ATTENDANCE POLICY SUMMARY

VIEW POLICY 3122

Regular and punctual attendance is vital to your child’s progress. Washington State law required that children attend school. We are required, by law, to track absences and identify them as excused and unexcused.

Excused Absences include illness, medical or dental appointments, religious observances and family emergencies.

Family Vacations/Parent Requested Absences should be planned for non-school days. Under state law and district policy, five (5) school day absences for special reasons (e.g. family trip/competition/ special event), may be excused if approved by the administration and if the absence will not adversely affect learning. In order to excuse such absence, the following procedure must be followed:

1. Print/pick up and a Pre-Arranged Absence Form from the Attendance Office at least one week prior to the absence. You may click here to download an electronic copy
2. Bring the form to the student’s teachers to determine whether the absence will adversely affect learning, assign work to be missed and sign off on the absence.
3. Return the form to the Attendance Office at least 2 days before the trip to be reviewed by the Principal/Assistant Principal to determine whether the absence will be excused or unexcused.

Failure to turn in the Pre-Arranged Absence Form will result in an unexcused absence

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: State law requires that we follow specific steps for unexcused student absences, including parent conferencing. Students who have ten unexcused absences fall under the BECCA law and must be referred to the courts.

MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS: When your child returns from an excused absence, the teacher will provide make-up assignments, as appropriate. Make-up assignments are not provided in advance.

Any other missed days moving forward for non-school reasons or those outside the VALID EXCUSE POLICY will be unexcused absences.