Student Achievement Department
NTPS Remote Learning Attendance Q & A
-
Will schools take daily attendance during remote learning?
Yes. The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction expects every school in the state to take daily attendance in 2020-21 for 100% remote learning, face-to-face, and for hybrid learning models. Find the Statewide Definition of Absence for the 2020-21 School Year here.
-
How will attendance be taken?
Each school day teachers will record student participation in synchronous and asynchronous learning. Students will be marked absent when they:
- do not participate in a scheduled class Zoom/Google session, OR
- do not have an interaction with their teacher on scheduled class days, OR
- do not attend a scheduled on-site small group, OR
- do not log into Canvas or Google Classroom to work on an assigned task.
Since some students will participate in independent learning after a teacher’s workday, teachers will complete attendance first thing in the morning for the previous school day after reviewing student Canvas or Google Classroom login activity from the prior evening up to midnight. This new attendance taking approach means that a student who does not attend a scheduled class session on Monday morning but then logs into Canvas or Google Classroom later that evening to work on an assigned task will not be marked absent for Monday.
-
How will parents be notified about their child’s attendance?
The district will send automated attendance messages to student’s primary parent/guardian for the previous day’s unreported absence. This means that parents will be notified on Tuesday if their student was marked absent on Monday. Notification will be sent by phone call, email message, and/or text message based on the notification preference parents/guardians select in Family Access found here. Parents/guardians can check their student’s attendance anytime during the year at Family Access. Family Access is a web-based tool designed to give parents/guardians and students access to student information such as attendance, academic progress, schedules, lunch balances and more! Students and guardians each have their own access.
-
What do I do if my student has to be absent?
To report an absence, as usual, contact your student’s school attendance phone line or use Family Access found here. If you do not call the school or report the reason for an absence in Family Access, the absence will default to unexcused. In addition to the valid excuses for absences listed in NTPS's attendance policy, 2020-21 emergency attendance rules add the following reasons for excused absence during Covid circumstances:
- Ill family member
- Lack of access to necessary instructional tools
- Parents’ work schedule
- Student’s obligations to family
-
How will students get missed lessons due to illness?
Your student will be able to make up any missed assignments following an excused absence as before. Communication between home and teacher before, during, and/or after an absence will ensure that your student receives any missed lessons. Often teachers record live instruction so that students may access asynchronously the content that was covered by the teacher. Your student’s teacher will be able to explain how to make up missed instruction and/or assignments.
-
What are attendance expectations and how are truancy issues addressed?
Daily attendance continues to be the expectation for 100% remote, hybrid, and on-site learning. Attendance requirements are created by state law and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Additionally, all timelines and policies related to attendance and truancy remain the same. Schools will monitor each student's attendance and work in partnership with families to address barriers to regular attendance. Absences for 2020-2021 will be tracked beginning 10/5/20 to give families/students/teachers time to adjust to our new remote learning environment.
NTPS Attendance Information
-
*New* Read the state's absence rule for the 2020-21 school year >>
What is good attendance?
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.
Why is good attendance important?
When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects. 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
How many absences are too many?
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 example:
- Half 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.
How will NTPS promote good attendance?
We know that there are a wide variety of reasons that students are absent from school, from health concerns to transportation challenges. There are many people in NTPS to help your student face challenges in getting to school regularly or on time. We promise to track attendance daily, to notice when your student is missing from class, to communicate with you to understand why they were absent, and to help you or your student overcome barriers to daily school attendance.
How can NTPS families support good attendance?
Families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job. Schools can’t do it alone—we are stronger together!
- Please talk to your child about the importance of showing up to school every day, make it the expectation.
- Don’t’ let your child stay home unless truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety. In this case, talk to your child’s teacher or counselor.
- Use early release days or teacher in-service days to schedule dental and medical appointments.
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Prepare for school the night before, finishing homework and getting a good night's sleep.
Need more information about attendance?
- 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