Parents/guardians of any child eight years of age and under eighteen years of age shall cause such child to attend school and such child shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time when such school may be in session unless the child is enrolled in an approved private school, an educational center as provided in chapter 28A.205 RCW or is receiving home-based instruction. Parents/guardians of any child six or seven years old, who have enrolled the child in school, shall cause the child to attend school for the full time when such school may be in session, unless the child is formally withdrawn from enrollment by the parents/guardians.

The superintendent shall exercise his/her authority to grant exceptions when he/she determines that: 

A.    The student is physically or mentally unable to attend school;
B.    The student is attending a residential school operated by the Department of Social and Health Services;
C.    The student’s parents/guardians have requested a temporary absence for purposes agreed to by the district and which will not cause a serious adverse effect on the student’s educational process;
D.    The student is sixteen years of age, regularly and lawfully employed and either has parent/guardian permission or is emancipated pursuant to chapter 13.64 RCW;
E.    The student has met graduation requirements; and
F.    The student has received a certificate of educational competence pursuant to RCW 28A.305.190.

Any law enforcement officer authorized to make arrests can take a truant child into custody without a warrant and must then deliver the child to the parent/guardian or to the school.

The district shall not require enrollment for either (a) a minimum number of semesters or trimesters or (b) a minimum number of courses in a semester or trimester which exceeds the enrollment time or courses necessary for a student to meet established course, credit, and test requirements for high school graduation.

Cross References:
Board Policy   
3110    Admission and Attendance 
3114    Part-time, Home-based, or Off-campus Students
3122    Excused adn Unexcused Absences
Legal References:
AGO 1980 No. 6    Truancy -- Enforcement of compulsory attendance law

RCW
28A.225.010    Attendance mandatory -- Age -- Persons having custody shall cause child to attend public school -- When excused
28A.225.080    Employment permits
28A.225.090    Penalties in general -- Defense -- Suspension of fine -- Complaints to court

WAC
180-51-020     Additional local standards 
 
First Reading: May 7, 2002
Adopted by the Board: July 16, 2002