Truancy
Preventing Truancy and Understanding the “Becca Bill”
Truancy
The Becca Bill
Preventing truancy
Get more help when you need it
Parent resources
Truancy
In our state, the law requires that children ages 6 to 17 who are enrolled in public schools attend school Monday through Friday, unless there is a good reason for being absent. In this case, the parent or legal guardian must excuse the absence by notifying the school.
When students miss school and their parents have not excused the absence, students can be considered truant. Truancy is defined as being absent from school or from the majority of a student’s classes without a valid excuse.
State school districts have different rules and regulations about student attendance and how parents should excuse absences. Be sure to read the attendance policies in your school district and discuss them with your student.
The Becca Bill
The Becca Bill (Senate Bill 5439) is our state’s truancy law. It is intended to stop truancy before it becomes a problem. Schools and families should work together as a team to ensure school attendance and student safety. However, if a student has unexcused absences, this law requires that schools and school districts take the following actions in these instances:
- One unexcused absence: The school must inform the parent when there is one unexcused absence. This is often done by a phone call to the student’s home.
- Two unexcused absences: After the second unexcused absence, the school is required to schedule a meeting with the parent/legal guardian and student to discuss the causes of the unexcused absences and find solutions to prevent further absences. This is a team effort.
- Five unexcused absences within 30 days: The school must enter into a written truancy agreement with the family where the parent, student and school agree on the steps necessary to resolve the student’s attendance problem.
- Seven unexcused absences during a month or at the 10th unexcused absence in a school year: The school district will file a petition in juvenile court to order the student to attend school. If this court order is violated, the court will call for a contempt hearing, and the student could be ordered to do community service or spend time in juvenile detention. The parent may be fined up to $25 for each day of unexcused absence.
The school district may also refer the family to a community “truancy board” if there is one in the community. A truancy board is a group of citizens who help resolve truancy cases outside of the court.
Schools must send the student a notice of the truancy court petition by certified mail with return receipt or by in-person delivery. The petition includes important dates and deadlines that must not be missed by the student and the family. A student and/or parents can be represented by a lawyer in truancy court.
Preventing truancy
Student safety and academic progress are important to both parents and educators. Here are some tips to prevent absences:
Communicate with your student frequently
- Talk about family expectations on school attendance.
- Discuss family expectations for earning a high school diploma.
- Praise positive behaviors and achievements in school.
- Look for attitudes from your student that indicate unhappiness with school or fear of attending school. Listen to what is said and ask questions.
Communicate with your school frequently
- Ask the school about its policy and procedures on excusing absences from school.
- Respond quickly when the school notifies you of an unexcused absence.
- Learn how you can check your student’s attendance.
- Immediately address issues of concern about your student with the school. Start with the teacher or counselor.
- If you feel your district’s truancy or discipline procedures were not addressed properly, inquire about your district’s appeal process.
- If you feel your school district policies are inadequate, speak with the superintendent and school board members.
Get more help when you need it
- If you have difficulties with the school in resolving truancy issues, contact:
The Office of the Education Ombudsman toll-free at 866-297-2597
or the Washington School Safety Center at 360-725-6044 or [email protected].
Parent resources
Family Reconciliation Services
1-800-562-5624
Children's Home Society
206-695-3200
Youth Eastside Services
425-747-4937
Crisis Line
1-800-244-5767
Peace Council Mediation
206-328-5908
Seattle Mental Health
206-324-0206
Valley Cities Counseling
253-939-4055