Roosevelt works hard to ensure every student can learn and grow by being at school regularly. Being at school is important for learning, building friendships, and participating in the school community. We want to support your student’s success through attendance and engagement in school. 

Why Attendance Matters:

• Missing just 2 days a month (or 10% of school) can impact your student’s chances of reading at grade level by the third grade (elementary).

• School is also essential for students to build friendships and learn how to be in community with their peers and adults. 

• Absences can signal problems like disengagement, academic struggles, or bullying, and therefore are important for us to pay attention to.

What We Need from You:

• Follow health guidelines (English | Spanish) so that you know when to keep your child home due to illness and when to send them to school.

• If your student will be absent, contact the school at 509-384-5462

• Reach out to us if your student is struggling to come to school or if you are having challenges getting your child to school. We are here to help. 

What Families Can Do:

• Follow the health habits guidelines (English | Spanish) to keep your household healthy

• Talk to your child about the importance of school and attendance.

• Keep track of the number of days your child has missed as days can add up quickly. Aim to keep absences to 18 days or less in a year. 

• Schedule your vacations during district scheduled holidays.

• Have backup plans for transportation. Consider using My Family’s Help Bank resource to make a plan.

• Communicate with your child’s teacher or the front office about any concerns.

Our Promise to Families:

• We understand challenges that affect attendance and are here to help.

• We will take attendance daily (as required by state law), communicate when your student has an unexcused absence, and help overcome barriers.

What Families Need to Know about Washington State’s Compulsory Attendance Laws:

Washington state requires parents and school districts to follow these steps when students are absent:

Parents:

• Parents of children ages 8 – 18 must ensure their children attend full-time public school, private school, or receive home-based instruction (district-approved).

• If parents enroll their 6- or 7-year-old, the student must attend school full-time.

School Districts:

• notify parents of the attendance rules and get a signature to show they received the notice

• notify parents every time a student is absent without notification

• meet with parents and students to find out why students are absent

• try different strategies to improve attendance, and in some cases,

  refer a student and/or parent to a Community Engagement Board or to court

Please review our school attendance procedures here and our district’s attendance policies here [link to district policy] for more detailed information. You can also read more about the Washington State Compulsory Attendance Laws here (Chapter 28A.225 RCW).