Would this be considered "truant"?

[x4words]

I am in Los Angeles County in California.

I received a postcard in the mail from the local community college advertising a scholarship program they are having tomorrow at their campus. It is from 9am to 1pm. Upon receiving this, I made plans to go to it.

A few days later, I found a poster at my high school for the same event, but it said to go to the office to sign-up to go to it.
I went to the office, and they said I had to sign up to go to it. I told them I received the postcard in the mail and was going to go anyways, and they said I had to go with my high school on their bus because "I had to be in school".
I signed up to go with my high school, but my high school now won't let me go.
I called the college today, and they said I did not have to sign up with my school and could come on my own.

So, I made plans to have my mom call the school tomorrow morning to excuse my absence (but I don't know if my school will mark it as an "excused absence" becuause their policy claims I have to be "sick or in court" for it to be counted as an excused absence). Then, I will go to the event. After the event, I am coming home.

If I get to the event and my high school gives me problems about being at the college for the event, can they suspend me / not allow me to participate in graduation ceremonies / give me a ticket claiming I am "Truant"?
(My regular school day is from 7am to 1pm. I have never had any attendance problems, never been issued a warning or ticket for missing to many days, etc.)

 

[Zigner]

What did the school say when you asked them?

 

[x4words]

What did the school say when you asked them?

What school, asked what?


If you mean why won't my school let me go with them on their bus to the event...
My first year, I was involved in a fight, and was suspended for 5 days (Which is typical for my school, if you are involved in a fight at all, you get suspended for 5 days)..
But it was just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was even referred to the sheriff's department about it, and they through out the case because they saw that I did nothing wrong.
But anyways.. they don't understand that I've changed since then. My GPA is now 3.9 (A) and I haven't missed a day of school so far this year. I am ahead in credits.. Haven't gotten in trouble since that incident.. etc.
The lady that is in charge of this event just looks in the computer and sees that there was a discipline problem, and anyone with a discipline problem doesn't get to go. She wouldn't let me sit down with her and tell her how i've changed and all that...

 

[Zigner]

What school, and asked what?

Let me rephrase it.

What did YOUR school say when you asked them if you would be considered truant and what the repercussions would be?

 

[x4words]

Let me rephrase it.

What did YOUR school say when you asked them if you would be considered truant and what the repercussions would be?

I never asked them that.
I could suspect that if I said I was going anyways, they would say that I would be considered truant and all that jazz.

 

[CourtClerk]

Unless you went with the school, with school provided (or approved) transportation, this would be an unexcused absence. Can the school write you a ticket? No. Can the police if they stop you on the way and you're out of school without a parent? Yes. Can they suspend you from school? Probably not over 1 unexcused absence unless you're under some behavior contract or some other type of probation (either formal or informal). Can they prohibit you from participating in school activites? Absolutely.

Should you get your parent(s) involved in you getting on that bus and to that event? You betcha.

Congratulations on turning yourself around and good luck. I wouldn't recommend you missing school though. Perhaps you can go to school half day and one of your parents can come and sign you out for the second half and accompany you to this event.

 

[x4words]

So do you all think it would be better if I get to school at the normal time of 7:25am, and leave at 8:15am? Will they let me leave or do I have to be there a certain amount of time before I can leave?

I'm having my parents write me a note saying I have permission to leave at 8:15am. I have done this before, and what usually happens at my school is you drop off the note at the attendance office before school, they give you a pass to come back at the time the note says to leave (meanwhile if they feel like calling a parent to verify to leave they can..), and then you get an "Off Campus Pass" and are free to leave.

 

[stealth2]

What school, asked what?


If you mean why won't my school let me go with them on their bus to the event...
My first year, I was involved in a fight, and was suspended for 5 days (Which is typical for my school, if you are involved in a fight at all, you get suspended for 5 days)..
But it was just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was even referred to the sheriff's department about it, and they through out the case because they saw that I did nothing wrong.
But anyways.. they don't understand that I've changed since then. My GPA is now 3.9 (A) and I haven't missed a day of school so far this year. I am ahead in credits.. Haven't gotten in trouble since that incident.. etc.
The lady that is in charge of this event just looks in the computer and sees that there was a discipline problem, and anyone with a discipline problem doesn't get to go. She wouldn't let me sit down with her and tell her how i've changed and all that...

Given the way OP writes, the bolded part both saddens and scares me.

OP - the school does not have to allow you to go on the school trip. If you go on your own, note from Mommy notwithstanding, it will be an unexcused absence.