Absences are excused only in the case of illness, medical or dental appointments, bereavement, family emergency, court appearances, or if the student has received an approval by school administration for a planned absence.

These excuses become a part of the student’s Attendance Record. A pattern of absences or absences in excess of twenty days may result in school authorities requesting a doctor’s verification of illness. An attendance notification letter will be sent home outlining possible disciplinary actions if an excessive amount of excused absences are accumulated.

Without guardian verification for excused reasons to miss school, the absence will be marked unexcused. 

A student with unexcused absences may not be allowed to make up missed work for those days. All graded activities shall be treated as if the student had chosen not to participate in them.

Attendance status letters will be sent home when a student has accumulated unexcused absences. If you receive a letter, please follow the instructions it outlines to avoid disciplinary consequences for attendance issues. 

Permission to be absent from school three days or more for reason(s) other than illness may be granted when requested by the parent(s) and/or guardian at least one week prior to the absence and agreed upon by school administration.

It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for all make-up work following an excused absence. After a student has been absent for three days due to illness, the school office will assist in obtaining assignments. If this service is necessary, a request should be made to the office. Please allow 24 hours for teachers to prepare materials.

Going to school on time, every day, is important! Consistent attendance will help children do well in school, college, and work. Good attendance is missing not more than 1 day of school a month, whether excused or unexcused.

When attendance is good, they do well in school! Regular attendance ensures that:

• Preschoolers build skills and develop good habits for showing up on time
• Elementary students read well by the end of 3rd grade
• Middle & high schoolers stay on track for graduation

When do absences become a problem?

• Satisfactory: 9 or fewer absences means your student can keep up and keep learning!
• Warning Signs: 10 to 17 absences in a school year mean your student will miss a lot and struggle to keep up!
• Chronic Absence: 18 or more days in a year (2 days a month) is enough to warrant meeting with the student and your family to discuss any challenges that we may help overcome.

Too many absences—excused or unexcused—can keep students from succeeding in school and in life. Students who miss more than 1 school day a month become at risk for longer-term challenges.  For example:

• Half of the students who miss 2 to 4 days in September, go on to miss nearly one month of school;
• Chronically absent (2 days a month) students are more likely to drop out of high school;
• Chronically absent kindergartners score 20 percent lower in reading and math in later grades;
• Student absences in 8th grade are 8 times more predictive of 9th grade course failure than test scores;
• Chronic absenteeism is the strongest 6th grade predictor of not graduating from high school.

That’s why if your student has two unexcused absences in one month, state law (RCW 28A.225.020) requires that schools schedule a family conference with the student to identify barriers and supports available to ensure regular attendance.

We know that there are lots of challenges to getting to school on time. NTPS promises to track attendance daily, notice when your student is missing from class, and reach out to you or your students to help overcome any challenges that arise, including health and transportation issues.

Families get their kids to school! The student learns the importance of attendance from their family!

• Make attendance the expectation
• Use early release or days off to schedule appointments if possible
• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine & schedule
• Prepare for school the night before

• Read the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook
• See what the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has to say
• A national organization called Attendance Works
• Chapter 28A.225 RCW - COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND ADMISSION
• RCW 28A.225.020
• RCW 28A.225.010