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School Board
Policies
Policy Number:
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Policy Title:
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Policy
Wording:
All students enrolled in the schools of the Bethel
School District are expected to attend on a regular basis. Daily
attendance is one of the keys to a student's educational success.
Every subject taught in the school system requires a student's
active and continuous involvement in order to develop skills and
learnings of the particular subject. Most classroom experiences
cannot be duplicated on an individual basis; an absent student
loses the experience of lecture, discussion, and participation
forever.
EXCUSED
ABSENCES
Reasons
Regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the
educational program provided to students of the district. Students
at times may appropriately be absent from class. The following
principles shall govern the development and administration of
attendance procedures within the district:
Absences due to illness or a health condition; a religious
observance, when requested by a student's parent(s) (parent,
guardian, or person acting as parent, hereinafter referred to as
ìparentî); school-approved activities; family
emergencies; and, as required by law, disciplinary actions or
short-term suspensions shall be excused. The principal may, upon
request by a parent, grant permission in advance for a student's
absence 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, or involves the school to any degree.
Make Up
Work
If an absence is excused, the student shall be permitted to make up
all missed assignments outside of class under reasonable conditions
and time limits established by the appropriate teacher except that
in participation-type classes a student's grade may be affected
because of the student's inability to make up the activities
conducted during a class period.
Verification
An excused absence shall be verified by the parent; adult,
emancipated or appropriately aged student; or school authority
responsible for the absence. If a student is to be released for
health care related to family planning or abortion, the student may
require that the district keep the information confidential.
Students thirteen and older have the right to keep information
about drug, alcohol or mental health treatment confidential.
Students fourteen and older have the same confidentiality rights
regarding HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
Grades
As a means of instilling values of responsibility and personal
accountability, a student whose absence is not excused may
experience the consequences of his/her absence. A student's grade
shall be affected if a graded activity or assignment occurs during
the period of time when the student is absent.
Parent or Guardian
Notification
The school shall notify a studentís parent or guardian in
writing or by telephone whenever the student has failed to attend
school after one unexcused absence within any month during the
current school year. The notification shall include the potential
consequences of additional unexcused absences. A conference with
the parent or guardian shall be held after two unexcused absences
within any month during the current school year. A student may be
suspended or expelled for habitual truancy. Prior to suspension or
expulsion, the parent shall be notified in writing in his/her
primary language that the student has unexcused absences.
A conference shall 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 shall be notified of the steps the district has decided
to take to reduce the studentís absences.
Not later than the studentís fifth unexcused absence in a
month the district shall enter into an agreement with the student
and parent 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.
If such action is not successful, the district shall file a
petition and affidavit with the juvenile court alleging a violation
of RCW 28A.225.010 by the parent, student or parent and student no
later than the seventh unexcused absence within any month during
the current school year or upon the tenth unexcused absence during
the current school year.
Reporting
All suspensions and/or expulsions shall be reported in writing to
the superintendent within 24 hours after imposition.
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| Legal
References: |
RCW 28A.225
RCW 13.34.300
WAC 180-40-235, 260
WAC 180-16-215 (4) |
| Revision
Dates: |
Policy Revised May 13, 2003
Policy Revised April 26, 1994
Policy Revised June 23, 1987
Policy Revised March 27, 1984
Policy Revised June 23, 1980
Policy Adopted April 10, 1978 |
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