The Benicia Unified School District lost $11,400 in funding on Wednesday, October 31 when there were about 380 students who were absent from school.
The district receives slightly more than $30 per student per day in unrestricted funds from the state. The state pays that money based on kids in school, so if a student is marked absent, the district doesn’t get paid, even if the absence is excused or verified with a doctor’s note.
According to Assistant Superintendent Michael Gardner, “If a student is not at school, The District does not receive any funding no matter what the reason. The only exception is if a student is going to be absent for more than 5 school-days and less than 20 school-days, we can place them on short term independent study. If they complete the work issued to them than we can claim them as being present.”
via How Much Money Does a Day at the Parade Cost Benicia Schools?.