Every Day Matters: Attendance and Student Success

When students are in school, they're building the foundation for their unlimited potential. At Wenatchee School District, we know that consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in helping students become the critical thinkers, effective communicators, and real-world ready graduates we envision in our Big 6 student outcomes.

Why Attendance Matters at Every Grade Level
 

Starting Early Sets the Stage
Even in preschool and kindergarten, attendance patterns matter. Regular attendance helps young learners build routines, develop social skills, and master foundational concepts like reading—skills that carry them through their entire educational journey.

Middle and High School: A Critical Time
As students grow, consistent attendance becomes even more crucial. Chronic absence in middle and high school is a leading indicator of students falling off track toward graduation. Every day in class is a chance to build skills, explore career pathways, and prepare for life after high school.

Missing just 10% of the school year—about 18 days or one day every two weeks—can impact your child's academic progress. Whether absences are excused or unexcused, they all represent missed learning time and lost opportunities to engage with teachers and classmates.

Attendance Requirements

A state law in Washington, called the “Becca Bill,” requires all children, from age 8 to 17 to attend school regularly, and it requires their parents or legal guardians to make sure they are in school regularly.

Students can be in public school, private school or homeschool.

The law requires that students are in school, full-time, every day, unless there is a valid excuse.

If a student misses school without a valid excuse, the student might be considered “truant.” When a student is truant, schools are required to:

Notify the family;

• Meet and work with the family and student to figure out why, and
• Try different strategies to help improve the student’s attendance.
• If that doesn’t work, a student and family can be referred to a Community Truancy Board or to court

How to Report an Absence

If your child needs to be absent, arrive late, or leave early, please notify the school with:

• A phone call to the attendance office or an online form submission 
• A note explaining the absence
• Reply to a ParentSquare absence notification text

Types of Absences 

Attendance Tips

Attendance Policy 

3122 - Excused and Unexcused Absences 10.23 English | Spanish