Attendance Procedure Update
Attendance Policy and Procedure
What is the Law?
Washington law requires children from age 8 to 17 to attend a public school, private school or to receive home-based instruction (homeschooling). Children who are 6 or 7 years old are not required to be enrolled in school. However, if parents enroll their 6- or 7-year-old, the student must attend full time. Youth who are 16 or older may be excused from attending public school if they have graduated or acquired a GED. Washington’s truancy law, often termed the “Becca Bill” is intended to curb school truancy before it becomes habitual. The law requires many things of schools, but only requires one thing of students: attend school. If a student does not attend school the law requires the school district to take action.