OSD Website and Student Handbook

School Attendance: Regular attendance is extremely important to student learning. If your child is absent, please notify the school office to let them know the reason for the absence and when your child will return to school. If contact is not made within 48 hours, the absence will be recorded as unexcused. Both excused and unexcused absences may affect your child’s success in school and grade.

Excused Absences: The following are valid excuses for absences from school:  Participation in a district or school approved activity or instructional program;  Illness, health condition or medical appointment (including but not limited to medical, counseling, dental or optometry);  Family emergency, including but not limited to a death or illness in the family;  Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction;  Court, judicial proceeding or serving on a jury;  Post-secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview;  State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28.A225.055;  Absence directly related to the student’s homeless status;  Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action. (e.g., short-term or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion); and  Principal (or designee) and parent, guardian, or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity. The school principal (or designee) has the authority to determine if an absence meets the above criteria for an excused absence. Excused absences totaling 20 or more in one school year may result in the filing of a court truancy petition.

Pre-arranged Absences: For an extended absence to be excused, a parent must make a request in writing to the principal prior to the absence. If the principal deems that the absence will be approved, it will be recorded as a pre-arranged excused absence. Any absence from class may affect a student’s grade.

Unexcused Absences: Students are required to provide an excuse from a parent or guardian in the manner noted by the school whenever they are absent. If the reason for the absence does not meet district guidelines, it may be deemed unexcused even if excused by a parent or guardian. Any student presenting a false excuse will be subject to the same corrective action that would have occurred had the false excuse not been used. Corrective action for unexcused absences will be progressive with steps such as the following:  Automated calls will be placed to the home phone number for each absence.  If the absence remains unexcused, a letter will be sent home notifying the parent or guardian  Repeated unexcused absences will result in a conference held between the parent/guardian, student and principal or other school administrator. The purpose of the conference is to arrive at an attendance agreement after discussing ways to reduce absenteeism such as: adjusting the student’s program; providing individualized instruction; assisting the student to obtain services needed; transferring the student to another school; or imposing penalties.  Progressive penalties imposed may include: campus service, Saturday school, in or out of school suspension, or other penalties as deemed appropriate by the school administration. When a student reaches 5 unexcused absences in one month or 10 in one school year, the District is required to file a truancy petition with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010 by the parent, student or parent and student.

Tardies: Students are expected to be in class on time. Students late to school must be signed in at the office to be admitted to class. If a student’s tardiness becomes frequent or disruptive, the student will be referred to the principal or other school administrator for similar progressive corrective actions.