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What Is SARB?
A School Attendance Review Board (SARB) is a panel established at the district or county level to address the most serious and persistent cases of student absenteeism or truancy. SARBs are designed to bring together educators, counselors, social workers, and community agencies to support students and families in resolving the root causes of chronic absenteeism or unexcused absences — before legal action is taken.
SARB is typically the final step in a district’s attendance intervention process, following multiple attempts at outreach, notification, and support.
Why It Matters
SARB exists at the intersection of student support and legal compliance. When earlier interventions fail, districts are required to escalate cases to SARB to show due diligence under state attendance laws.
Without SARB, schools risk:
- Falling out of compliance with compulsory education laws
- Escalating absences without proper documentation
- Missing opportunities to provide holistic support before a student slips through the cracks
SARB also plays a crucial role in reducing reliance on the court system by offering restorative alternatives to legal consequences.
How Schools Use This Term in Practice
In California and other states with SARB-like structures, schools follow a progressive intervention model:
- Unexcused absences are documented
- Truancy notifications (NOT1, NOT2, NOT3) are sent to families
- A SART (School Attendance Review Team) may meet at the school level for initial support
- If issues persist, the case is referred to SARB
At the SARB meeting, a cross-disciplinary panel meets with the student and family to review the situation and recommend next steps, which may include:
- Counseling or mental health referrals
- Family support services (e.g., housing, food assistance)
- Individual attendance plans
- Referral to juvenile court (as a last resort)
In California, SARBs operate under California Education Code Section 48321, which outlines how panels must be formed and what authority they have.
What’s the Difference Between SARB and SART?
Though they sound similar, SARB and SART serve different roles in the attendance escalation process.
- SART (School Attendance Review Team) is usually a school-level team that intervenes early, often after the first or second truancy notice.
- SARB (School Attendance Review Board) is a district- or county-level panel that handles more serious or unresolved cases.
Think of SART as the “first responder” and SARB as the “final checkpoint” before legal action is considered.
Related Terms and Concepts
- Truancy – Unexcused absences that can lead to SARB referral
- Chronic Absenteeism – Repeated absences, excused or not, often addressed through SARB
- Compulsory Education Law – State laws that SARB processes are designed to uphold
- Attendance Interventions – Steps schools take before referring a case to SARB
- Wraparound Services – Community resources SARB often connects families with
Example Scenario
A student in Sacramento City USD has received three truancy notices and continues to miss school without valid excuses. The school’s SART team met with the family but couldn’t resolve the issue. The case is escalated to the district’s SARB.
At the SARB hearing, the student and family meet with a panel that includes a school administrator, a county mental health liaison, and a youth services representative. Together, they identify transportation barriers and housing instability as core issues. The SARB recommends a plan including bus passes, weekly counselor check-ins, and follow-up in 30 days.
How SARB Impacts Districts
SARB isn’t just a compliance mechanism — it’s a key part of how districts:
- Protect students from chronic disengagement
- Show legal due diligence
- Reduce dependency on court referrals
From a legal and operational standpoint, SARB ensures districts:
- Follow state-mandated timelines for truancy notifications
- Offer structured support before escalating to legal action
- Have documentation that interventions were attempted in good faith
How Are Schools Across the U.S. Improving SARB Outcomes?
While SARB is specific to California, many states have similar attendance review panels or truancy courts. Here’s how districts are improving how they use these systems:
1. More Support, Less Punishment - Districts are shifting from punitive to restorative approaches, using SARB as a support tool, not a disciplinary hammer.
2. Community-Based SARBs - Some counties partner with social services, housing authorities, or youth programs to offer holistic supports during SARB hearings.
3. Earlier Identification -Districts are using data to flag cases for SART or intervention before SARB is needed, reducing escalations.
4. Family-Centered Design - Meetings are now more family-friendly — less formal, more collaborative, and focused on identifying solutions, not blame.
5. Integrated Systems - Some districts now use centralized systems like Nudge to track notices, interventions, and case notes, reducing friction when referring to SARB.
How Nudge Helps
Nudge supports districts in managing attendance escalation workflows — including SARB referrals — with transparency and efficiency.
- Automatically tracks truancy notices (NOT1, NOT2, NOT3)
- Logs interventions and outreach efforts by staff
- Flags students trending toward SARB referral
- Ensures district teams follow a compliant, documented process
- Helps build case files that can be easily handed off to SARB panels
Instead of scrambling to gather paperwork, Nudge gives teams a full history of actions taken — saving time and strengthening your support case.
Glossary Term: School Attendance Review Board (SARB)
