School attendance is one of the major factors affecting the progress made by any student. There is a direct relationship among absences, poor grades, and dropouts. Arriving on time and attending school every day are the first steps to success.

Whether excused or unexcused, the number of days your student misses can greatly impact their academic success. Strive for regular attendance. Regular attendance means having, on average, less than two absences per month. An absence is defined as missing 50% or more of their scheduled day. 

• Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) increases the chance that your student will not read or master math at the same level as their peers.  

• Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks. 

• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.    

• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores. 

• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty. 

• Unexcused absences are an early warning sign for unaddressed problems with school and future dropout. 

Washington Attendance Law

A state law, called the “Becca Bill,” requires children between ages 8 and 18 to attend public school regularly, with few exceptions. The Becca Bill also requires schools and parents to make sure children attend school. 

What does the law require?

Students are required to be in school, on time, every day unless there is a valid excuse.

What is an excused absence?

 Absences due to the following reasons must be excused: 

• Illness, health condition, or medical appointment for the student or person for whom the student is legally responsible; 

• Family emergency including, but not limited to, a death or illness in the family; 

• Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction; 

• Absence directly related to the student's homeless or foster care/dependency status; 

• Absences due to student safety concerns, including absences related to threats, assaults, or bullying; 

• Absences due to a student's migrant status 

For a complete list of excused absences visit: Attendance and Truancy | Washington State Governor's Office of the Education Ombuds 

What is an unexcused absence?

If the student is absent and does not meet any excused criteria, the student is considered unexcused absent. 

A student is absent when missing 50 percent or more of the school day from in-person, synchronous online, or asynchronous instruction. 

1. If a student must leave school during the day for any reason (medical, dental, disciplinary dismissal, etc.), a dismissal slip must be obtained from the Attendance Office. Please allow extra time to call your student from class. Students will not be brought to the office before you arrive.
2. A written request for dismissal, to include both the time and reason for dismissal, is to be presented to the Attendance Secretary on the day of the early dismissal.
3. If a student becomes ill during the day, an early dismissal slip will be issued by the nurse or the office after contact with the parent/guardian has been made and authorization has been given for the student to leave school early.
4. Parents or guardians must provide valid identification prior to the release of a student.
5. Students will not be released after 2:30 p.m. Please make arrangements to pick-up your student before then for any reason.

We are a closed campus. Once a student arrives at school, they cannot to leave the school grounds until the end of the school day without written permission from the office.

Students attending after school activities may not leave campus then return to the afterschool activity for any reason without permission from the principal/designee. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action. 

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 or designee; 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. Parents must complete and turn in a planned absence form. This must be approved by the principal or assistant principal at least three (3) days prior to the planned activity. Considering the student's academic record and the expected impact of absence on achievement, the principal may approve or deny excused absence requests. 
2. Parent and student must sign a Planned Absence Form and agree to make up the missed work and/or complete special assignments or the absence will become unexcused. 
3. If special assignments or make-up work are not completed within five (5) school days following the student's return, the absence will become unexcused. 
4. Per District policy, a maximum of five (5) days absences for pre-planned family activities may be excused per year. 

Tardies will not be counted or combined into absences for the purpose of filing a truancy petition.