Absences, Tardies, Leaving Early, and Attendance
To call and excuse your student from school, please call before 8:15am, 360-928-3311 ext. 1000
Arrival Time
Students who walk to school, students who drive themselves, and students who are being transported by parents SHOULD NOT arrive before 7:45 a.m. Student supervision is not available until that time requiring working parents to make other before-school child care arrangements. The cafeteria is open for breakfast at 7:45 a.m.
Students who have obtained permission from the office may arrive prior to the 7:45 a.m. time. Students failing to follow these procedures will receive discipline.
Students are expected to be seated in their classroom with their materials at the 8:00 a.m. bell. It is essential for students to arrive on time each day in order to achieve optimal instruction in all subjects.
Students Arriving Late
Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. MUST check in at the office prior to going to class. Please send a note as to the reason they are tardy. If they do not bring a note or a phone call is not received by a parent, the student will receive an unexcused tardy.
Early Departure
Parents should pre-arrange early departures whenever possible. Teachers have asked for a minimum notice of 30 minutes prior to students being picked up early to minimize classroom disturbance. All early departures must check out at the office. Persons other than parent/guardian must provide appropriate authorization at the office before the student will be released into their care. Students in grades K-5 are not allowed to go to the parking lot by themselves to meet a parent.
Leaving Early/Arriving Late for Private Lessons
Families are discouraged from having students arrive late, be dismissed early, or be excused for any part of the school day to take private lessons.
Excused
Absences are excused for reasons that are unavoidable, such as: doctor or dentist appointments. These may include counseling, orthodontics or chiropractic appointments. These appointments should be scheduled after school hours whenever possible. Other excusable absences may be family vacation, death in the family, or other unforeseen events such as a flat tire or dead car battery. Please see the Crescent School District Policy 3122 under “Attendance” for additional information.
Absences longer than one day should be prearranged when possible at least one day in advance. This is done by the parent submitting notification of the absence in writing to the office and the student completing a "Pre-Arranged Absence" form.
Crescent School District requires a student returning to school after all absences or tardies to bring a note from his/her parent or guardian to the office.
Unexcused
Any absence that does not fit the "excused" criteria is considered unexcused. Events such as running out of gas, clothes not being washed, forgetting to set an alarm are examples of events that are unexcused. These events could have been avoided and will result in a one hour detention per missed class period up to 6 hours per missed school day. Students who are more than 10 minutes late to class will be considered absent and will receive detention as per the discipline handbook.
The compulsory school attendance law of Washington (RCW 28A.225) states that students "...shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time when school may be in session..."
School districts are required by law to:
● Inform students and parents about the compulsory attendance law each year;
● Inform a student’s parent/guardian in writing or by phone if the student has one unexcused absence within any month during the school year.
● Schedule a conference with the parent/guardian and student after each instance of two unexcused absences within any month during the current school year.
School districts are permitted by law to take one of the following actions after ten or more unexcused absences during the school year or after 5 unexcused absences within one month:
● Attendance office may petition the juvenile court to assume jurisdiction for the purpose of alleging a violation of the compulsory attendance law by the parent;
● A petition alleging a violation of the compulsory attendance law by a child may be filed with the juvenile court by the child’s parent or the school attendance officer at the parent’s request.
● State law authorizes the court to “order the child be punished” by detention in a county juvenile facility or alternatives to detention such as community service hours or participation in dropout prevention programs or referral to a community truancy board if available.
Written excuses from parents are required in all cases of absences, tardiness or dismissal. Prolonged or frequent absences due to illness will require a doctor’s note.
● Morning tardies may be excused for items that were unavoidable: Early doctor appointment, flat tire, electricity went out, car accident, etc.
● Morning tardies will not be excused for things that were avoidable: Ran out of gas, forgot to set alarm, missed the bus, clothes not dry, etc.
The compulsory school attendance law of Washington (RCW 28A.225) states that students "...shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time when school may be in session..."
School districts are required by law to:
● Inform students and parents about the compulsory attendance law each year;
● Inform a student’s parent/guardian in writing or by phone if the student has one unexcused absence within any month during the school year.
● Schedule a conference with the parent/guardian and student after each instance of two unexcused absences within any month during the current school year.
School districts are permitted by law to take one of the following actions after ten or more unexcused absences during the school year or after 5 unexcused absences within one month:
● Attendance office may petition the juvenile court to assume jurisdiction for the purpose of alleging a violation of the compulsory attendance law by the parent;
● A petition alleging a violation of the compulsory attendance law by a child may be filed with the juvenile court by the child’s parent or the school attendance officer at the parent’s request.
● State law authorizes the court to “order the child be punished” by detention in a county juvenile facility or alternatives to detention such as community service hours or participation in dropout prevention programs or referral to a community truancy board if available.
Written excuses from parents are required in all cases of absences, tardiness or dismissal. Prolonged or frequent absences due to illness will require a doctor’s note.
● Morning tardies may be excused for items that were unavoidable: Early doctor appointment, flat tire, electricity went out, car accident, etc.
● Morning tardies will not be excused for things that were avoidable: Ran out of gas, forgot to set alarm, missed the bus, clothes not dry, etc.
Excused and Unexcused Absences
Students are expected to attend all assigned classes each day. School staff will keep a record of absence and tardiness, including a call log and/or a record of excuse statements submitted by a parent/guardian, or in certain cases, students, to document a student’s excused absences.
a) Excused Absences
Regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program provided to students of the district. At times, students may be appropriately absent from class. The following principles will govern the development and administration of attendance procedures within the district:
The following are valid excuses for absences:
1. Participation in a district or school approved activity or instructional program;
2. Illness, health condition or medical appointment (including, but not limited to, medical, counseling, dental or optometry);
3. Family emergency, including, but not limited to, a death or illness in the family;
4. Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction;
5. Court, judicial proceeding or serving on a jury;
6. Post-secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview;
7. State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055;
8. Absence directly related to the student’s homeless status;
9. Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action (e.g., short-term or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion); and
10. Principal (or designee) and parent, guardian, or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity.
The school principal (or designee) has the authority to determine if an absence meets the above criteria for an excused absence.
A. If an absence is excused, the student will 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.
B. An excused absence will be verified by a parent/guardian or an adult, emancipated or appropriately aged student; or school authority responsible for the absence. If attendance is taken electronically, either for a course conducted online or for students physically within the district, an absence will default to unexcused until such time as an excused absence may be verified by a parent or other responsible adult. 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.
Regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program provided to students of the district. At times, students may be appropriately absent from class. The following principles will govern the development and administration of attendance procedures within the district:
The following are valid excuses for absences:
1. Participation in a district or school approved activity or instructional program;
2. Illness, health condition or medical appointment (including, but not limited to, medical, counseling, dental or optometry);
3. Family emergency, including, but not limited to, a death or illness in the family;
4. Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction;
5. Court, judicial proceeding or serving on a jury;
6. Post-secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview;
7. State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055;
8. Absence directly related to the student’s homeless status;
9. Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action (e.g., short-term or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion); and
10. Principal (or designee) and parent, guardian, or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity.
The school principal (or designee) has the authority to determine if an absence meets the above criteria for an excused absence.
A. If an absence is excused, the student will 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.
B. An excused absence will be verified by a parent/guardian or an adult, emancipated or appropriately aged student; or school authority responsible for the absence. If attendance is taken electronically, either for a course conducted online or for students physically within the district, an absence will default to unexcused until such time as an excused absence may be verified by a parent or other responsible adult. 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.
Unexcused Absences
A. Any absence from school for the majority of hours or periods in an average school day is unexcused unless it meets one of the criteria above for an excused absence.
B. As a means of instilling values of responsibility and personal accountability, a student whose absence is not excused will experience the consequences of his/her absence. A student’s grade may be affected if a graded activity or assignment occurs during the period of time when the student is absent.
C. The school will notify a student’s 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 will include the potential consequences of additional unexcused absences.
D. A conference with the parent or guardian will 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 will be notified in writing in his/her primary language that the student has unexcused absences. A conference will 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 will be notified of the steps the district has decided to take to reduce the student’s absences.
E. Not later than the student’s fifth unexcused absence in a month the district will enter into an agreement with the student and parents 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.
F. If such action is not successful, the district will 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.
G. All suspensions and/or expulsions shall be reported in writing to the superintendent within 24 hours after imposition.
H. The superintendent will enforce the district’s attendance policies and procedures. Because the full knowledge and cooperation of students and parents are necessary for the success of the policies and procedures, procedures will be disseminated broadly and made available to parents and students annually.
B. As a means of instilling values of responsibility and personal accountability, a student whose absence is not excused will experience the consequences of his/her absence. A student’s grade may be affected if a graded activity or assignment occurs during the period of time when the student is absent.
C. The school will notify a student’s 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 will include the potential consequences of additional unexcused absences.
D. A conference with the parent or guardian will 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 will be notified in writing in his/her primary language that the student has unexcused absences. A conference will 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 will be notified of the steps the district has decided to take to reduce the student’s absences.
E. Not later than the student’s fifth unexcused absence in a month the district will enter into an agreement with the student and parents 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.
F. If such action is not successful, the district will 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.
G. All suspensions and/or expulsions shall be reported in writing to the superintendent within 24 hours after imposition.
H. The superintendent will enforce the district’s attendance policies and procedures. Because the full knowledge and cooperation of students and parents are necessary for the success of the policies and procedures, procedures will be disseminated broadly and made available to parents and students annually.
Forms