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AB 1763

Pupil attendance: excused absences: religious observance.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Alex Lee and 1 co-sponsor

AB 1763 allows California students to receive excused absences for religious observance days, protecting attendance records for students practicing minority faiths.

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
#pupilattendance #excusedabsences #religiousobservance
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Bill Summary · AB 1763

Legislative bill overview

AB 1763 expands California's excused absence provisions to include religious observance days beyond those already specified in state law. The bill allows pupils to be absent from school for religious holidays and observances practiced by their faith community, with those absences marked as excused rather than unexcused.

Why is this important

School attendance records affect academic progress, graduation requirements, and can trigger truancy proceedings. This bill recognizes religious diversity in California's student population by ensuring that students observing less commonly recognized religious holidays don't face attendance penalties. It addresses a practical equity issue where students of minority faiths may have been penalized for absences related to their genuine religious practices.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition ambiguity: The bill may lack clear criteria for which religious observances qualify, potentially creating inconsistency between school districts in determining what constitutes legitimate religious observance
  • Verification concerns: Schools may struggle with how to verify that absences are genuinely for religious purposes versus other reasons students might claim religious justification for
  • Secular holiday pressure: The bill could face arguments that it privileges religious reasons for absence over secular personal or family needs that aren't currently excused

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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