Attendance

As provided in District Regulation 3122, regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program provided students. Daily attendance and active participation in each class are critical parts of the learning process. Students, at times, may appropriately be absent from class. A computerized message will contact households in the evening informing parents/caregivers that their student(s) missed one or more periods that day. The message will also notify parents/caregivers of the potential consequences of additional unexcused absences. The following principles shall govern the development and administration of attendance procedures within the District:

Excused (School Day and Individual Class) absences are absences due to:

1. Participation in a District or school approved activity or instructional program;
2. Illness, health condition or medical appointment (including, but not limited to, medical, counseling, dental or optometry);
3. Family emergency, including, but not limited to, a death or illness in the family;
4. Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction;
5. Court, judicial proceeding or serving on a jury;
6. Post-secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview;
7. State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055;
8. Absence directly related to the student’s homeless status;
9. Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action. (e.g., short-term or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion); and
10. Principal (or designee) and parent, caregiver, guardian, or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity.

The principal or designee may only grant permission for a student’s absence providing such absence does not adversely affect the student’s educational process.

If an elementary school student has five or more excused absences in a single month during the current school year or ten or more excused absences in the current school year, the district will schedule a conference with the student and their parent(s)/caregiver(s) at a reasonably convenient time. The conference is intended to identify barriers to the student’s regular attendance and to identify supports and resources so the student may regularly attend school. A conference is not required if

1. prior notice of the excused absences was provided to the district by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence or
2. a pre-arranged absence form has been submitted or
3. if a doctor’s note has been provided and a plan is in place to ensure the student will not fall behind in their coursework.

A conference with the parent/caregiver will be scheduled after two unexcused absences within any month during the current school year. Prior to suspension or expulsion, the parent/caregiver will be notified in writing in their primary language that the student has unexcused absences. A conference will be scheduled to determine what corrective measures should be taken to ameliorate the cause for the student's absences from school. If the parent/caregiver does not attend the conference, the parent/caregiver will be notified of the steps the district has decided to take to reduce the student’s absences. A student may be suspended or expelled for habitual truancy.

Not later than the student’s fifth unexcused absence in a month the district will enter into an agreement with the student and parents/caregivers that establishes school attendance requirements, refer the student to a community truancy board or file a petition and affidavit with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010

We encourage parents/caregivers to make doctor and dental appointments before or after school hours. Please email your child’s teacher and the attendance office if you must take them out of school early. When you pick up your child for early dismissal, report to the office to sign your child out. Your child will be called to the office to meet you. This is done for your child’s safety. Please do not go to the classroom or specialist’s room. For student safety teachers are directed to release students only after receiving a call from the office.

Tardiness is a form of poor attendance and can become a bad habit. Arriving late to school affects your child and the entire class. The beginning of the day is an important time for students. Students arriving late often miss homework assignments, lessons, activities, and other important instructions. It is very important for your child to arrive at school on time. Tardiness falls under the guidelines of our attendance regulation. When tardy, students must check in with the office for an admission slip before going to class. If tardiness is chronic, parents/caregivers may be contacted via phone and/or mail to determine a course of action, and a written note from a doctor may be required to excuse future tardiness.