Students age 16 or older identified by themselves or staff as potential dropouts shall become a focus of attention in the following manner:   

1. Each student and their counselor shall meet for the purpose of discussing the reason for desiring to withdraw from school and the student’s plans for the future, including the educational, counseling and related services which are available within the school and/or community.
2. The counselor and the student’s teachers shall meet to discuss the student’s present status and to identify program modifications and/or options that will meet the student’s present and future needs.
3. The student, parent, counselor, and principal shall review all pertinent information and the options that are available to the student and their parents.

Reasonable efforts shall be made to persuade the student to remain in school and complete requirements for a diploma. If unsuccessful, staff shall attempt to find placement in an appropriate alternative educational setting. Failing that, the principal shall determine if there is sufficient ground to excuse the student from continued compulsory attendance. If there is, the principal shall recommend to the Superintendent that the student be excused from further school attendance. No student under the age of 18 will be permitted to withdraw unless the student is lawfully and regularly employed and either a parent agrees that the student should not be required to attend school, or the student has been emancipated in accordance with RCW Chapter 13.64.  No student under the age of 16 will be permitted to withdraw from further school attendance unless another exception to compulsory attendance has been met.