Attendance

Student attendance is an essential component of student success!

When students come to school on time every day, they have the best opportunity for success. Research shows that students who have consistent attendance and are punctual have better results in school. Even as early as TK and Kindergarten, please stress the importance of daily attendance and punctuality to your children.  

In case of illness or absence, please call the school office on that day and send a doctor’s note when your child returns to verify the absence. Your note should include your child’s name, grade, room number, teacher name, reason for absence and dates of absence(s). 

 

At Washington School, we consider more than five absence days in one academic year to be excessive.*

 

After a student misses 10% of the school year or the sixth (6th) absence to the date, your family will be sent a notice from the Principal and the Student Attendance Review Team (SART). At that time, a mandatory meeting will be scheduled to discuss your child’s absences. The State of California encourages this meeting even if absences are excused. If a student misses additional days after the SART meeting or more than 10 school days in total to the date of the last absence, a referral will be made to the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) and the District Attorney’s office. After 10 absences, whether excused or unexcused, your child is considered Chronically Truant. We realize there will be instances when your child is sick and cannot come to school, so please bring a doctor’s note and communicate absences with the office so that it is documented in Aeries. 

 

If you travel during the school year, please understand that the absences will be documented as unexcused and if over 10% of the school year to that date, you will be sent a SART and/or SARB notice.