Puyallup School District
Attendance Policies
Overview
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!
Why Attendance Matters
Daily attendance is one of the strongest predictors of school success and graduation.
- Missing just 2 days a month (10%) is considered chronic absence.
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences (excused and unexcused) can cause children to fall behind in school.
- Missing 18 days a year increases the chance that your student will not read or master math at the same level as their peers.
- Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
- Absences can adversely affect student’s grades.
Washington State Attendance Laws
These laws are often called the “Becca Bill” (per 28A.225 RCW). They exist to make sure schools support families and address barriers, not just to punish absences. Court involvement only happens if earlier supports and school/family meetings don’t resolve the problem.
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Students ages 8-17 must attend school.
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Students ages 6-7 must also attend regularly if they are enrolled.
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Students over 16 may be excused (e.g., working with a legal work permit and meeting state labor laws)
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Parents/guardians are legally responsible for making sure students go to school.
PSD Attendance Expectations and Procedures
Families must notify the school if a student will be absent and provide the following information:
- Student’s name
- Your name and relationship
- Date(s) of absence
- Reason for absence
Elementary: Call your school’s attendance office (24-hour voicemail available). If prior notice isn’t possible, call, email, or send a note when your student returns.
Junior High and High School: Report absences by phone, email, or ParentSquare.
How Families Can Help
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Schedule non-urgent appointments to occur after school.
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Keep students home only when truly sick.
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Set regular bedtimes and morning routines.
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Make a back-up plan for transportation.
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Communicate with teachers if student's behavior changes.
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Keep contact information current.
Need to Plan An Absence?
Please complete the digital planned absence form at least five days prior to the absence(s).
This allows us adequate time to create a plan to minimize the adverse effects the absence(s) may have to your student’s educational progress.