Section 392-550-040 - Truancy(1) This section provides the process for determining truancy, required interventions, and a threshold for filing a truancy petition for students enrolled in alternative learning experience courses. Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, this process should be used in place of the thresholds provided in RCW 28A.225.030. All other requirements of compulsory attendance outlined in chapter 28A.225 RCW apply.(2) If a child required to attend school under RCW 28A.225.010 fails to meet the contact requirements of an alternative learning experience under this chapter without valid justification, the school district or charter school in which the child is enrolled must perform the following procedures:(a)(i) The school district or charter school must inform the child's parent by a notice through direct personal contact whenever the child has failed to make weekly contact without valid justification.(ii) The notice must inform the parent of the potential consequences of additional missed weekly contacts.(iii) The school district or charter school must ensure that this notification is in a language the parents understand, which may require language assistance for parents with limited-English proficiency under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.(b)(i) After the second consecutive week of missed contact without valid justification or third cumulative week of missed contact without valid justification, the school district or charter school must schedule a conference with the parent and child to discuss the missed contact, administer a screener, and develop a data-based intervention plan to reduce the child's missed contacts.(ii) The purpose of the conference is to understand the underlying reasons for the missed contact and to develop an intervention plan to address them.(iii) In middle school and high school, the conference must include the application of the Washington assessment of the risks and needs of students (WARNS), or other screener that identifies barriers to attendance, by a school district's designee under RCW 28A.225.026.(iv) The conference may take place in-person, by phone, or through interactive video communication.(v) The conference must take place within one calendar week.(vi) If the child's parent does not attend the scheduled conference, the conference may be conducted with the student and school official. The parent must be notified of the steps to be taken to eliminate the child's missed weekly contacts.(3)(a)(i) If the actions performed under subsection (2) of this section are not successful in substantially reducing an enrolled student's missed weekly contacts without valid justification, the school district or charter school must file a petition and supporting affidavit for a civil action with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010 by the parent, the child, or the parent and the child.(ii) The petition must be filed no later than the fifth consecutive or sixth cumulative missed weekly contact without valid justification. The petition may be filed earlier and it may include the student's previous history of unexcused absences.(b) A petition filed under this section must include the supporting documentation as provided in RCW 28A.225.030(1).(c) For nonresident students, the petition must be filed in the county juvenile court that is most accessible for the student and parent. When determining the appropriate county court in which to file a truancy petition for nonresident students, the following must be considered: (i) Proximity to the student or parents' primary place of residence;(ii) The guidance from the juvenile court closest to the student or parents' primary place of residence; and(iii) Preference stated by the student or parent, if communication with the parent(s) has been established.(4) The petition must follow the requirements of RCW 28A.225.035.(5)(a) Pursuant to RCW 28A.225.035, the petition must be stayed and the child and the child's parents must be referred to a community engagement board or other coordinated means of intervention.(b) The school district or charter school offering alternative learning experience course(s), or program designee, is responsible for coordinating with the juvenile court to determine whether a community engagement board is the best intervention for the child or if another coordinated means of intervention will be more likely to support the student to return to school.Wash. Admin. Code § 392-550-040
Adopted by WSR 20-15-062, Filed 7/10/2020, effective 8/10/2020Amended by WSR 21-15-046, Filed 7/14/2021, effective 8/14/2021