It is the policy of the Seattle School Board that consistent attendance is essential to the Seattle Public Schools mission of academic excellence for every student in every school. Students who miss critical instruction in key concepts quickly fall behind in school and are less likely to achieve academic success. Accordingly, school attendance is mandatory, and unexcused absences and truancy are prohibited within Seattle Public Schools. All Seattle Public Schools are dedicated to providing racially, culturally, and age-appropriate instruction as well as supports and interventions to remove barriers to consistent daily attendance. Furthermore, all Seattle Public Schools are committed to increasing the meaningful involvement of families in all aspects of their students’ lives, including in the reduction of absences.

Seattle Public Schools believes that school-based supports and interventions allow schools to address the needs and barriers of specific students, and allow families to become directly involved in their student’s school life. Additionally, centrally-based supports and interventions are an important supplement to school-based supports and interventions. Generally, judicial action will be the final intervention utilized.

Under state law, children between the ages of 8 and 18 are required to be enrolled in public school, unless subject to one or more exceptions, including enrollment in a private school or home-based instruction. Children under the age of mandatory attendance enrolled in public school are subject to the same attendance requirements as those students over age eight, including truancy requirements.

The Superintendent or their designee is granted the authority to develop procedures in order to implement this policy.