Every day a student is absent is a lost opportunity for learning.

• Students can still fall behind if they miss even just a day or two every few weeks.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that 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.

Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job. Every day matters!

What you can do to support good attendance

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day -- make that the expectation.
• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Prepare for school the night before, by finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Don’t let your student stay home unless they are truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
• Avoid appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
• Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
• Keep track of your student’s attendance. Missing more than nine days could put your student at risk of falling behind.
• Talk to your student’s teachers and counselor if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be tied to something going on at school.
• Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs.

Attendance Laws

BECCA Bill

State law for mandatory attendance, called the BECCA Bill, requires children from age 8 to 18 to attend a public school, private school, or a district-approved home school program.

Children who are 6 or 7 years old are not required to be enrolled in school, but if they are enrolled, they must attend full time.

The Becca Law (RCW 28A.225) was enacted by the Washington State Legislature to:

• Protect children who are endangering themselves
• Keep families together through assessment and treatment services
• Provide tools for schools, parents and Juvenile Court to keep children in school
• Hold children and parents accountable to the order of the Court

When a child has seven unexcused absences in a month or 15 in a school year, schools must file a petition with Juvenile Court alleging a violation of the mandatory attendance laws. The petition may be automatically "stayed" and your student and family will be referred to a Community Truancy Board. If your student continues to be truant, you may need to go to court.

Truancy

The law makes attendance compulsory for all children ages 8 to 18 unless the child:

• Is 16 and is engaged regularly/lawfully in a useful occupation and parent agrees that the child should not be required to attend school
• Is emancipated
• Has met graduation requirements
• Has received a certificate of educational competence
• Is receiving home-based instruction.

If an “enrolled” 6- or 7-year-old has unexcused absences, the school must take the same steps as outlined below. A petition may only be filed against the parent, and 6- and 7-year-olds are not required to attend hearings. Juvenile Court will inform the child and parent/guardian that a petition has been filed and direct them to work with the school to correct the attendance problem. Should those efforts fail, Juvenile Court will order the child to attend school and participate in services to reduce barriers to regular school attendance. The parent can also be ordered to send their child to school and participate in services themselves to ensure regular school attendance.

At Risk Youth Petition

Parents may petition Juvenile Court to order their child to remain at home when:

• The child is younger than age 18
• The child has been absent from home, without parental permission for more than 72 hrs.
• The child’s behavior is beyond the parent’s control and endangers the health, safety or welfare of the child or another person
• The child has a serious substance abuse or mental health problem
• Families have made an effort to remedy the problem through means such as counseling

Both children and parents can be ordered by Juvenile Court to attend counseling, classes and other measures to reduce family conflict.

Children in Need of Services

Children, parents or a Department of Children and Family Services social worker may petition Juvenile Court to approve an out-of-home placement when the conflict between parent and child is so severe the family cannot remain intact. Placement may occur with supervision from Juvenile court with:

• A relative
• An appropriate friend or neighbor
• Department of Children and Family Services

The legal parent/guardian may be financially responsible for the cost of the placement. Juvenile Court will order certain conditions the child and parent must comply with including attending classes, counseling and other measures to reunite the family.