General Information

Attendance

Attendance information can be found on our District’s website.

Washington state law requires that all students between 8 and 18 years of age attend school full-time, unless the student is excused from full-time attendance or meets certain exceptions. Parent/guardian/caretakers are expected to partner with the school staff and to ensure regular school attendance by their students. As provided in Regulation 3122, regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program provided to students. Daily attendance and active participation in each class are critical parts of the learning process. Excessive absenteeism, whether excused or unexcused, could have a negative impact on academic achievement, which could lead to loss of credits impacting graduation and can increase drop-out rates. 

Students are expected to attend all classes each day. Teachers shall keep an accurate record of absences and tardiness. Students will be marked absent when they have an absence for any full class period. As used in this handbook, an “absence” means a student is not physically present on school grounds or is not in class. A “full-day absence” is when a student is marked absent for fifty-percent or more of their scheduled day.  A ”tardy” is non-attendance for less than a full class period.  

Parent/guardian/caretakers will be informed when their student(s) misses one or more periods. Students participating in a co/extra-curricular activity must be in attendance in all periods, as assigned, to be eligible for participation in the activity or event. The District has resources available to support parent/guardian/caretakers and students who may be experiencing excessive absences. Please contact your school principal for assistance if there are barriers to your student’s attendance.

Excused absences are absences due to: 

• Physical or mental health symptoms, illness, health condition or medical appointment for the student or person for whom the student is legally responsible. Examples of symptoms, illness, health conditions, or medical appointments include, but are not limited to, medical, counseling, mental health wellness, dental, optometry, pregnancy, and behavioral health treatment (which can include in-patient or out-patient treatment for chemical dependency or mental health); 
• Family emergency, including, but not limited to, a death or illness in the family; 
• Religious/cultural purpose including observance of a religious/cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction; 
• Court, judicial proceeding or serving on a jury; 
• 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 705.010; 
• Absences due to suspensions, expulsions, or emergency removals imposed pursuant to Chapter 392-400 WAC if the student is not receiving educational services and is not enrolled in a qualifying “course of study” activities as defined in WAC 392-121-107;  
• Absences due to student safety concerns, including absences related to threats, assault, or bullying; 
• Absences due to a student’s migrant status;  
• An approved activity that is consistent with District policy and is mutually agreed upon by the principal (or designee) and a parent/guardian/caretaker, or emancipated youth.

A school principal or designee has the authority to determine if any absence meets the above criteria for an excused absence. The principal or designee may only grant permission for a student’s absence if such absence does not adversely affect the student’s educational process. If a student has excessive excused absences, the school may require a meeting to discuss the absences to create a plan outlining which absences will be excused or unexcused moving forward. 

Verification: Parent/guardian/caretakers are expected to notify the school office by phone or email by 8:00 a.m. of the day following the absence or send a signed note of explanation with the student upon the student’s return to school. Adult students or emancipated students must notify the school office of their absences with a signed note of explanation. If attendance is taken electronically, either for a course conducted online or for students physically within the District, an absence defaults to unexcused until such time as an excused absence may be verified by a parent/guardian/caretaker or emancipated or adult student. See Procedure 3122P for details. 

Unexcused Absences are any absence from school that does not meet one of the criteria above for an excused absence. 

• Each full-day unexcused absence shall be followed by a warning letter or telephone call to the parent/guardian/caretaker. 
• At some point after the second full-day unexcused absence and before the seventh full-day unexcused absence, the District will take data-informed steps to eliminate or reduce the student’s absences as set forth in RCW 28A.225.020(1)(c), including all subsections.   

After three full-day unexcused absences within any month, a conference will be scheduled with the parent/guardian/caretaker, student, IEP/504 team if applicable, and principal/designee.  If the parent/guardian/caretaker does not attend the conference, the conference may be conducted with the student and principal/designee. If the parent/guardian/caretaker does not attend, they will be notified of the steps taken to eliminate or reduce the student’s absences. 

Not later than the student’s fifth full-day unexcused absence within any month, the District will enter into an agreement with the student and parent/guardian/caretakers that establishes school attendance requirements. After the student’s seventh full-day unexcused absence within any month, and no later than the student’s fifteenth full-day unexcused absence during the current school year, the District shall file a petition and affidavit with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010 by the parent/guardian/caretaker, student, or parent/guardian/caretaker and student. 

Generally, a student’s grade shall not be affected if no graded activity is missed during an unexcused absence. However, any work due or assigned during an unexcused absence cannot be made up for credit.   

Attendance Procedures

Students who become ill at school must check out with the attendance office even if the health attendant speaks with a parent/guardian/caretaker. Failure to do so could result in an unexcused absence and disciplinary action. 

• Students who leave class during the school day must be properly checked out through the Attendance Office (see Regulation 3124 and Procedure 3124P). An absence that results from a student leaving class during the school day will be deemed excused or unexcused based on the criteria set forth in Regulation 3122. Leaving class without prior approval and without properly signing out may be cause for disciplinary action. 

Procedures outlined in the BECCA Bill will be followed as unexcused absences occur. See Procedure 3122P. 

• Disciplinary action may be assessed for truancy. 
• Students are encouraged to contact their teachers via email and Canvas to get make up work. Arrangements can be made with teachers to pick up work through the attendance office. Homework/make up work will not be gathered for students missing school because of personal choice or truancy. 

Students are expected to take care of attendance business during their own time such as before school, during break, at lunch or after school. 

Additional information regarding excused and unexcused absences is provided in District Regulation 3122 and Procedure 3122P.

Excessive Excused Absences 

For many valid reasons, students are absent from school. However, even with communication from parent/guardian/caretaker(s), absences add up and can significantly impact a student’s opportunity and progress towards learning. Building administrators will work proactively with families to understand the cause of the excessive excused absences and discuss ways to ensure access to education for the student. Once a student reaches fifteen (15) excused absences in a year, building administrators may require a doctor’s note to excuse absences due to illness. Absences not excused by a doctor’s note may be marked unexcused. 

Check Acceptance Policy

The District has established the following protocol for accepting checks and collecting bad checks: For a check to be an acceptable form of payment, it must include the current, full, accurate name, address and telephone number. If a check is returned for non-payment, the associated fee/fine payment will be re-assessed.

Distribution of Printed Materials on School Grounds 

Students distributing printed materials through activities or athletics need to work with their coach or advisor regarding distribution of printed materials. In respect for the rights and beliefs of all of our students, for materials outside of school activities or athletics, you must submit a request to PeachJar for any community distribution. If you wish to post information on the school’s community bulletin board or other area set aside for this purpose, please contact your assistant principal for approval. Guidelines for distribution of material on school grounds are included in Regulations 2340 and 4320. A complete copy of these policies may be obtained at any school or on the District website.

Drug Free Zones

Schools in the Issaquah School District are protected as drug free zones, as established by the City of Issaquah and King County. Drug free zones provide for possible double penalties for anyone caught trafficking controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a designated school, school bus stop or public park.

Family Access

Family Access provides parent/guardian/caretakers and students with on-line access to student information, including attendance. Parent/guardian/caretakers/and students are encouraged to monitor attendance records regularly using Family Access and contact the attendance office for discrepancies. Family Access Login and Passwords may be obtained in person from the school registrar.

Fines

School fines are issued when a student fails to pay a class fee in the first three weeks of the trimester and/or when a student damages or fails to return any property of the school including, but not limited to, textbooks, items checked out from the library, athletic uniforms, rental instruments, technology support items, etc. All fines are due by the end of the trimester in which they are issued. Once the trimester passes, even if the item is found and submitted, the fine is still due and payable because the school will have purchased a replacement item in order to maintain the inventory for student use. You are encouraged to pay your fees & fines online. You can access the “Pay Online” button from the School home page using the same user name as Family Access. The password is the last name of your student.

Good Neighbor Policy  

The District wishes to maintain positive relationships with our neighbors. Students are to avoid trespassing on neighbors’ property, littering and loitering in the street near their homes.

Identification Cards 

All students are provided with a student identification card, featuring their name, grade and a photo. Students are expected to carry their card at all times during the school day.

Lunch Accounts

Charging a Meal

Students will be assigned a lunch account to purchase standard program meals from the school kitchen.

Financial Assistance

Applications for meal assistance are available at the meals webpage, by contacting food services at 425-837-5060 or in the main office of your student’s school.

Balance Notification

Food Services partners with MySchoolBucks.com, a service that allows the use of credit cards to make payments for a student’s lunch account. There is a $3.25 fee per credit card transaction charged by MySchoolBucks.com, however, the use of their website to monitor a student’s lunch balance and account activity is free. It is also free for users of Myschoolbucks.com to set up e-mail notifications when their student’s lunch balance reaches a specified dollar amount. Families are encouraged to use this free service to receive automated reminders when their student’s lunch balance is low. Log on instructions and a link to Myschoolbucks.com can be found on the District website.

Food Services has developed an automated balance notification service that will notify parent/guardian/caretakers via e-mail when the student’s lunch balance is low and again when the lunch balance is in arrears. The negative balance notification e-mails will continue to be sent weekly until the unpaid meal charges have been resolved. 

Students will be given access to a standard program meal regardless of lunch account balance. Charges to the student’s lunch account will continue to accrue until reconciled.

A student’s lunch account must have sufficient funds to purchase a la carte items (chips, cookies, vendor pizza, bottled beverages, etc.).

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
   833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; or
3. email:
   Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Our School is Gender Inclusive

In Washington, all students have the right to be treated consistent with their gender identity at school. Our school will:

• Address students by their requested name and pronouns, with or without a legal name change
• Change a student’s gender designation and have their gender accurately reflected in school records
• Allow students to use restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity
• Allow students to participate in sports, physical education courses, field trips, and overnight trips in accordance with their gender identity
• Keep health and education information confidential and private
• Allow students to wear clothing that reflects their gender identity and apply dress codes without regard to a student’s gender or perceived gender
• Protect students from teasing, bullying, or harassment based on their gender or gender identity

To review the district’s Gender-Inclusive Schools Policy See Regulation 3211 and 3211P. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator:  

Stacy Cho, Assistant Director of Compliance
5150 220^th Ave. SE
Issaquah, WA 98029
425-837-7000
ChoS@issaquah.wednet.edu

For concerns about discrimination or discriminatory harassment based on gender identity or gender expression, please see the HIB information. 

Visitors

During the school day, only parent/guardian/caretaker, emergency contacts listed in Skyward, approved volunteers and invited guests can visit District schools. Parent/guardian/caretakers, emergency contacts listed in Skyward, volunteers and invited guests will continue to have access to all District schools before and after the school day in order to confer with and directly assist teachers, staff and students, provide support for District programs and observe or participate in school sponsored activities.

Parent/guardian/caretakers, emergency contacts listed in Skyward, volunteers and invited guests visiting a school during the school day must register at the school’s office upon arrival, must comply with any safety procedures and directives indicated by the principal, and must not engage in any activity or behavior which is disruptive to the educational process. Additional information and requirements related to visitors at school are in Regulation 4311 and Procedure 4311P.