Oakville School District Attendance Policy

What families need to know about Washington State’s Mandatory Attendance Laws
Washington State law requires all children between ages 8 and 18 to attend school regularly.

That is because missing school frequently can make it hard for a student to keep up. It can also be a sign that a student might not be getting the
supports they need. Missing even just 2 days a month can add up to a big impact!
 

Responsibilities of parent or guardian:

• Parents of children ages 8-18 must ensure their children attend full-time public school, private school, or receive
district-approved home-based instruction. If parents enroll their 6- or 7-year-old child in school, the student
must attend full-time.
• Parents should make sure their children are in school, on time, every day, unless there is a valid excuse.
• If there is a valid excuse for their child to miss school, the parent must notify the school within 48 hours.
Responsibilities of the school:
If a student misses school without a valid excuse, the student might be considered “truant.” When a student is absent
without a valid excuse, schools are required to
• Notify the family when their child is absent without notification
• Meet and work with the family and student to figure out why the student is absent
• Try different strategies to help improve the student's attendance
• If the above strategies fail, refer the student and/or parent to a Community Engagement Board (CEB) or to truancy court

How Do I Notify the School to Excuse an Absence or Tardy?
Parents have several options for notifying the school of an excused absence or tardy.

NOTE: When notifying the school,
be sure to indicate the child’s name and the reason for the absence.

If you are excusing multiple children, be sure to list
all of their names.

• Respond to an automated text or email – Simply reply to the text message or email with the reason for your
child’s absence. All absence alerts will come from the following sources: 607-364-9624 or
email@schooldata.net. Try saving these to your contacts to get messages promptly.
• Send a note indicating the reason for the absence. If the student was at a doctor appointment, include a note
from the doctor’s office.
• Call the front office (Elementary 360-273-5946, Middle School/High School 360-273-5947)
• Email the school secretary (Elementary - mmerriman@oakvilleschools.org, Middle School/High School -
rsisk@oakvilleschools.org)

What is considered an excused absence?

As defined by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the following may be considered excused absences:

• Participation in a district or school approved activity or instructional program
• Illness, health condition, or medical appointment (Keep in mind that if your child is absent with illness for more
than 3 days in a row, you will need to send in a doctor note.)
• Family emergency, such as a death or illness in the family
• Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or
cultural instruction
• Court, judicial proceeding, or serving on a jury
• Absence directly related to the student’s homeless status
• Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action. (e.g., short-term or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion)
 

The school principal or attendance secretary has the authority to determine if an absence meets the above criteria for
an excused absence.
 

NOTE: Pre-arranged absences require administrator approval 2 weeks in advance. Additionally, the student or parent should meet with the teachers and secure all assignments. Approval for pre-arranged absences will mostly likely NOT be given for students with 10 or more absences.
 

What happens if my child has an unexcused absence?

An absence is considered unexcused unless it meets one of the criteria above for an excused 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.
• The student’s parent or guardian will receive an automated phone call, text, and/or email whenever the student
has failed to attend school without notification.
• After 2 unexcused absences or 5 excused absences in a month, 5 unexcused or 10 excused absences total, or an
excessive number of tardies, the school will hold a parent conference to determine what measures should be
taken to address the cause for the student’s absence from school. The principal/attendance secretary, parents,
and student will put together a plan to improve student attendance.
• If that action is not successful, and the student continues to miss school, the district will refer the student to a
community truancy board and/or file a petition with the juvenile court.
What happens if my child is late to school?
Per Washington State law, if a student is absent for more than 50% of the school day, they will be considered absent for
the whole day. Additionally, per district policy:
• Students arriving late must check in at the front office.
• Students arriving between 8 and 8:10 will be considered tardy. Any arrival between 8:10 and 9:00am will be
considered unexcused late unless the student is coming from a doctor appointment with a note.
• Elementary School: Any arrival time after 9:00am for morning attendance or after 1:00pm for afternoon
attendance will be considered an absence for that half of the day.