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CMS Attendance Brochure

Attendance, Chronic Absenteeism, and Truancy

Attendance is a critical building block for student learning. If students are not present, they cannot engage in learning. Attendance is a powerful signal and leading indicator of equity. It can signal when students might need additional support and areas for system and school improvement.

Chronic absenteeism impacts all students– no matter their age. Students that miss just two days a month for any reason are more likely to not read a grade level, and more likely not to graduate.

Excused Absences

Valid excused absences include the following:

  • Absences due to illness, physical or mental health condition, or medical appointment (medical, counseling, dental, etc.)
  • A religious or cultural purpose.
  • School-approved activities or instructional programs.
  • Family emergencies, including death or illness in the family.
  • Disciplinary action (short-term/long-term suspensions or emergency expulsion)
  • The principal may, upon request by a parent, grand permission in advance for a student's apsence providing such absence does not adversely affect the student's educational progress.
  • A student, upon the request of a parent, may be excused for a portion of a school day to participate in religious instruction provided such is not conducted on school property.
  • Court or judicial proceeding.
Unexcused Daily Absences

Any other absences are considered unexcused including parent or student sleeping late, missing the bus, transportation problems, babysitting, and finishing homework.

Tardiness

Students are expected to be in class and seated when the bell rings. A student is tardy when he/she is up to 10 minutes late to class without authorization from the office or a teacher. The teacher will enter all tardiness in the student records system. Tardiness between classes will result in classroom consequences, including reflection. Repetitive tardiness will evoke a behavior contract between grade-level teachers, student, parents, and administration.

First Period Unexcused Tardiness

*TARDY LEVEL I*
1st/2nd tardy: Warning from office

*TARDY LEVEL II*
3rd/4th tardy: 30 min. lunch detention(s)

*TARDY LEVEL III*
5th tardy or more: Parent contact; before, lunch &/or after school detention(s) with time added for severity. (*per semester)

Truancy

Truancy is absence from class/school without the knowledge and consent of parent/guardian or school officials. A student is truant if he/she:

  • Leaves school without signing out in the office.
  • is absent from school without prior permission of parent/guardian.
  • Leaves a class without teacher permission.
  • Obtains a pass to go to a designated place and does not report there.
  • Is more than 10 minutes late to class.
  • Is on school grounds but does not attend class.
  • Fails to attend a scheduled assembly.
  • Falsifies a parental or school official's attendance verification.
  • Fails to verify an absence within (2) days of the absence.
  • Unexcused absences/tardiness (see Becca Bill)

Becca Bill:
(RCW 28A.225- WA State Compulsory School Attendance and Administration Law)
After 1 unexcused absence in a month:
Parent Contact. This is generally done by phone.
2 unexcused absences:
Conference with parent & student to discuss solutions to the truancy problem.
7 unexcused absences in a month:
Parent and school enter a contract to improve attendance
7 unexcused in a month, or 15 unexcused absences in an academic year:
The school district may file truancy petitions with the juvenile court. The truancy law requires school districts file a petition in superior court reslulting from a truancy petition, the school is required to file a contempt motion.