The California Society of Pediatric Dentistry and the California Dental Association recognize the importance of regular school attendance and the effect of chronic absence on academic performance. As dental providers we try to work around school hours to minimize absence whenever possible. However, sometimes it may not be feasible to provide all the care children need during non-school hours. For this reason, school policies that prevent legitimate school absence for the purpose of health care visits harm children and are in violation of the California Education Code.
