Attendance & Truancy Rules
Attendance and Truancy Rules at LRCS
Thank you for viewing our attendance rules and guidelines for our school, parents, and students. Below are some common questions we receive about absences from school and how the school responds to those absences.
What do you do at the beginning of the school year to help parents know the rules regarding attendance and truancies?
We mail an information letter to all students and parents of students that includes 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, including the compulsory education requirements under this chapter in the language in which the parents are fluent.
What am I suppose to do if my child is not attending school on any given day?
You need to contact the school via email, text, or phone call on the day of the absence. Up until we are notified of the absence and the excuse for the absence, the student will be considered truant. We are required to inform the student’s parent/guardian by a notice in writing or by telephone, in the language the parent is fluent in, whenever the student has failed to attend school after one unexcused absence within any month. (See RCW 28A.225.020). If we do not hear from a parent or guardian for 48 hours after the absence, the absence will remain a truancy.
What is considered an excusable absence, and who determines if the absence is excused?
Excused absences include:
(1) Illness, health condition or medical appointment (including, but not limited to, medical, counseling, dental, optometry, pregnancy, and in-patient or out-patient treatment for chemical dependency or mental health) for the student or person for whom the student is legally responsible;
(2) Family emergency including, but not limited to, a death or illness in the family;
(3) Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction;
(4) Court, judicial proceeding, court-ordered activity, or jury service;
(5) Post-secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview;
(6) State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055;
(7) Absence directly related to the student's homeless or foster care/dependency status;
(8) Absences related to deployment activities of a parent or legal guardian who is an active duty member consistent with RCW 28A.705.010;
(9) Absences due to suspensions, expulsions or emergency expulsions imposed pursuant to chapter 392-400 WAC if the student is not receiving educational services and is not enrolled in qualifying "course of study" activities as defined in WAC 392-121-107;
(10) Absences due to student safety concerns, including absences related to threats, assaults, or bullying;
(11) Absences due to a student's migrant status; and
(12) An approved activity that is consistent with district policy and is mutually agreed upon by the principal or designee and a parent, guardian, or emancipated youth.
(13) Mental health-related absences.
A school principal or designee has the authority to determine if an absence meets the above criteria for an excused absence. Districts may define additional categories or criteria for excused absences. These categories of excused absences come from the state rule on excused and unexcused absences in WAC 392-401. Find the rules online, here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=392-401&full=true.
If the reason for your child’s absence is not in this list, or on a list of excused absences from your district, then it would be “unexcused.”
What happens if my child is considered truant from school?
All of our schools take disciplinary action when a student is truant from school. For the most, students are required to account for the time lost away from learning. Consult with your building principal to discuss options on how this can take place. However, if a student is considered chronically absent or truant, the school district will follow the Becca Law rules and guidelines to address the frequent absences from school.
What actions take place if my child is chronically absent or truant? What is Chronic Absenteeism?
“Chronic absenteeism” is when a student misses 18 or more full days of school (excused or unexcused). That could be as few as 2 days a month. But it adds up. Educators and parents have looked at data and see that missing more than 9 days of school each year can make it hard to catch up and keep up. Missing 18 days a year can make it even harder, and students risk falling behind in reading and math, and face a hard climb to graduation.
Step One: Two days of unexcused absences in a month: The school will schedule a conference with parent/guardian and student for the purpose of identifying barriers to the student’s regular attendance, and the supports and resources that may be made available to the family, and the steps to be taken so that the student is able to eliminate or reduce his/her absenteeism; (See RCW 28A.225.020)
Step Two: Between 2 and 5 unexcused absences in a school year: Take data-informed steps to eliminate or reduce student’s absences, consistent with the WARNS or other assessment results. (For additional details & requirements, see RCW 28A.225.020 (1)(c)(iv))
Convene the IEP or 504 team, if the student has an IEP or a 504 Plan to consider the reasons for the absences and adjust the IEP or 504 plan as necessary. This is required and is in addition to the requirement to have a parent conference after 3 unexcused absences. (See RCW 28A.225.020 (1)(c)(ii))
Step Three: No later than 7 unexcused absences in a month (30-day period):
- Enter into an agreement w/student and parent establishing attendance requirements, OR
- Refer student to CTB (Community Truancy Board), OR
- File and stay petition under subsection (1) of RCW
Step Four: No earlier than 7 unexcused absences in a month or 15 absences in a school year: ile truancy petition with Office of Juvenile Court. Court must stay the petition. Refer parent and child to a community truancy board (CTB) or other coordinated means of intervention.
CTB must take place within twenty days of the referral. The community truancy board must meet with the child, a parent and school district representative and enter into an agreement. (For additional requirements and details, see RCW 28A.225.035)
Other Resources: Attendance Toolkit from Washington State Governor's Office (English) Attendance Toolkit from Washington State Governor's Office (Spanish)