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Digital tools available to students in light of the forthcoming school closures
Newcastle Elementary is making a special effort to ensure that all students fully benefit from their education by attending school regularly. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Your student can start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Consistent attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.
DID YOU KNOW?
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
We miss your student when they are gone and we value their contributions to our school. We would like you to help ensure that your student attends regularly and is successful in school. If your student is going to be absent, please see our Absence Reporting & Requests page.
OUR PROMISE TO YOU
We know that there are a wide variety of reasons that students are absent from school, from health concerns to travel to transportation challenges. There are many people in our building prepared to help you if you or your student face challenges in getting to school regularly or on time including our school nurse, counselor and office staff team. We promise to track attendance daily, to notice when your student is missing from class, communicate with you to understand why they were absent, and to identify barriers and supports available to overcome challenges you may face in helping your student attend school.
SCHOOL POLICIES AND STATE LAWS
It is important that you understand our District Regulations and procedures, as well as Washington State Law, to ensure your child is successful in school. State law for mandatory attendance, called the Becca Bill, requires children from age 8 to 17 to attend a public school, private school, or a District-approved home school program. Children that are 6- or 7-years-old are not required to be enrolled in school. However, if parents enroll their 6- or 7-year-old, the student must attend full-time. Youth who are 16 or older may be excused from attending public school if they meet certain requirements. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=28A.225
Schools are required to take daily attendance and notify you when your student has an unexcused absence.
If your student has two unexcused absences in one month, state law (RCW 28A.225.020) requires we schedule a conference with you and your student to identify the barriers and supports available to ensure regular attendance. The District is obligated to develop a plan that may require an assessment to determine how to best meet the needs of your student and reduce absenteeism.
In elementary school after five EXCUSED absences in any month, or ten or more excused absences in the school year, the school District is required to contact you to schedule a conference at a mutually agreeable, reasonable time with at least one District employee, to identify the barriers and supports available to you and your student. A conference is not required if your student has provided a doctor’s note, or followed the pre-arranged absence procedure, and the parent, student and school have made plans so your student does not fall behind academically.
If your student has an Individualized Education Plan or a 504 Plan the team that created the plan needs to reconvene. Here too, a conference is not required if your student has provided a doctor’s note, or followed the pre-arranged absence procedure, and the parent, student and school have made plans so your student does not fall behind academically.
If your student has seven unexcused absences in any month or ten unexcused absences within the school year, we are required to file a petition with the Juvenile court, alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010, the mandatory attendance laws. The petition may be automatically stayed and your student and family may be referred to a Community Truancy Board, or you and your student may need to appear in Juvenile Court. If your student continues to be truant a court appearance may be necessary.
WHAT YOU CAN DO