OSD Policy 3122 Excused and Unexcused Absences
Excused Absences:
Regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program provided to students of the District.
The following are valid excuses for excused 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.
Pre-Arranged Absences:
For an extended absence to be excused, a parent must make a request in writing to the principal prior to the absence. If
the principal deems that the absence will be approved, it will be recorded as a pre-arranged excused absence. Any
absence from class may affect a student’s grade.
The school principal (or designee) has the authority to determine if an absence meets the above criteria for an excused
absence.
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. 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.
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. An absence will default to unexcused until such time as an excused
absence may be verified by a parent or other responsible adult.
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.
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 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 fifth 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 will be reported in writing to the Superintendent within 24 hours after
imposition.
