Attendance

Student Attendance

We work on policies and procedures to help students reach a 90% or better attendance rate.  Simply put, we want all of our students to fully benefit from their education by attending school regularly. Attendance is an essential first step for students to learn, and we want to partner with families to ensure success.

Attendance matters

Attendance habits begin in preschool, helping students learn early on that going to school on time, every day is important. Consistent attendance will help students do well in high school, college, and at work.

Did you know?

• By being present at school, your child learns valuable social skills and has the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with other students and school staff.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, dealing with a bully or facing other challenges. 
• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences (excused and unexcused) can cause children to fall behind in school. 
• Missing 10 percent (just two days a month or about 18 days in a year) increases the chance that your student will not read or master math at the same level as their peers.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks. 
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is a sign a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores. 

State laws and School Board policy/procedure

Washington State Law requires all parents/guardians and Washington State residents with children between the ages of eight and eighteen to ensure those children are attending a public or private school. In addition, any children ages six and seven who have enrolled in school are required to maintain regular attendance.

Schools inform families whenever students are absent. In addition, there is follow up communication for additional absences. 

Details can be found under the Resources section. 

What is Truancy?

Truancy is when a student frequently misses school or the majority of hours or periods in a school day without an adequate excuse.

To support students with regular attendance, state law and district policy allows for early intervention and communication with families including attendance conferences. 

Please read through OSPI Attendance and Truancy information and School Board Policy 3122 and School Board Procedure 3122P for details.

Questions?

For clarification of attendance records or to excuse an absence please contact your school.

For more information about our district policy, procedures or state law requirements please contact:

Saundra Whittemore - Edmonds School District Office
Attendance Policies and Procedures 425-431-7134