What’s the Law?
Washington law requires children from age 8 to 17 to attend a public school, private school, or to receive home-based instruction (homeschooling). Children who are 6- or 7-years-old are not required to be enrolled in school. However, if parents enroll their 6- or 7-year-old, the student must attend full-time. Youth who are 16 or older may be excused from attending public school if they have graduated or acquired a GED. Washington’s truancy law, often termed the “Becca Bill”, is intended to curb school truancy before it becomes habitual. The law requires many things of schools, but only requires one thing of students: attend school. If a student does not attend school the law requires the school district to take action.
In addition to the law, we have Policy 3122 and Procedure 3122P in place with regards to excused and unexcused absences.