Attendance

Daily attendance is one of the most powerful indicators of a student's success in school and staying on track for an on-time graduation.

Our goal is to have every student - present at school, on-time every day, engaged and supported!

Did You Know?

• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences (excused and unexcused) can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10% of the school year is considered chronically absent. That’s only 2 days a month!
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
• Setting a regular bedtime and morning routines can reduce tardies and absences.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.

State Law and Attendance Policies

The Becca Bill requires that children from age 8 to 17 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.

However, if parents do enroll their 6- or 7-year- old, the student must attend full-time.

Youth who are 16 or older may be excused from attending public school if they meet certain requirements.

When Student Absences are Excused

After five (5) excused absences in a 30-day period, or ten (10) or more excused absences in the school year, the school may schedule a conference to discuss the barriers to attendance and create a plan to support improved attendance.

When Student Absences are Unexcused - Continued

• Contact the school within 1 week to excuse the absence(s).  Efforts to excuse absences after 1 week will remain unexcused, unless otherwise approved by the school principal.
• If the absence meets one of the criteria in WAC 392.401-020, the absence will be excused. 
• The school principal (or designee) does have the authority to determine if an absence meets the criteria for an excused absence.
• If your student misses a substantial number of days, the school may require qualified 3rd party documentation to excuse all future absences and early dismissals.
• Definition of a qualified 3rd party documentation would be a note from a doctor, dentist, therapist, etc. which includes the specific dates of absence to be excused.
• If you cannot take your child to the doctor, you may bring your child to the school health room. If the school nurse determines that your student is too ill to stay at school, the absence will be excused.

If the absence(s) are unexcused Truancy Process

Attendance and Truancy Legal Requirements

• After one (1) unexcused absence within any 30-day period, the parent will be notified by a robocall.
• After three (3) unexcused absences within a 30-day period a conference will be scheduled with the parent(s) and student for the purpose of identifying barriers to the student's regular attendance and provide available support and resources and identify steps to support the student to attend.
• Between two (2) and seven (7) unexcused cumulative absences in an academic school year, school staff will apply the WARNS (Washington Assessment of Risks and Needs of Students) to take data-informed steps to eliminate or reduce the student's absences consistent with the WARNS results. (RCW.28A.225.020).
• If your student has an IEP or 504 Plan, the team will reconvene to discuss any necessary adjustments.
• No later than seven (7) unexcused absences an agreement will be made with the student and/or parent to establish school attendance requirements.
• Interventions consistent with the Assessment will be implemented.
• Student Attendance Engagement Boards (SASB) are school level interventions that you may be referred to. The school, family, social worker and/or counselor will meet to discuss alternatives to referring the student to court. 
• At seven (7) unexcused absences in a 30-day period or fifteen (15) unexcused absences in an academic school year, and if the above actions have been taken and are not successful, the district will file a Truancy Petition with the Pierce County Juvenile Court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010 by the parent, student or both parent and student.
• If attendance does not improve, school and district staff may meet with the family and student to discuss alternatives to further actions, which may include an alternative placement.     
• Additional SASB dates may be set. As attendance improves, these meetings may be canceled.
• After 20 consecutive days of non-attendance, excused or unexcused, and when the steps above have been followed, the school will withdraw the student. 
• A re-engagement referral will be made for students in grades 9-12 that have been or will be withdrawn for 20- consecutive days of non-attendance.

Districts are required under RCW 28A.225.020 and RCW 28A.225.030 to take a series of actions when students accrue unexcused absences. This includes filing a truancy petition in juvenile court after seven (7) unexcused absences in a 30-day period or fifteen (15) unexcused absences in a school year.

For more information on district attendance policies including acceptable reasons for absences and planned excused absences, please see our Student Rights and Responsibility Handbook on our district website.

What you can do to help:

• Schedule non-urgent appointments to occur after school.
• Only let your student stay home if they are truly sick.
• Develop a back-up plan for getting to school if something comes up.
• Talk to your student about the importance of attendance.
• Talk to your student’s teachers if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be signs of an underlying issue or something going on at school.
• If you have a change of address or phone number, please update with your child's school.
• If your student is going to be absent, please contact your school’s attendance office or communicate via Parent Square. The attendance voicemail system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If prior notice is not possible, you may call, send an e-mail, or a written note upon the student’s return to school. Information to include:
  • Name of student
  • Name and contact information of the person providing the excuse and his/her relationship to the student.
  • Date(s) of absence
  • Reason for absence

Secondary Schools: 

Aylen Junior High (253) 841-8723
Ballou Junior High (253) 841-8725
Edgemont Junior High (253) 841-8727
Ferrucci Junior High (253) 841-8756
Glacier View Junior High (253) 840-8922
Kalles Junior High (253) 841-8729
Stahl Junior High (253) 840-8881
Emerald Ridge High School (253) 435-6300
Puyallup High School (253) 841-8711
Rogers High School (253) 841-8717
Walker High School (253) 841-8781
Puyallup Digital Learning (253) 864-5700
Summit Kessler Center (253) 864-5831

We are here to help you. If you are in need of assistance, please contact your child's school or the Student Support Office.

Federal Programs and Student Success
Tonya Middling, Manager of Student Engagement
(253) 840-8907
Katie Wellentin, Attendance Intervention Specialist
(253) 435-6808
 

Daily attendance is one of the most powerful indicators of a student's success in school and staying on track for on- time graduation.

Our goal is to have every student - present at school, on-time every day, engaged and supported!

Did You Know?

• Starting in kindergarten, too many absence (excused and unexcused) can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10% of the school year is considered chronically absent. That’s only 2 days a month!
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
• Setting a regular bedtime and morning
• routines can reduce tardies and absences.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.

State Law and Attendance Policies

The Becca Bill requires that children from age 8 to 17 attend a public school, private school, or a district-approved home school program.

Children who are 6- or 7-years-old and are not required to enroll in a public school.  However, should they be enrolled, they are subject to the same attendance legal requirements as are children ages 8 and above.  

Youth who are 16 or older may be excused from attending public school if they meet certain requirements.

Excused Absences 

• After five (5) excused absences in a 30-day period, or ten (10) or more excused absences in the school year, the school is required* to schedule a conference to discuss the barriers to attendance and create a plan to support improved attendance.
• If your student has an IEP or 504 Plan, the team that created the plan will reconvene.

A conference is not required if your student has provided a doctor's note, or the absences are due to a planned excused absence.

When Student Absences are Unexcused

• Contact the school within 1 week to excuse the absence(s).  Efforts to excuse absences after 1 week will remain unexcused, unless otherwise approved by the school principal.
• If the absence meets one of the criteria in the WAC 392.401A-020, the absence will be excused.
• The school principal (or designee) does have the authority to determine if an absence meets the criteria for an excused absence.
• If your student misses a substantial number of days, the school may require qualified 3rd party documentation to excuse all future absences and early dismissals.
• Definition of a qualified 3rd party documentation would be: a note from a doctor, dentist, therapist, etc. which includes the specific dates of absence(s) to be excused.

If the absence(s) are unexcused - Truancy Process

• After one (1) unexcused absence within any
• 30-day period, the parent will be notified by a Robocall.
• After three (3) unexcused absences within a 30-day period a conference will be scheduled with the parent (and student, if age appropriate) for the purpose of identifying barriers to the student's regular attendance and provide support and resources to reduce barriers.
• Between two (2) and five (5) unexcused cumulative absences in a school year, an Assessment to eliminate or reduce absences will be done to identify barriers. to attendance.
• If your student has an IEP or 504 Plan, the team will reconvene to discuss any necessary adjustments.
• No later than seven (7) unexcused absences an agreement will be made with the student and/or parent to establish school attendance requirements.
• Interventions consistent with the Assessment will be implemented.
• Student Attendance Engagement Boards (SASB) are school level interventions that you may be referred to. The school, family, social worker and/or counselor will meet to discuss alternatives to referring the student to court. 
• At seven (7) unexcused absences in a 30-day period or fifteen (15) unexcused absences in an academic school year, and if the above actions have been taken and are not successful, the district will file a Truancy Petition with the Pierce County Juvenile Court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010 by the parent, student or both parent and student.
• If attendance does not improve, school and district staff may meet with the family and student to discuss alternatives to further actions, which may include an alternative placement.     
• Additional SASB dates may be set. As attendance improves, these meetings may be canceled.
• After 20 consecutive days of non-attendance, excused or unexcused, and when the steps above have been followed, the school will withdraw the student.

Districts are required under RCW 28A.225.020 and RCW 28A.225.030 to take a series of actions when students accrue unexcused absences. This includes filing a truancy petition in juvenile court after seven (7) unexcused absences in a 30-day period or fifteen (15) unexcused absences in a school year.

For more information on district attendance policies including acceptable reasons for absences and planned excused absences, please see our Student Rights and Responsibility Handbook on our district website.

How you can help:

• Schedule non-urgent appointments to occur after school.
• Only let your student stay home if they are truly sick.
• Develop a back-up plan for getting to school in case of the unexpected.
• Talk to your student about the importance of attendance.
• Talk to your student’s teachers if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be signs of an underlying issue.
• Update your student’s information at school as your address and/or phone number(s) change.
• If your student is going to be absent, please contact your school’s attendance office. The attendance voicemail system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If prior notice is not possible, you may call, send an e-mail, or send a written note upon the student’s return to school. Notification shall include:
  • Name of student
  • Name and contact information of person providing the excuse and his/her relationship to the student
  • Date(s) of absence
  • Reason for absence

Elementary Schools:

Brouillet Elementary (253) 841-8670
Carson Elementary (253) 840-8808
Dessie Evans Elementary (253) 864-5500
Edgerton Elementary (253) 840-8809
Firgrove Elementary (253) 841-8733
Fruitland Elementary (253) 841-8734
Hunt Elementary (253) 841-8690
Karshner Elementary (253) 841-8736
Maplewood Elementary (253) 841-8737
Meeker Elementary (253) 841-8738
Mt. View Elementary (253) 841-8739
Northwood Elementary (253) 841-8740
Pope Elementary (253) 841-8755
Ridgecrest Elementary (253) 841-8753
Shaw Road Elementary (253) 841-8675
Spinning Elementary (253) 841-8742
Stewart Elementary (253) 841-8743
Sunrise Elementary (253) 841-8744
Waller Road Elementary (253) 841-8745
Wildwood Elementary (253) 841-8746
Woodland Elementary (253) 841-8747
Zeiger Elementary (253) 841-8663
Puyallup Digital Learning (253) 864-5700

We are here to help. If you are in need of assistance, please contact your child’s school or the Student Support office.

Federal Programs and Student Support
Tonya Middling, Manager, Student Engagement
(253) 840-8907
 Katie Wellentin, Attendance Intervention Specialist
(253) 435-6808
 

• Excused absences must meet state guidelines (WAC 392-401A-020). Examples include:
  • Health-related - Physical or mental health symptoms, illness, or medical appointments.
  • Family emergency - Unexpected situations requiring the student’s presence (e.g., death in the family, serious illness of a relative, emergency hospital visit).
  • Religious or cultural observances - Recognized practices or instruction.
  • Court or legal obligations - Required presence in court or legal activities.
  • Post-secondary opportunities - Activities related to future education or training.
  • Homeless or foster care circumstances - Absences tied to unstable housing or foster placement.
  • Medical Documentation (e.g., doctor, dentist, therapist) which includes the specific dates of absence to be excused. 
     
• If you cannot take your child to the doctor, you may bring your child to the school health room. If the school nurse determines that your student is too ill to stay at school, the absence will be excused.

• Conferences: After 5 excused in 30 days or 10 in a year, schools must meet with families to identify barriers and create a support plan.

Parents/Guardians should notify the school within 1 week to excuse the absence (per RCW 28A.225.020)  Efforts to excuse absences after 1 week will remain unexcused, unless otherwise approved by the school principal.

Truancy Process

If absences remain unexcused (per RCW 28A.225.020):

• 1 unexcused in 30 days: notification sent to family via robocall
   
• 3 unexcused in 30 days: family conference with parent/guardian and student (if age appropriate) to identify attendance barriers and provide support (e.g., transportation, health, safety)
   
• Between 2 and 7 unexcused absences in a school year: the school will complete an assessment to identify and address any barriers to regular attendance. 
  • Students with IEPs or 504 Plans -  the team who created the student's plan will reconvene to discuss any necessary adjustments.
     
• 7 unexcused in 30 days or 15 in a year
  • An attendance agreement may be created with the student and/or parent/guardian to set clear expectations.
  • The family may be referred to the district’s Student Attendance Success Board (SASB) for additional support.
    • A truancy petition may be filed in Pierce County Juvenile Court if earlier steps have not worked (per RCW 28A.225.030)

• If absences continue, the school may request a court hearing. This begins with a Pre-trial Conference and may lead to a Fact-Finding or Trial (students 12 and older are required to attend the meetings).
   
• Before court, the school, district, family, and student will meet to look for alternatives to legal action.
   
• The court may schedule additional hearings. If attendance improves, these hearings may be canceled.
   
• After 20 consecutive days of non-attendance (excused or unexcused), and once required steps have been followed, the school will withdraw the student.
  • Grades 9-12: a re-engagement referral will be made to help them return to school or connect with other education options.