4402 Nassau Avenue Northeast
Attendance
Attendance – How to Report an Absence
For safety reasons, and one of the district’s strategic goals, the parent/guardian is asked to notify the attendance/school office when a student will be absent and give the reason for absence on the morning of the absence.
Please submit full-day and part-day ABSENCE requests via ParentVue. This includes past absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals. Please leave details in the Notes section.
For other attendance concerns, please email MeekerAttendance@tacoma.k12.wa.us
View attendance for the year? ParentVue & StudentVue
Becca Letter 1 will be sent to parent/guardian after 2 unexcused absences.
Missed assignments? Students can email their teachers directly and/or check Schoology.
Marked absent in error? Please have your student email that teacher, who will confirm the error and correct it.
Early dismissals can be prepared in advance (days, weeks, months). We will try to have your student waiting for you in the office to be signed out.
Helpful Websites
District Website https://www.tacomaschools.org/
District Family Page https://www.tacomaschools.org/families
HAC Home Access Center https://www.tacomaschools.org/families/grades
Family App https://family.tpsapps.org/
Schoology https://app.schoology.com/login
TPS policies and regulations regarding attendance:
PURPOSE: Tacoma Public Schools believes in the importance of regular attendance to ensure student educational success. Through partnership with families, local agencies and the community, we work with students to identify barriers, provide resources and encourage reengagement into the learning environment. Through intervention and providing support services for students, their families and/or guardians, this reinforces the link between academic success and regular school attendance. In order to prevent unnecessary involvement of the juvenile justice system, the District will first exhaust multi-tiered supports and interventions before filing a truancy petition.
Regular school attendance is important, however, at times, it may be necessary for student to be absent from class. The following principles shall govern the development, administration, monitoring and data collection of attendance procedures within the District:
Daily Attendance Tracking
The District has the responsibility of taking attendance of enrolled. The District will advise the parent or guardian of the benefits of regular attendance, consequences of truant students, and the role of the District when students do not attend instruction. Upon student’s enrollment into the District, parent or guardian will be informed of attendance expectations, responsibilities and will agree to abide by the laws and rules of truancy.
When instruction is synchronous online or asynchronous, secondary schools must take attendance daily in each course with planned instruction.
The District will report student absences to the office of the superintendent of public instruction through the designated data reporting system.
Excused Absences
- Illness, physical or mental health condition or medical appointment (including, but not limited to) medical, counseling, dental, optometry, pregnancy, in-patient/out-patient treatment for chemical dependency or mental health for the student or person legally responsible for the student;
- Family emergency (including, but not limited to) a death or illness in the family;
- Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction;
- Court, a judicial proceeding, court-ordered activity, or jury service;
- Post-secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation or scholarship interview;
- State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055;
- Absence directly related to the student’s homeless or foster care dependency status;
- Absences related to deployment activities of a parent or legal guardian who is an active duty member consistent with RCW 28A.705.010;
- Absences due to suspensions, expulsions, or emergency expulsions imposed pursuant to chapter 392-400 WAC if the student is not receiving educational services and is not enrolled in qualifying course of study activities defined by WAC 392-121-107;
- Absences due to student safety concerns, including absences related to threats, assaults, or bullying;
- Absences due to the student’s migrant status;
- Absences due to an approved activity that is consistent with District policy and is mutually agreed upon by the principal or designee and parent, guardian, or emancipated youth;
- Absences related to student enrichment programs or events shall be considered excused (including, but not limited to) civic engagement, speaking activities or leadership groups;
- Absences related to student enrichment programs or events shall be considered excused (including, but not limited to) civic engagement, speaking activities or leadership groups;
- Absences due to the student’s inability to access necessary instructional tools, including internet access or connectivity;
Student and Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
A. Students are required to be punctual and attend every class.
B. Students failing to attend every class, unless excused, may be subject to interventions and/or legal action.
C. Students are not authorized to arrive late, be dismissed early, or be excused from any part of the regular school day without the approval of a parent or guardian and shall be in alignment with District Policy 3242. This does not include school sponsored events, activities or athletics.
D. For safety reasons, and one of the District’s strategic goals, the parent/guardian is asked to notify the attendance/school office when a student will be absent and give the reason for absence on the morning of the absence. If documentation is required or requested, the parent/guardian must send a signed note, fax or email the attendance/school office to provide verification for the absence. Absences shall be considered unexcused if the parent/guardian has not provided a reason upon the student’s return to school.
E. If parents/guardians anticipate their student will be absent an extended period of time, they should provide the attendance/school office with notice stating the excused reason. If the absences are excused the student will be permitted to make up all missed assignments under reasonable conditions and time limits. A student’s grade will not be affected if no graded activity is missed during an absence.
F. Students who leave school for any reason during the school day must check out through the attendance/school office. Students entering or returning to school during the school day must check in at the attendance/school office. Failure to check in and out may result in the absence being unexcused.
G. Parents/guardians should regularly review student attendance records and progress reports. If there are discrepancies or questions, the attendance/school office should be contacted.
H. It is the student’s responsibility to make up missed schoolwork within a reasonable length of time or per teacher/designee directive. A reasonable length of time shall be considered two days to complete make-up work for each day of excused absence, unless the make-up period is extended by agreement with the teacher(s)/designee. Proper credit will be given for this make-up work.
I. If a student’s absence is expected to exceed twenty school days due to medical reasons, illness, hospital/homebound or other instruction should be arranged and approved with the student’s school in advance. The Student Services Department may be contacted to arrange home-based or hospital instruction.
If the student has a chronic health condition or need to take a physician recommended leave from school, the student may qualify for a limited attendance and participation program. The student and parent/guardian will partner with the principal or designee to create an education plan.