ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

Parents – Please call the Attendance Secretary at (425) 837-6800 before 7:30 a.m. if your student will be absent or tardy for any reason. Leave student’s full name, grade, date, reason for absence/tardy and your name and relationship to the student. Please spell your student’s first and last names.

•  Late Arrival to School: Check in with the Attendance Secretary immediately before going to class.
• Absence from School: Bring a note from your parent stating the reason for the absence. Give the note to the Attendance Secretary immediately upon returning to school.
• Early Dismissal: Bring a note from your parent on the morning of your early dismissal and give it to the Attendance Secretary. A parent must sign you out in the office before leaving. Your parent may be asked to show ID and needs to be currently listed on your “Student Information Update Form.” Students will be released only to those listed as emergency contacts on the “Student Information Update Form.” Upon returning the same day, you must sign in with the Attendance Secretary prior to returning to class.
• Excused and Unexcused Absences: Please refer to District Regulation 3122 below.
• Excessive Excused Absences: You may be asked to provide a doctor’s note for excessive excused absences due to illness. If you reach a total of 15 excused absences at any point in the school year, you will be asked to provide a doctor’s note to excuse additional absences.
• Pre-Arranged Absence: If a student must miss school for a family trip for 3 or more days, you may apply for an excused pre-arranged absence. Turn in the Pre-Arranged Absence Form at least 1 week prior to the first day of the absence to be evaluated. It may not be approved if it will cause a serious adverse effect on the student’s educational progress. The Pre-Arranged Absence Form is available on the IMS website or in the main office.
• Homework: Students are allowed one day for each day of excused absence to complete homework/classwork.
• Tardiness: Punctual attendance is a key component to student success and students will be accountable for being to each class prepared and on time. Teachers will record all tardies with daily attendance and students are subject to school consequences for repeated tardies. Refer to District Regulation 3122. A complete copy may be obtained at any school.

 Note: In order to participate in any after-school activity, sports, theatre, concerts, etc., a student must attend class for at least one-half of the school day.

 As provided in District Regulation 3122, regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program provided students.  Daily attendance and active participation in each class are critical parts of the learning process.  Students, at times, may appropriately be absent from class.  A computerized message will contact households in the evening informing parents that their student(s) missed one or more periods that day.  The message will also notify parents of the potential consequences of additional unexcused absences. The following principles shall govern the development and administration of attendance procedures within the District:

 Excused (School Day and Individual Class) absences are absences due to:

 Participation in a District or school approved activity or instructional program;

1. Illness, health condition or medical appointment (including, but not limited to, medical, counseling, dental or optometry); 
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 or serving on a jury;
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 status;
8. Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action. (e.g., short-term or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion); and
9. Principal (or designee) and parent, guardian, or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity.

The principal or designee may only grant permission for a student’s absence providing such absence does not adversely affect the student’s educational process.  

A conference with the parent or guardian will be scheduled after two unexcused absences within any month during the current school year. Prior to suspension or expulsion, the parent will be notified in writing in his/her primary language that the student has unexcused absences. A conference will be scheduled to determine what corrective measures should be taken to ameliorate the cause for the student's absences from school. If the parent does not attend the conference, the parent will be notified of the steps the district has decided to take to reduce the student’s absences. A student may be suspended or expelled for habitual truancy.

Not later than the student’s fifth unexcused absence in a month the district will enter into an agreement with the student and parents that establishes school attendance requirements, refer the student to a community truancy board or file a petition and affidavit with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010.