Attendance at Issaquah High School

Issaquah High School Families-

Our team at Issaquah High School cares that all students fully benefit from their education by attending school regularly. Student attendance, especially during the first month of school, is an essential step in the learning process. We are committed to supporting students’ attendance in order to enable them to fully access their education.

We miss your students when they are not in school, and we value their contributions to our community. If your student will be absent, please contact our attendance secretary, Lisa Hollingsworth, at 425-837-6012 or ihsattendance@issaquah.wednet.edu.

We know there are many reasons students are absent from school, from health concerns to transportation challenges. There are many people in our building prepared to help you if you or your student face challenges in getting to school regularly or on time including our counselors, administrators, on-time graduation specialists, dean of students, and school social worker. We promise to track attendance daily, to notice when your student is missing from class, communicate with you to understand why they were absent, and to identify barriers and supports available to overcome challenges you may face in helping your student attend school.

It is important that you understand our school policies and procedures and Washington State Law to ensure your child is successful in school. State law for mandatory attendance called the Becca Bill, requires children from age 8 to 17 to attend a public school, private school, or a district-approved home school program. We, the school, are required to take daily attendance and notify you when your student has an unexcused absence. We are required by state law to file a petition with the Juvenile court sometime between your child’s seventh unexcused absences in any month or fifteen unexcused absences within the school year, alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010, the mandatory attendance laws. The petition will be automatically stayed, and your student and family will be referred to a Community Engagement Board or other coordinated means of intervention. If our collective efforts are not enough to increase your student’s attendance, the stay may be lifted and the court may require a hearing.

Please remember our team is here to support your student in attending school. In addition, here are some suggested practices at home that can encourage regular attendance:

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Prepare for school the night before, finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Find out what day school starts and make sure your child has the required immunizations.
• Avoid appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
• Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
• Keep track of your student’s attendance. Missing more than 9 days could put your student at risk of falling behind.
• Talk to your student about the importance of attendance.
• Talk to your students’ teachers if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be tied to something going on at school.
• Encourage meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.
• Reach out to the school if you have concerns about your student's attendance, or if you want support.

We are looking forward to seeing your students at Issaquah High School on the 29^th!

Sincerely,

The Issaquah High School Administrative Team