• Unplanned absences are excused when your child’s personal illness or injury, or the illness, injury or death of a family member, prevents your child from attending school, and you notify the school within 48 hours of the absence. The school may require a note from your child’s doctor if your child is absent due to illness or injury for an excessive number of days before excusing those absences.

• Planned absences are excused when you submit a request to the principal at least three school days before the start of the planned absence, usually for a doctor or dentist appointment, or religious holiday, or educational trip, or other special one-time event. The school may require your child to complete missed assignments and/or make other academic assignments for extended excused planned absences.

• Absences due to short-term discipline of your child are excused on District attendance records.

All other absences are considered unexcused, including absences caused by the student or parent oversleeping, student missing the bus, transportation problems, student needed for babysitting, student job requirements, student on wait list for another school, etc.

• A parent’s request to “excuse my child’s absence” without a stated reason or with a reason that does not meet the "excused absence" criteria will cause the child’s absence to be recorded as unexcused.

• Family vacations must be approved by Administration and teachers using school planned absence form.

The Compulsory Attendance law requires that school districts file petitions with the Juvenile Court for all students who have seven (7) or more unexcused absences in a month or ten (10) or more unexcused absences in a school year. Truancy petitions usually are filed on secondary students, but may be filed on parents of elementary students or if the school believes the parent is causing their child’s absences or condoning them. The petition asks that the court compel the student to attend school or compel the parent to ensure that the student attends school. If you would like more information regarding Washington State’s Attendance policy (Becca Bill) please go to the link below or on our website.

One Pager Outlining Attendance Requirements for School 

Laws and Reporting Attendance Here 

Parent Truancy Guide