This bill could result in Proposition 98 GF savings to the extent students who would have otherwise attended school do not attend school as a result of this measure. The savings at the state level would result from a redirection of funds from school districts that would no longer generate state funding for these students.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: June 17, 2026

Subject:

SUMMARY

This bill requires that a student be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion by removing the existing requirement that the student’s absence be requested in writing by a parent and approved by the principal.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Requires a student between the ages of 6 through 18 to attend school full-time, in the school district where either parent or legal guardian resides, except as specified. (Education Code (EC) § 48200)
2. Clarifies that excused absences are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance (ADA) and shall not generate state apportionment payments. (EC § 48205)
3. Requires that a student be excused from school when the absence is:
   1. 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;
   2. For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election;
   3. For the purpose of spending time with a member of the student’s immediate family who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position;
   4. For purposes of attending the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen;
   5. For purposes of participating in a cultural ceremony or event;
   6. For the purpose of a middle or high school student engaging in a civic or political event for no more than one schoolday per year, provided that the student notifies the school ahead of the absence;
   7. Due to the pupil’s participation in military entrance processing;
   8. For any of the following purposes, if an immediate family member of the student, or a person that is determined by the student’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the student as to be considered the student’s immediate family, has died, so long as the absence is not more than three days per incident;
      1. To access services from a victim services organization or agency;
      2. To access grief support services; and
      3. To participate in safety planning or to take other actions to increase the safety of the student or an immediate family member of the student, or a person that is determined by the student’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the student as to be considered the student’s immediate family, including, but not limited to, temporary or permanent relocation.
   9. Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator. (EC § 48205)
4. Specifies that absences beyond three days for the reasons described in h) above are subject to the discretion of the school administrator or their designee. (EC § 48205)
5. Provides that a valid excuse may include other reasons that are within the discretion of school administrators and based on the facts of the pupil’s circumstances. (EC § 48260)
6. Clarifies each person between the ages of 6 and 18 years is subject to compulsory full-time education, and each person subject to compulsory continuation education must attend the public full-time day school or continuation school or classes and for the full time designated as the length of the schoolday by the governing board of the school district where the parent or guardian is located. (EC § 48200)
7. Authorizes a principal or teacher to require a satisfactory explanation from the parent or guardian of a pupil, either in person or by written note, whenever the pupil is absent a part of or all of a school day. Prohibits that requirement from being imposed until the following day. (California Code of Regulations. Title 5, § 306)

ANALYSIS

This bill requires that a student be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, rather than requiring that the student’s absence be requested in writing by a parent and approved by the principal.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “California is home to the most diverse population in the nation and became the first to become a “minority-majority” state in 2000. With a broad and diverse range of religious traditions and faiths, our state’s schools should better accommodate excused absences for religious reasons. AB 1763 recognizes the State’s rich diversity by providing students the academic credit protections for absences for religious observances of holidays and ceremonies, without being subject to different requirements than other excused absences.”
2. Excused absences do not generate ADA. In California, school funding is primarily calculated using ADA. Each time a student is absent, that absence negatively impacts that local educational agency’s (LEA’s) ADA, ultimately reducing their overall funding. While each absence may be insignificant relative to overall funding levels, in the aggregate, absences impact overall funding. Under current law, all absences, whether excused or unexcused, reduce overall ADA.

Students can currently have an absence excused for the observance of a religious holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion; however, this bill seeks to reduce the potential burdens of getting the excusal by removing the statutory requirement for those absences to be first requested by a parent or guardian and then approved by a principal or designated representative.

If a school notes that a student is absent and has not received an indication from the student or parent that the absence was for the observance of a religious holiday or ceremony, per regulation, a principal or teacher may require a satisfactory explanation from the parent or guardian of a pupil, either in person or by written note. The explanation shall not be required until the following day.

1. Unexcused Absences Trigger Truancy Provisions. While excused and unexcused absences may be treated the same for funding purposes, they are not treated the same for attendance purposes. A student absent from school without a valid excuse on any day or tardy for more than 30 minutes, or any combination thereof, for three days in a school year is considered a truant. After a student has been reported as a truant three or more times in one school year and after an appropriate school employee has made a conscientious effort to hold at least one meeting with the parent and the student, the student is deemed a habitual truant. When it has been determined to be a habitual truant, the student may be referred to a school attendance review board or to the county probation department. These interventions are designed to divert students with serious attendance and behavioral problems from the juvenile justice system and to reduce the number of students who drop out of school.
2. Chronic Absenteeism. The table below represents the California Department of Education’s (CDE) absenteeism and chronic absenteeism data from the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years (SY). The data shows significant differences amongst racial/ethnic groups, both in terms of comparing the percentages of absences designated as excused vs unexcused, and in the overall average number of absences. Even if a student has excused absences, they are considered chronically absent if they miss 10% of the days they were expected to attend school.

The table below captures absenteeism data submitted by LEAs through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS):

As the table shows, California saw a modest reduction in chronic absenteeism rates between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. However, the variations of chronic absenteeism rates across student groups continue to persist.

1. Prior and related legislation.

SB 350 (Ashby, Chapter 601, Statutes of 2023) extends the time permitted for an excused absence for attending a funeral from up to three days to five days for each incident, expands the authorization from a funeral of an immediate family member to include a person determined by the student’s parent to be considered immediate family, and includes accessing grief support or victim services due to the death of an immediate family member or close associate as an additional excused absence.

AB 1503 (Lee, Chapter 846, Statutes of 2023) extends the excused absence provision for a student to attend a religious retreat from four hours or a half-day to one full day.

SB 955 (Leyva, Chapter 921, Statutes of 2022) authorizes one excused absence per year for a middle or high school student to participate in a civic or political event, provided that the student notifies the school ahead of the absence.

SB 14 (Portantino, Chapter 672, Statutes of 2021) includes, specifically, “for the benefit of the behavioral health of the student” within the “illness” category for excused absences for purposes of school attendance; and requires the CDE to identify an evidence-based and evidence-informed training program for LEAs to address youth behavioral health, including staff and student training.

AB 516 (Megan Dahle, Chapter 281, Statutes of 2021) adds participation in a cultural ceremony or event to the list of reasons that a student must be excused from school.

AB 1949 (Low, Chapter 767, Statutes of 2022) requires private employers with five or more employees and public sector employers to provide employees with at least 30 days of service up to five unpaid days of bereavement leave upon the death of a family member.

AB 1593 (Obernolte, Chapter 92, Statutes of 2016) adds a student’s attendance at his or her naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen to the list of excused absences.

SUPPORT

Jewish California (sponsor)
30 Years After
Adat Shalom Los Angeles
ADL
Agudath Israel of California
AJC - Los Angeles
AJC - San Diego
AJC Northern California
Bay Area Center to Counter Antisemitism
Bay Area Jewish Coalition Education & Advocacy
Beverly Hills Synagogue
Board of Rabbis of Southern California
California Catholic Conference
California Jewish Democrats
California Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Chai Marin
Contra Costa Jewish Democrats
Democrats for Israel Los Angeles
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist of America
Hillel of San Diego
Holocaust Museum LA
Intercultural Networks Group
JCAN
JCC/Federation of San Luis Obispo
JCRC Bay Area
JCRC Santa Barbara County
JCRC, Jewish Long Beach
Jewish Center for Justice
Jewish Community Relations Council of Sacramento
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Democratic Club of Marin
Jewish Democratic Coalition of the Bay Area
Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Jewish Family Service LA
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of the Desert
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
Jewish Federation Bay Area
Jewish Federation Los Angeles
Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
Jewish Federation of Orange County
Jewish Federation of San Diego
Jewish Federation of the Desert
Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region
Jewish Federation of Ventura County
Jewish Free Loan Association
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation
Jewish Silicon Valley
JFCS East Bay
JFCS Long Beach and Orange County
National Council of Jewish Women -SF
Northern California Jewish Labor Committee
Oakland Jewish Alliance
Palo Alto Jewish Alliance
Progressive Zionists of California
SF Jews in School
Simon Wiesenthal Center
StandWithUs
The Jewish Coalition of Berkeley
Valley Beth Shalom

OPPOSITION

None received

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 1763

Author:(Lee)

As Introduced Ver:February 9, 2026

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Requires a student to be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student's religion, rather than requiring the student’s absence to be requested in writing by the parent and approved by the principal.

Major Provisions

1. Requires a student to be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student's religion, rather than requiring the student's absence to be requested in writing by the parent and approved by the principal.

COMMENTS

Excused absences. California's compulsory education law requires every child between the ages of six through 18 to attend school full-time and their parents and legal guardians to be responsible for ensuring that they attend school. A student who is absent from school without a valid excuse on any day or is tardy for more than 30 minutes, or any combination thereof, for three days in a school year is considered a truant.

Current law establishes excused absences for a number of reasons, including illness, quarantine, medical appointments, attending a funeral, jury duty, illness of the student’s child, a court appearance, observation of a religious holiday or ceremony, attendance at an educational conference, serving on a precinct board, spending time with an immediate family member who is an active duty member of the military, as well as for other reasons deemed to constitute a valid excuse by a school administrator based upon an individual student’s circumstances.

Current law requires some excused absences to be approved by the principal, consistent with school district policy, when the absence is for specified justifiable reasons, including when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion. This bill would, for an absence related to the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion, remove the requirement of a justifiable reason approved by the principal and instead add this observance to the list of authorized student excused absences that do not require the approval of the principal.

Absences impact school funding. California schools are funded based on the average daily attendance (ADA) of enrolled students. The level of absenteeism, whether excused or unexcused, negatively impacts an LEA’s overall funding.

Chronic absenteeism has risen significantly in recent years. Chronic absence refers to missing so much school for any reason that a student is academically at risk. Chronic absence is defined as missing 10% or more of school for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences or truancy, and suspensions. According to Attendance Works:

In the 2020-21 school year, at least 10.1 million students nationwide were chronically absent. We estimate chronic absence has more than doubled from the more than 8 million students, pre-COVID-19, who were missing so many days of school that they were academically at risk. Chronic absence can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third-grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school.

Children living in poverty are two to three times more likely to be chronically absent—and face the most harm because their community lacks the resources to make up for the lost learning in school. Students from communities of color, as well as those with disabilities, are disproportionately affected.

California's accountability system tracks chronic absenteeism as one indicator of academic engagement on the California School Dashboard. In 2025, 17.1% of students in kindergarten through 8^th grade were chronically absent, considered a mid-level of concern. Chronic absenteeism rates peaked at 30% on the 2022 Dashboard.

Potential to increase chronic absenteeism by expanding excused absences. Legislation in recent years has added to the list of excused absences for the purposes of a student’s mental health, participating in a cultural ceremony or event, and engaging in a civic or political event. Although each of these is worthwhile in themselves, the overall impact on student attendance must be considered. A student's absence from school for any reason may have negative impacts on their academic achievement over time.

According to the Author

According to the author, "California is home to the most diverse population in the nation and became the first to become a "minority-majority" state in 2000. With a broad and diverse range of religious traditions and faiths, our state's schools should better accommodate excused absences for religious reasons. AB 1763 recognizes the State’s rich diversity by providing students the academic credit protections for absences for religious observances of holidays and ceremonies, without being subject to administrators' approvals."

Arguments in Support

Jewish California writes, "Currently, some students are not given proper accommodations to miss school without it reflecting poorly on their grades. AB 1763 promotes fairness and religious equity in school attendance policies by ensuring that students are no longer denied excused absences or proper accommodation for the observation of religious holidays and ceremonies. It simplifies the process for families by removing the need for administrative approval – an unnecessary and sometimes uncomfortable process for families simply seeking to practice their faith."

Arguments in Opposition

None on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:

Potential Proposition 98 General Fund (GF) savings of an unknown, potentially significant amount, possibly in the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, to the extent students who otherwise would have attended school do not attend school because of this measure. Savings at the state level would result from a redirection of funds from local educational agencies (LEAs) that would no longer generate state funding for students not attending school because of this measure.

LEAs receive an average of approximately $13,700 in general purpose education funding annually per student, almost exclusively derived from average daily attendance (ADA). If 0.05% of the state's student population of about 5.8 million students were absent for one school day they otherwise would not have been absent, Proposition 98 GF costs savings to the state would be about $221 thousand while LEAs serving those students would lose, on aggregate, a like amount.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill's requirements to be a reimbursable state mandate, the state would need to reimburse these costs either directly to LEAs or through the K-12 Mandates Block Grant.

VOTES

ASM EDUCATION: 8-0-0

YES: Patel, Hoover, Alvarez, Bonta, Castillo, Garcia, Lowenthal, Zbur

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 15-0-0

YES: Wicks, Hoover, Aguiar-Curry, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Fong, Mark González, Krell, Pacheco, Pellerin, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

UPDATED

VERSION: February 9, 2026

CONSULTANT: Debbie Look / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0002687

Date of Hearing: April 8, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1763

Author:(Lee) – As Introduced Ver:February 9, 2026

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes

SUMMARY:

This bill adds observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion to the list of reasons that a student must be excused from school.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Potential Proposition 98 General Fund (GF) savings of an unknown, potentially significant amount, possibly in the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, to the extent students who otherwise would have attended school do not attend school because of this measure. Savings at the state level would result from a redirection of funds from local educational agencies (LEAs) that would no longer generate state funding for students not attending school because of this measure.

LEAs receive an average of approximately $13,700 in general purpose education funding annually per student, almost exclusively derived from average daily attendance (ADA). If 0.05% of the state’s student population of about 5.8 million students were absent for one school day they otherwise would not have been absent, Proposition 98 GF costs savings to the state would be about $221 thousand while LEAs serving those students would lose, on aggregate, a like amount.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill’s requirements to be a reimbursable state mandate, the state would need to reimburse these costs either directly to LEAs or through the K-12 Mandates Block Grant.

COMMENTS:

When a student is absent from school or tardy by 30 minutes without a valid excuse, the absence is known as an “unexcused absence.” When a student has three unexcused absences in a school year, the student is considered truant. Laws governing truancy, including interventions and fines to parents, apply to these students.

When a student is absent from school with a valid excuse, the absence is known as an “excused absence.” Current law defines various reasons a student may be excused from school, including illness, funerals of immediate family, cultural ceremonies, naturalization ceremonies, and medical appointments. It also lists “justifiable personal reasons” including, but not limited to, appearance in court, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion, and attendance at religious retreats. However, excuses covered under the justifiable personal reasons provision must be requested by the student’s parent or guardian and approved by the principal or designated representative. This bill would provide the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion as an automatically approved valid absence excuse. Because schools are funded based on attendance, both an unexcused absence and an excused absence result in a loss of funding to an LEA equivalent to the number of days a student is absent.

Prior Legislation. AB 516 (Megan Dahle), Chapter 281, Statutes of 2021, added participation in a cultural ceremony or event to the list of reasons that a student must be excused from school.

AB 1593 (Obernolte), Chapter 92, Statutes of 2016, added a student's attendance at their naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen to the list of excused absences.

Analysis Prepared by: Aaron Heredia / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: March 18, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Darshana Patel, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1763 (

Author:Lee) – As Introduced Ver:February 9, 2026

SUBJECT: Pupil attendance: excused absences: religious observance

SUMMARY: Requires a student to be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion, rather than requiring the student’s absence to be requested in writing by the parent and approved by the principal. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires a student to be excused from school when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires a student between the ages of 6 through 18 to attend school full-time, in the school district where either parent or legal guardian resides, except as specified. (Education Code (EC) 48200)
2. Specifies that excused absences are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance (ADA) and do not generate state apportionment payments. (EC 48205)
3. Requires that a student be excused from school when the absence is:
4. Due to the student’s illness, including an absence for the benefit of the student’s mental or behavioral health;
5. Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer;
6. Having a medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic appointment;
7. 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;
8. For the purpose of jury duty;
9. Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the student is the custodial parent;
10. 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;
11. For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election;
12. For the purpose of spending time with a member of the student’s immediate family who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position;
13. For purposes of attending the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen;
14. For purposes of participating in a cultural ceremony or event;
15. For the purpose of a middle or high school student engaging in a civic or political event for no more than one schoolday per year, provided that the student notifies the school ahead of the absence;
16. Due to the pupil’s participation in military entrance processing;
17. For any of the following purposes, if an immediate family member of the student, or a person that is determined by the student’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the student as to be considered the student’s immediate family, has died, so long as the absence is not more than three days per incident;
    1. To access services from a victim services organization or agency;
    2. To access grief support services; and
    3. To participate in safety planning or to take other actions to increase the safety of the student or an immediate family member of the student, or a person that is determined by the student’s parent or guardian to be in such close association with the student as to be considered the student’s immediate family, including, but not limited to, temporary or permanent relocation.
18. Absences beyond three days for the reasons described above subject to the discretion of the school administrator, or their designee; and
19. Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator. (EC 48205)
20. Defines “immediate family” for purposes of excused absences as the parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the household of the pupil. (EC 48205)
21. Defines a "truant" as any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse on any day or is tardy for more than 30 minutes, or any combination thereof, for three days in a school year. (EC 48260)
22. Provides that a valid excuse includes, but is not limited to, the reasons specified in the "excused absences" sections of law, and may include other reasons that are within the discretion of school administrators and based on the facts of the pupil's circumstances. (EC 48260)
23. Prohibits an employer, as specified, to refuse to grant a request by an employee to take up to 5 days of bereavement leave upon the death of a family member. (Government Code (GOV) 12945.7)

FISCAL EFFECT: This bill has been keyed as a possible state-mandated local program by the Office of Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS:

Need for the bill. According to the author, “California is home to the most diverse population in the nation and became the first to become a “minority-majority” state in 2000. With a broad and diverse range of religious traditions and faiths, our state’s schools should better accommodate excused absences for religious reasons. AB 1763 recognizes the State’s rich diversity by providing students the academic credit protections for absences for religious observances of holidays and ceremonies, without being subject to administrators’ approvals.”

Excused absences. California's compulsory education law requires every child between the ages of 6 through 18 to attend school full-time and their parents and legal guardians to be responsible for ensuring that they attend school. A student who is absent from school without a valid excuse on any day or is tardy for more than 30 minutes, or any combination thereof, for three days in a school year is considered a truant.

Current law establishes excused absences for a number of reasons, including illness, quarantine, medical appointments, attending a funeral, jury duty, illness of the student’s child, a court appearance, observation of a religious holiday or ceremony, attendance at an educational conference, serving on a precinct board, spending time with an immediate family member who is an active duty member of the military, as well as for other reasons deemed to constitute a valid excuse by a school administrator based upon an individual student’s circumstances.

Current law requires some excused absences to be approved by the principal, consistent with school district policy, when the absence is for specified justifiable reasons, including when the absence is for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion. This bill would, for an absence related to the observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student’s religion, remove the requirement of a justifiable reason approved by the principal and instead add this observance to the list of authorized student excused absences that do not require the approval of the principal.

Absences impact school funding. California schools are funded based on the ADA of enrolled students. The level of absenteeism, whether excused or unexcused, negatively impacts an LEA’s overall funding.

Chronic absenteeism has risen significantly in recent years. Chronic absence refers to missing so much school for any reason that a student is academically at risk. Chronic absence is defined as missing 10% or more of school for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences or truancy, and suspensions. According to Attendance Works:

In the 2020-21 school year, at least 10.1 million students nationwide were chronically absent. We estimate chronic absence has more than doubled from the more than 8 million students, pre-COVID-19, who were missing so many days of school that they were academically at risk. Chronic absence can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third-grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school.

Children living in poverty are two to three times more likely to be chronically absent—and face the most harm because their community lacks the resources to make up for the lost learning in school. Students from communities of color, as well as those with disabilities, are disproportionately affected.

This isn’t simply a matter of truancy or skipping school. In fact, many of these absences, especially among our youngest students, are excused. Often, absences are tied to health problems, such as asthma, diabetes, and oral and mental health issues. Other barriers including lack of a nearby school bus, a safe route to school, or food insecurity, make it difficult to attend school every day.

California’s accountability system tracks chronic absenteeism as one indicator of academic engagement on the California School Dashboard. In 2025, 17.1% of students in kindergarten through 8^th grade were chronically absent, considered a mid-level of concern. Chronic absenteeism rates peaked at 30% on the 2022 Dashboard. When broken down by subgroups, the following were chronically absent at a disproportionate rate compared to the statewide average in the 2024-25 school year for grades K-8:

• 29.8% of African American students;
• 28.9% of American Indian students;
• 21.3% of English learners;
• 37.3% of foster youth;
• 20.1% of Hispanic students;
• 34.9% of homeless students;
• 24.1% of socioeconomically disadvantaged students; and
• 27.8% of students with disabilities.

The rate of chronic absenteeism in California across all grade levels has declined across all grade levels since the COVID-19 pandemic, as shown below:

Source: Attendance Works

Potential to increase chronic absenteeism by expanding excused absences. Legislation in recent years has added to the list of excused absences for the purposes of a student’s mental health, participating in a cultural ceremony or event, and engaging in a civic or political event. Although each of these is worthwhile in themselves, the overall impact on student attendance must be considered. As noted above, a student’s absence from school for any reason may have negative impacts on their academic achievement over time.

Arguments in support. Jewish California writes, “Currently, some students are not given proper accommodations to miss school without it reflecting poorly on their grades. AB 1763 promotes fairness and religious equity in school attendance policies by ensuring that students are no longer denied excused absences or proper accommodations for the observation of religious holidays and ceremonies. It simplifies the process for families by removing the need for administrative approval – an unnecessary and sometimes uncomfortable process for families simply seeking to practice their faith.”

Related legislation. SB 350 (Ashby), Chapter 601, Statutes of 2023, extends the time permitted for an excused absence for attending a funeral from up to three days to five days for each incident, expands the authorization from a funeral of an immediate family member to include a person determined by the student's parent to be considered immediate family, and includes accessing grief support or victim services due to the death of an immediate family member or close associate as an additional excused absence.

AB 1503 (Lee), Chapter 846, Statutes of 2023, extends the excused absence provision for a student to attend a religious retreat from four hours or a half-day to one full day.

SB 955 (Leyva) Chapter 921, Statutes of 2022, authorizes one excused absence per year for a middle or high school student to participate in a civic or political event provided that the student notifies the school ahead of the absence.

SB 14 (Portantino) Chapter 672, Statutes of 2021, includes, specifically, “for the benefit of the behavioral health of the student” within the “illness” category for excused absences for purposes of school attendance; and requires the CDE to identify an evidence-based and evidence-informed training program for LEAs to address youth behavioral health, including staff and student training.

AB 516 (Megan Dahle) Chapter 281, Statutes of 2021, adds participation in a cultural ceremony or event to the list of reasons that a student must be excused from school.

AB 1949 (Low) Chapter 767, Statutes of 2022, requires private employers with five or more employees and public sector employers to provide employees with at least 30 days of service up to five unpaid days of bereavement leave upon the death of a family member.

AB 1593 (Obernolte) Chapter 92, Statutes of 2016, adds a student's attendance at his or her naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen to the list of excused absences.

SB 1457 (Morrell) of the 2015-16 Session would have expanded the authority of school districts to authorize a student to be excused from school to receive moral and religious instruction by authorizing a local governing board to adopt a policy, as specified, to allow students to earn up to two elective credits towards high school graduation requirements for the completion of “released time instruction,” excluding any cap on the number of excused absences for this purpose, and would have authorized a school district to generate average daily attendance for these absences. This bill was held on the Senate Floor.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

CFT – a Union of Educators & Classified Professionals, AFT, AFL-CIO

Church State Council

Jewish California (formerly JPAC)

1 individual

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Marguerite Ries / ED. / (916) 319-2087