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To reduce the pressure on your tier 2 and tier 3 supports for students that are significantly absent, consider if attendance is part of a tier 1 team with these resources:
By Casondra Gerlich, Attendance & Engagement Coordinator, Educational Service District 113
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Perfect attendance awards are a popular motivational tool used to encourage students to attend school. As schools begin planning their attendance strategies for this year, consider that these awards may not work!
Adverse Effects of Perfect Attendance Awards
Here’s what research says about the pitfalls of perfect attendance awards:
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They are exclusionary. Some students are unable to participate, including those with chronic illness or other students who’s life circumstances contribute to absences that are beyond their control (e.g. students in foster care with mandated court appointments or family visits, students experiencing homelessness with no access to transportation).
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They encourage students to attend school when they are too ill. This further exacerbates schoolwide illness and attendance decline....
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This kit is intended to support Attendance and Truancy professionals (District Truancy Liaisons, attendance clerks and specialists) to set themselves up for success at the start of the school year in responding to truancy.
It includes an overview of Washington Laws and Policies, key resources, and ideas for where you can start and how to get organized.
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Keep building your Culture of Attendance by raising awareness about attendance in September. Raising awareness can include a few simple strategies:
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Use these Ready to Go Templates or Make them Your Own!
Beginning Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 12 PM to 1PM, OSPI Attendance Team is offering dedicated office hours.
Audience: Anyone in K-12 settings seeking guidance on attendance-related questions.
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Register below 12PM to 1PM on the following dates:
- October 15, 2024
- December 16, 2024
- February 18, 2025
- April 15, 2025
- June 16, 2025
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How long does a parent/guardian have to excuse their child’s absence?
School districts have the authority to establish a timeframe for parents/guardians to excuse a child’s absence in their local school board policy and student handbook. Neither state law nor rules address this. |
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Typically, school districts establish a policy or procedure that requires parents to excuse an absence between 48 hours - 1 week. OSPI recommends that school districts establish an expectation of one week.
OSPI also recommends that when more information is known about the absence after the one-week period, the school should consider excusing absences if a valid reason has been provided. Keeping in mind that all absences matter; the goal is to reduce barriers to attendance and support the student to access and engage in their education, not only to excuse the absence.
The Becca Conference brings together experts representing education, justice, and community from across the region to provide new information, training, and development to professional and community members who support young people in their pursuit of successful post-secondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement.
- Attendance and engagement are foundational to student learning
- Absences tells us when a student has not accessed instruction
- Absences are a critical early warning indicator that:
- can reflect inequities that are caused by or perpetuated by our systems or
- when a student and family might need more support
- We have an opportunity to get curious about why students aren’t attending
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Students and families are our best partners to understand the barriers to attendance
- Schools and districts have lots of opportunity for prevention and intervention before involving the court
OSPI Attendance Team has a new voicemail to answer your attendance questions.
Please reach out to the OSPI Attendance Team by dialing 360-725-4957. Leave a voicemail with your name, email address, and inquiry. A team member will follow up with you within two business days. |
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