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Attendance Policy
All students enrolled in the schools of the Oak Harbor School District are expected to attend all assigned classes each day. 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 forever loses the experience of lecture, discussion, and participation.
Parents of any child eight years of age and under eighteen years of age shall cause such child to attend school and such child shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time when such school may be in session unless the child is enrolled in an approved private school, an educational center as provided in chapter 28A.205 RCW, or is receiving home-based instruction. Parents of any child six or seven years old, who have enrolled the child in school, shall cause the child to attend school for the full time when such school may be in session, unless the child is formally withdrawn from enrollment by the parents.
The superintendent may grant exception in the following circumstances:
- The student is physically or mentally unable to attend school.
- The student is attending a residential school operated by the Department of Social and Health Services.
- The student's parents have requested a temporary absence for purposes agreed to by the district and which will not cause a serious adverse effect on the student's educational process.
- The student is sixteen years of age, regularly and lawfully employed, and either has parent permission or is emancipated pursuant to chapter 13.64 RCW.
- The student has met graduation requirements.
- The student has received a certificate of educational competence (GED).
Any law enforcement officer authorized to make arrests can take a truant child into custody without a warrant and must then deliver the child to the parent or to the school.
The district shall not require enrollment for either (a) a minimum number of semesters (b) a minimum number of courses, which exceeds the courses necessary for a student to meet established requirements for high school graduation.
Legal Reference:
AGO 1980 No.6 - Truancy - Enforcement of compulsory attendance law
RCW 28A.225.010 - Attendance mandatory - Age - Persons having custody
Shall cause child to attend public school - When excused
RCW 28A.225.080 - Employment permits
RCW 28A.225.090 - Penalties in general - Defense - Suspension of fine -
Complaints to court
WAC 180-51-020 - Additional local standards
ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED
TO ACHIEVE AT SCHOOL
Dear Parents,
Important changes have occurred in state attendance laws and school district procedures:
- Students with excessive unexcused absences (seven per month or ten per year) will be reported to Juvenile Court.
- Police officers have been designated as truant officers. Students who are chronically truant will be referred to police authorities.
Please review the definitions below of what is considered an "excused absence" vs. "unexcused absence."
EXCUSED ABSENCE
- Participation in school-approved activity.
- Absence due to illness, health condition, or family emergency.
- Absence resulting from disciplinary actions or short-term suspension.
- Extended illness or health condition.
- Excused absence for chronic health condition.
Situations may arise where a parent would like to remove their child from school for an activity or circumstance not listed above. In such cases, the absence will be excused if the student gains prior approval by the principal or designee. The principal or designee shall not excuse an absence that has a serious adverse effect on the student's educational progress.
If you anticipate a lengthy absence for medical reasons, please provide the school with a note from your doctor.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE
- No parent note.
- Submitting a signed excuse which does not constitute an excused absence as defined at left.
- Failing to submit any type of excuse statement signed by the parent within 48 after the student returns to school after the absence.
Excuse notes must include the following:
- The reason for the absence.
- Date(s) of the absence(s).
- A parent/guardian signature and the current date.
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