By Kodely — Your Partner for High-Quality Expanded Learning Implementation

Beginning in the 2025–2026 fiscal year, California school districts, county offices of education, and classroom-based charter schools can implement Attendance Recovery (AR) programs under Senate Bill 153, as amended by SB 176. AR gives local educational agencies (LEAs) a new way to recover average daily attendance (ADA) funding while supporting student learning.

What Attendance Recovery Is

Attendance Recovery allows students to make up instructional time they missed during the regular school day by attending voluntary sessions outside of normal hours. LEAs can claim apportionment for up to ten days per student, or the total number of absences in the year, whichever is less. Sessions can be offered before or after school, on weekends, or during intersession breaks.

Key Requirements

AR programs must follow specific rules to qualify for funding:

• Sessions must occur outside the regular instructional day.
• Students must be supervised by certificated staff employed by the LEA.
• Activities must be aligned to grade-level standards and substantially equivalent to regular classroom instruction.
• AR and Expanded Learning Opportunity Programs (ELO-P) are separate and must maintain distinct audit records, even if offered together.

Participation is open to all students in classroom-based programs; unduplicated pupil status is not required.

How AR and ELO-P Work Together

Districts may operate AR and ELO-P at the same site and time to maximize efficiency and student access. When programs are commingled, the most stringent supervision requirements apply. ELO-P eligibility is not required for AR participation, and AR students must still have access to the full range of ELO-P programming.

ELO-P funds may be used to support AR if:

• Both programs run at the same site and time.
• AR is operated by the LEA.
• All ELO-P requirements are met and documented in the LEA’s annual audit.

Districts must update their ELO-P plans to reflect this funding strategy.

Fees and Funding

Districts cannot charge students fees for AR participation. If a student attends both AR and ELO-P on the same day, no ELO-P fees can be charged for that day. ELO-P funds may support AR if all statutory requirements are followed.

Why This Matters

Chronic absenteeism has created both instructional and financial challenges for districts. Attendance Recovery offers a clear path to reclaim ADA funding while giving students additional academic time. When strategically combined with ELO-P, AR can expand learning opportunities without displacing enrichment programs.

Kodely partners with districts across California to implement high-quality expanded learning programs. We can help you design AR sessions that meet Education Code requirements, integrate seamlessly with ELO-P, and support your district’s instructional goals.