How to Report an Absence
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To excuse an absence, a phone call, note, or entry in Family Access from a parent/guardian must be received within two business days.
You can:
- Call the attendance office: 360-412-4882 (Leave a voicemail after hours)
- Send a note with the student when they return
- Report the absence through Family Access (see instructions below)
In order to accurately record your child's absence, please include the following information:
- Student's first and last name
- Date(s) of absence(s)
- Date of note or voicemail
- Parent name and phone number
- Reason for absence (such as illness, appointment, bereavement, etc)
Doctor's notes and appointment slips are encouraged and may be submitted at any point.
Please be aware that vacations and trips are not "excused" absences.
Absence Reporting Through Family Access
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Login to Family Access using your secure credentials. Contact your school's office if you do not know your username and/or password.
- Select the student who is absent.
- Click on the Attendance tab on the left side of the screen.
- Click on the Enter Absence Request hyperlink on the right side of the screen.
- Click on the Add Request hyperlink.
- On the Add Request screen, select the absence Start Date, End Date, Start Time, End Time and Reason. Entering comments is optional. Click the Save button.
- If your email address is in our records, you will receive an email confirming the absence.
NTPS Attendance Information
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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.
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Why is good attendance important?
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.
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What happens if a student misses too much school?
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.
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What can the district do?
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.
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What can families do?
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
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Need more information about attendance?