Policy 3122 - Excused and Unexcused Absences
Students are expected to be punctual, regular in attendance and obey all rules and regulations of the school as determined by the administration and the Board of Directors.
A student is absent from in-person learning when they are not physically present on school grounds and not participating in instruction, instruction-related activity, or other district or school approved activity that is regulated by an instructional/academic accountability system, such as participation in district-sponsored sports.
A student is absent from synchronous online instruction when the student does not engage in two-way academic communication with teaching staff and participate in class activities as outline in WAC 392-550-025. A student is absent from asynchronous instruction when there is no evidence that the student accessed the planned asynchronous activity. Evidence of student participation in asynchronous activities must occur weekly, as defined in WAC 392-550-025.
Minimum Time for Being Considered Present
The district has authority to establish minimum thresholds similar to in-person attendance for the time in which a student must be logged in to be considered present. The superintendent or designee will develop a consistent and equitable approach that is documented in the student handbook and communicated clearly to all students and families. Determining a threshold for when a student is present or absent will not be left to individual teachers.
Absence from Asynchronous Instruction
Similar to local determinations on what constitutes presence for synchronous online instruction, the superintendent or designee will develop a consistent and equitable approach that establishes what constitutes “evidence of participation.” This approach will be documented in the student handbook and communicated clearly to all students and families. Determining what constitutes “evidence of participation” will not be left to individual teachers.
Tardies
The district has the flexibility to determine what constitutes a tardy in synchronous online settings. The district differentiates a tardy from an absence and will exclude tardies from any reports that tally absences for the purpose of filing a truancy petition.
Daily Attendance Taking
The district will take daily attendance for all enrolled students whether the instruction is in-person. When instruction is synchronous online, secondary schools will take attendance daily in each course with planned instruction and elementary schools will take attendance at least twice a day.
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; except when there are necessary reasons for students to be absent. Each school shall inform the students and parents/guardians about the benefits of regular school attendance, the potential effects of excessive absenteeism, whether excused or unexcused, on academic achievement, and graduation and dropout rates, the school’s expectations of the parents and guardians to ensure regular school attendance by the child, the resources available to assist the child and the parents and guardians, the role and responsibilities of the school and the consequences of truancy. The school shall provide access to the information before or at the time of enrollment of the child at a new school and at the beginning of each school year. The district will make this information available online and will provide the information to parents/guardians in their native language in accordance with Procedure 4218—Language Access. Parents or guardians must date and acknowledge a review of this information online or in writing before or at the time of enrollment of the child at a new school and at the beginning of each school year.
Excused Absences
Regular school attendance is a student and parent/guardian responsibility and necessary for mastery of the educational program provided to students of the district. It is recognized that classroom interaction between teacher and student enriches and clarifies knowledge of subject matter beyond the mere accumulation of factual data. 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 parents/guardians or in certain cases, students, to document a student’s excused absences.
Unexcused Absence
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 listed in the corresponding procedures. A student’s grade may be affected if a graded activity or assignment occurs during the period of unexcused absence.
Tardies and Disciplinary Actions
Students shall not be absent if they have been suspended, expelled, or emergency removed pursuant to chapter 392-400 WAC, are receiving educational services as required by RCW 28A.600.015 and chapter 392-400 WAC, and the student is enrolled in qualifying “course of study” activities as defined in WAC 392-121-107. Course study activities do not include sending homework packets home. A full day absence is when a student is absent for fifty percent or more of their scheduled day. A school or district shall not convert or combine tardies into absences that contribute to a truancy petition.
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 include the student’s case worker, educational liaison, attorney if one is appointed, parent/guardian, 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 students’ unavoidable appointments that occur during the school day.
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.
The superintendent or designee will enforce the district’s attendance policies and procedures. Because the full knowledge and cooperation of students and parents/guardians is necessary for the success of the policies and procedures, procedures will be disseminated broadly and made available to parents and students annually.
Legal References:
Adoption: