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Attendance is an important factor in student achievement and school success. Overall, students who attend school regularly achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. In Tahoma we believe positive school attendance also connects to students being Future Ready, building habits that support future success in work and life.

 

Definition of Absence

 

Absence from In-Person Learning

WAC 392-401-015 states the definition of an absence:

  1. A student is absent when they are:
    1. Not physically present on school grounds; and
    2. Not participating in the following activities at an approved location:
      1. Instruction;
      2. Any instruction-related activity; or
      3. Any other school approved activity that is regulated by an instructional/academic accountability system, such as participation in district-sponsored sports.

 

Absence from Remote Learning

  1. A student is absent from remote learning when the student is not participating in planned instructional activities on a scheduled remote learning day.
  2. Evidence of student participation in remote learning may include, but is not limited to:
    1. Daily logins to learning management systems;
    2. Daily interactions with the teacher to acknowledge attendance (including messages, emails, phone calls or video chats); or
    3. Evidence of participation in a task or assignment.

 

Excused and Unexcused Absences

Educators and administrators have a responsibility to monitor absences to determine if students and families need support. Students are expected to attend all assigned in-person classes each day or participate in all assigned remote instructional activities. Upon enrollment and at the beginning of each school year, the District will inform students and their parents/guardians of this expectation, the benefits of regular school attendance, the consequences of truancy, the role and responsibility of the District in regard to truancy, and resources available to assist the student and their parents and guardians in correcting truancy. The District will also make this information available online and will take reasonable steps to ensure parents can request and receive such information in languages in which they are fluent. Parents will be required to date and acknowledge review of this information online or in writing.

 

Excused Absences

Regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program provided to students of the District. At times, students may be absent from class or not able to participate remotely. School staff will keep a record of absence and tardiness, including a record of excuse statements submitted by a parent/guardian, or in certain cases, students, to document a student’s excused absences. The following principles will govern the development and administration of attendance procedures within the District: The School Principal or designee has the authority to determine if an absence meets the criteria for an excused absence.

 

  1. If an absence is excused, the student will be permitted to make up all missed assignments outside of class under reasonable conditions and time limits established by the appropriate teacher, where reasonable, if a student misses a participation-type class, they can request an alternative assignment that aligns with the learning goals of the activity missed.

 

  1. An excused absence will be verified by the parent/guardian or an adult, emancipated or appropriately aged student, or school authority responsible for the absence. If attendance is taken electronically, either for a course conducted online or for students physically within the District, an absence will default to unexcused until such time as an excused absence may be verified by a parent or other responsible adult. If a student is to be released for health care related to family planning or abortion, the student may require that the District keep the information confidential. Students thirteen and older have the right to keep information about drug, alcohol or mental health treatment confidential. Students fourteen and older have the same confidentiality rights regarding HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.

 

  1. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, in the event that a child in elementary school is required to attend school under RCW 28A.225.010 or 28A.225.015(1) and 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 shall schedule a conference or conferences with the parent and child.

This conference is not required if the school has received prior notice or a doctor’s note has been provided and an academic plan put in place so that the child does not fall behind.

 

Unexcused Absences

  1. Any absence from school for the majority of hours or periods in an average school day is unexcused unless it meets one of the criteria for an excused absence.

 

  1. As a means of instilling values of responsibility and personal accountability, a student whose absence is not excused will experience the consequences of his/her absence. A student's grade may be affected if a graded activity or assignment occurs during the period of time when the student is absent.

 

  1. The school will notify a student's parent or guardian in writing or by telephone whenever the student has failed to attend school after one unexcused absence within any month during the current school year. The notification will include the potential consequences of additional unexcused absences. The school will make reasonable efforts to provide the information in a language the parent understands.

 

  1. The school will hold a conference with the parent or guardian after three unexcused absences within any month during the current school year.

 

  1. Between the student’s second and fifth unexcused absence, the school must take data-informed steps including assessment and intervention.

 

  1. Not later than the student’s fifth unexcused absence in a month, the District will enter into an agreement with the student and parents 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.

 

If such action is not successful, the District will file a petition and affidavit with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010 by the parent, student or parent and student no later than the seventh unexcused absence within any month during the current school year or upon the tenth unexcused absence during the current school year.

 

The Superintendent will enforce the District's attendance policies and procedures. Because the full knowledge and cooperation of students and parents are necessary for the success of the policies and procedures, procedures will be disseminated broadly and made available to parents and students annually.

 

Unexcused Absences from Remote Learning

Absences from remote learning must be marked as a “nontruancy remote learning absence” until October 4, 2020. Such absences shall not be marked as excused or unexcused, Beginning October 5, 2020, any absence from remote learning is unexcused unless it meets one of the criteria in WAC 392-401A-020.

 

Tardies and Disciplinary Actions

  1. Students shall not be absent if:
    1. They have been suspended, expelled or emergency expelled pursuant to WAC 392-400;
    2. Are receiving educational services as required by RCW 28A.600.015 and WAC 392-400; and
    3. The student is enrolled in qualifying “course of study” activities as defined in WAC 392-121-107.
  2. A full day absence is when a student is absent for fifty percent or more of their scheduled day.
  3. A school or district shall not convert or combine tardies into absences that contribute to a truancy petition.

 

A student shall be considered absent if they are on school grounds but not in their assigned setting.

 

Tiered Response System for Student Absences

WAC 392-401A-045 states: School districts must implement a tiered response system to reduce chronic absenteeism and address barriers to student engagement in learning during the COVID epidemic.

 

Students Dependent Pursuant to Chapter 13.34, RCW

A school district representative or certificated staff member will review unexpected or excessive absences of a student who has been found dependent under the Juvenile Court Act with that student and adults involved with that student. Adults includes the student’s caseworker, educational liaison, attorney if one is appointed, parent or guardians, foster parents and/or the person providing placement for the student. The review will take into consideration the cause of the absences, unplanned school transitions, periods of running from care, in-patient treatment, incarceration, school adjustment, educational gaps, psychosocial issues, and the student’s unavoidable appointments that occur during the school day. The representative or staff member must proactively support the student’s management of their school work.

 

Migrant Students

The District, parent/guardian and student are encouraged to work to create an Extended Absence Agreement with the school to decrease the risk of an adverse effect on the student’s educational progress.

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