3120 - Enrollment

The superintendent or designee will develop procedures for enrolling students, recording attendance behavior, and counseling and correcting students with attendance problems. When enrolling a student who has attended school in another school district, the parent/guardian and student will be required to indicate in writing whether or not the student has: 

1. Any history of placement in a special education program; 
2. Any past, current or pending disciplinary actions; 
3. Any history of violent behavior; 
4. Adjudications or convictions described in RCW 13.04.155, which include violent offenses, sex offenses, firearm or dangerous weapon offenses, and controlled substance offenses; and 
5. Any health conditions affecting the student’s educational needs. 

The school enrolling the student will request the student’s permanent record-including records of disciplinary action, history of violent behavior or behavior listed in RCW 13.04.155, attendance records, immunization records, and academic performance-from the school the student previously attended. 

The district will require proof of residency within the district, such as copies of utility bill or lease agreements. The district will not require proof of residency or any other information regarding an address for any student who is eligible by reason of age for the services of the district if the student does not have a legal residence. For students who meet the definition of homeless, the district will immediately enroll the student, including while any enrollment dispute is ending (see 3115 – Families in Transition – Enrollment Rights and Services). 

The district will not inquire into a student’s citizenship or immigration status or that of their parents/guardians. 

The request for enrollment may be made by the student, parent or guardian. 

Since accurate enrollment and attendance records are essential both to obtain state financial reimbursement and to fulfill the district’s responsibilities under the attendance laws the district will be diligent in maintaining such records. 

Enrollment and attendance records will be maintained in each school building. At the conclusion of the year, the enrollment and attendance information will be recorded on the student’s permanent record. 

The attendance registers will remain in the school building for a period of 5 years, after which time they will be destroyed. 

Annually each school will report to the district office actions taken to reduce any student’s absenteeism following the student’s fifth unexcused absence in one month, or tenth unexcused absence in one year. 

The district will report this information annually to the superintendent of public instruction: 

1. The number of enrolled students and the number of unexcused absences; 
2. The number of enrolled students with ten or more unexcused absences in a school year or five or more unexcused absences in a month during a school year; 
3. A description of any programs or schools developed to serve students who have had five or more unexcused absences in a month or ten in a year including information about the number of students in the program or school and the number of unexcused absences of students during and after participation in the program. The reports will also describe any placements in an approved private nonsectarian school or program or certified program under a court order; and 
4. The number of petitions filed by the district with the juvenile court. 

The information in these reports will not disclose the names or other identification of the students or parents/guardians. 

For enrollment reporting for state funding purposes, a student is reported as a full-time equivalent (FTE) based on their enrolled weekly minutes. 1,665 weekly minutes or 27 hours and 45 minutes equals 1.0 FTE for all grades. 

Passing time between classes and recess time may be included in a student’s weekly minutes. However, time for meals is excluded. 

Alternative Learning Experiences: FTE will be determined by the estimated weekly minutes of learning in the written student learning plan pursuant to WAC 392-121-182. 

No student may be counted on any school’s or program’s enrollment report who has been absent from school for more than twenty consecutive school days until attendance is resumed. School days are defined as regularly scheduled instructional days for the general population of the school or district the student is enrolled in, regardless of the student’s individualized schedule. 

Procedures for handling excused and unexcused absences are defined in Procedure 3122 – Excused and Unexcused Absences.