According to State law, excused absences are defined as absences due to illness or a health condition, approved pre-arranged activities, school-sponsored activities, or emergency situations. The school principal has the authority to determine if an absence meets the criteria for an excused absence. If any absence is excused, the student is responsible for making up work missed or doing other work that will be accepted in lieu of the work missed. If a student is absent two (2) or more consecutive days, they may request homework by emailing their teachers. A student who is absent five (5) consecutive days will require a doctor’s note excusing absences. Excessive excused absences may impede the educational success of a student. As such, our school administration may initiate any of the following actions for excused absences:

• When a student accumulates ten (10) excused absences in a semester, the parent/guardian will be contacted and an Attendance Agreement will be created and signed by the student, parent/guardian and school administration. The student may also be asked to take the WARNS (Washington Assessment of the Risks and Needs of Students).
• When a student accumulates fifteen (15) excused absences in a year, a conference will be required. The conference will include the student (when appropriate), the parent/guardian, and a school administrator. A plan to ensure regular attendance will be written (Attendance Agreement). This Attendance Agreement will be signed by participants of the conference. The WARNS may also be taken and signed by the student. If the student’s parent/guardian does not attend the scheduled conference, the conference may be conducted with the student and the school administrator and, afterwards, the parent/guardian shall be notified of the steps taken to eliminate or reduce any barriers to regular school attendance.

Parents/Guardians will have three days to clear unexcused absences. No unexcused absences will be cleared after three days. If a student has three (3) unexcused absences in a month, the student, parent/guardian and An Enterprise Middle School administrator will conference for the purpose of identifying barriers to the student’s regular attendance and the supports and resources that may be made available to the family and the steps to be taken to support the student to attend.  Between two (2) and seven (7) unexcused cumulative absences in a school year the WARNS (Washington Assessment of Risks and Needs of Students) will be administered to determine barriers to regular attendance.  Not later than seven (7) unexcused absences in a month, Enterprise Middle School will enter into an agreement with the student and parent establishing attendance requirements or refer student to a Community Engagement Board (CEB) or file a petition under subsection (1) of RCW 28A.225.030.  After seven (7) unexcused absences in a month and not later than fifteen (15) cumulative unexcused absences in a school year a truancy petition will be filed with the Juvenile Court, a referral will be made to a Community Engagement Board (CEB).

Parents/Guardians and/or students should contact the attendance secretary to request a Pre-Arranged Absence Form if the student is going to miss more than two (2) consecutive days of school. Any planned absences of more than five (5) days must be requested at least 48 hours in advance of the beginning of the absence. In many cases the work that will be missed may be completed prior to the absence. The key to this is communication and developing a plan to help the student achieve understanding of the concepts they may miss due to the absence. However, no amount of homework or alternative assignment can truly equal the in-class experience.

If a student needs to leave early from school during the school day, the student should bring a note signed by their parent/guardian stating the time and reason they need to leave. The note should be given to the attendance secretary at the beginning of the day.

Students who are absent from school due to disciplinary actions (i.e., suspensions) have the right to make up all work missed during the absence. This is considered an excused absence, therefore, for every day missed, two (2) days will be given to make up the missing work. If a student is assigned to in-school suspension, or ISS, work can be collected and sent to the staff member supervising ISS. If a student is on an out-of-school suspension, work may be collected in the office for parents to pick up after school and/or posted online, per the teacher.

Students that have been assigned ISS and/or out-of-school suspension cannot participate in practices, performances or games for any clubs or athletics on the days in which they are on said suspension.