Skip To Main Content

Search Panel

Schools Menu

Attendance

Regular attendance is critical to the learning process.  Research shows that frequent absences seriously affect learning.  We encourage you to schedule all doctor and dental appointments during non-school hours.

Absence Reporting:

Please report your student’s absence via phone (Main Office: 425-837-4100) or email diattendance@issaquah.wednet.edu with the following information:

  • Student Name
  • Teacher
  • Date(s) of absence
  • Reason for absence

Informing the teacher is helpful for the teacher, but only the office can excuse the absence.

District Policy on Absences

State law requires our school to closely monitor student absences and their potential impact to the academic progress of students. At times the school may call to ensure strong school support for students and their families.

To help us please consider the following: 


Extended Absences

3 or more days

Excused Absences:

  1. Participation in a District or school approved activity or instructional program;
  2. Illness, health condition or medical appointment (including, but not limited to, medical, counseling, dental or optometry); 
  3. Family emergency, including, but not limited to, a death or illness in the family;
  4. Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction;
  5. Court, judicial proceeding or serving on a jury;
  6. Post-secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview;
  7. State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055;
  8. Absence directly related to the student’s homeless status;
  9. Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action. (e.g., short-term or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion); and
  10. Principal (or designee) and parent, guardian, or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity.

The principal or designee may only grant permission for a student’s absence providing such absence does not adversely affect the student’s educational process.  

Required Conference for Elementary School Students:

If an elementary school student has five or more excused absences in a single month during the current school year or ten or more excused absences in the current school year, the district will schedule a conference with the student and their parent(s) at a reasonably convenient time.  

The conference is intended to identify barriers to the student’s regular attendance and to identify supports and resources so the student may regularly attend school.  A conference is not required if (1) a pre-arranged absence form has been submitted or (2) if a doctor’s note has been provided and a plan is in place to ensure the student will not fall behind in their coursework.

A conference with the parent or guardian will be scheduled after two unexcused absences within any month during the current school year. Prior to suspension or expulsion, the parent will be notified in writing in their primary language that the student has unexcused absences. A conference will be scheduled to determine what corrective measures should be taken to ameliorate the cause for the student's absences from school. If the parent does not attend the conference, the parent will be notified of the steps the district has decided to take to reduce the student’s absences.

Not later than the student’s fifth unexcused absence in a month, the district will enter into an agreement with the student and parents that establishes school attendance requirements, refer the student to a community truancy board or file a petition and affidavit with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010