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SDLA Compliance Resource

Request an Attendance and Instructional-Time Allowance (Form J-13A)

An implementation guide for documenting an emergency closure or material attendance decrease and requesting CDE approval on Form J-13A to protect ADA and instructional-time funding.

  • Attendance & Enrollment
  • Fiscal & Budget
  • Health & Safety
Date(s)Event-triggered after a qualifying emergency; submit by CDE's deadline in the current form instructions. For events in 2026–27 and later, the LEA must certify a Comprehensive School Safety Plan that includes an instructional continuity plan.
Applies toSchool districts, county offices, and charter schools affected by a qualifying emergency

In Plain Language: When a fire, flood, earthquake, or similar emergency closes a school or sharply reduces attendance, the LEA can ask CDE to credit attendance it would otherwise lose and waive instructional-time penalties. The request is made on Form J-13A with evidence of the event. Beginning with 2026–27 events, the LEA must also certify that its school safety plan includes an instructional continuity plan.

Why this matters

Without an approved J-13A, the lost days and attendance show up as audit findings and funding losses. Approval also depends on showing the LEA met its instructional continuity obligations.

Joint ownership

District: attendance accounting, the business office, and site leaders gather evidence; the superintendent signs. County office: reviews and forwards. CDE: approves or denies.

From an emergency event to an approved J-13A: the SDLA ITO workflow

This workflow documents the event and the attendance impact so funding is protected. This SDLA ITO (Input, Transformation, Output) graphic shows how the inputs become the outputs in 9 steps.

SDLA ITO: 9 steps. Input: event documentation; attendance data; current J-13A form. Transformation: confirm eligibility; certify continuity plan; complete the form. Output: submitted request; cDE decision; adjusted attendance reports.
Read down each column, then move to the next: Input identifies what to collect; Transformation covers confirm eligibility; certify continuity plan; complete the form; Output delivers submitted request; cDE decision; adjusted attendance reports. Submit after the event by CDE's current deadline.

Open the full-size workflow graphic

Implementation workflow

  1. During the eventDocument.Keep closure notices and attendance records.
  2. After reopeningAssess.Confirm eligibility and calculate the impact.
  3. PromptlyPrepare and sign.Complete the form, certification, and evidence.
  4. CDE deadlineSubmit.Send through the county office per current instructions.
  5. After approvalReport.Reflect approved credit in attendance reports and keep the letter for the audit.

Form J-13A checklist

  • Event confirmed as approvable.
  • Attendance qualifier calculated and documented.
  • Instructional continuity certification completed (2026–27 events).
  • Evidence attached and form signed.
  • Approval letter retained for the auditor.

Official guidance and help

Source review completed October 25, 2026. Verify the current form version, submission deadline, and county routing before filing.