Reading Room

California AB 1763 Is Now Law: Religious Absence Guide

September 2, 2026 | 5 min read | Policy

Last reviewed: October 1, 2026

Signed September 30, 2026 and effective January 1, 2027, AB 1763 makes observance of a student's religious holiday or ceremony its own category of required excused absence under California Education Code Section 48205.

AB 1763 is a California pupil-attendance law concerning absences for the observance of a holiday or ceremony of a student's religion.

Before AB 1763 takes effect on January 1, 2027, Education Code Section 48205 places religious observance within a category of justifiable personal reasons that requires a written parent or guardian request and approval by the principal or a designated representative. Beginning January 1, 2027, the law moves religious observance into its own required excused-absence category without those statutory conditions.

This guide explains the law in plain language for attendance and school-administration teams. It is an operational overview, not legal advice. Schools should confirm the current status and requirements through official state sources and their own counsel.

What AB 1763 changes

Effective January 1, 2027, the law amends Education Code Section 48205 so a student must be excused from school when the absence is for observance of a holiday or ceremony of the student's religion.

The central change is procedural. Religious observance will no longer sit within the statutory category that requires a written request from a parent or guardian and approval from the principal or a designated representative.

For districts, that may require a review of attendance codes, handbooks, forms, staff instructions, and family communications so operational procedures match the enacted law.

What remains important for schools

Education Code Section 48205 also addresses what happens after a qualifying excused absence. A student must be allowed to complete assignments and tests that can reasonably be provided and receive full credit after satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time.

That means implementation is not only an attendance-coding question. Schools may also need clear, consistent communication among attendance staff, teachers, students, and families about missed work and tests.

The law does not specify every operational detail a district may need. Final procedures should reflect the enacted law, official guidance, local policy, and advice from district counsel.

What AB 1763 does not do

AB 1763 does not require schools to close for religious holidays. It concerns whether an individual student's religious-observance absence must be excused.

It also does not itself require a district to move an exam, performance, trip, or ceremony. Calendar planning remains a separate question, even though avoiding a conflict can reduce missed instruction, makeup work, and administrative follow-up.

The law retains the rule that absences under Section 48205 are counted as absences for average daily attendance and do not generate state apportionment payments.

AB 1763 attendance preparation checklist

Before any change takes effect, a district can identify the policies and systems that may need review:

Locate every attendance policy, handbook, form, and website reference to religious-observance absences
Review whether attendance codes distinguish religious observance from other personal reasons
Identify any workflow that automatically requires written parent requests or principal approval
Prepare consistent guidance for attendance staff, administrators, and teachers
Review how students and families receive information about makeup assignments and tests
Prepare attendance-policy updates for the January 1, 2027 effective date
Have district counsel review policy or procedure changes before adoption

How AB 1763 relates to AB 395

AB 1763 protects how a religious-observance absence is treated when a student misses school. AB 395 addresses whether certain high-impact dates should be reviewed before they are scheduled.

Read the California AB 395 school calendar guide for the scheduling provisions, or see the AB 395 and AB 1763 comparison for both bills together.

How CommonCal can support the process

CommonCal helps school teams see religious, cultural, and civic observances while calendars, exams, events, and ceremonies are still being planned.

An excused-absence policy matters when a conflict occurs. Earlier visibility can help districts avoid some conflicts altogether and prepare clearer communication when a date cannot move.

Questions districts may be asking

Is California AB 1763 law yet?

Yes. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1763 into law on September 30, 2026. Its attendance-policy changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Will a written parent request and principal approval still be required?

Effective January 1, 2027, the law removes religious observance from the statutory category that requires a written parent or guardian request and approval by the principal or a designated representative. Districts should confirm what reasonable notice and documentation procedures are permitted under the enacted law and applicable guidance.

Can a student make up work after a religious-observance absence?

Education Code Section 48205 says a student absent under the section must be allowed to complete assignments and tests that can reasonably be provided and receive full credit after satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time.

Does AB 1763 make religious holidays school holidays?

No. The law concerns excused absences for individual students. It does not create a statewide requirement that schools close for religious holidays.

Do religious-observance absences affect district funding?

The law retains the existing Section 48205 rule that excused absences are counted as absences when computing average daily attendance and do not generate state apportionment payments.

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