Chronic absences can translate into third-graders unable to master reading, sixth-graders failing courses and ninth-graders dropping out of high school. “Students must be in school to learn, succeed and prepare for a bright future,” Tibbitts said. “The link between attendance and academic achievement is clear. It’s crucial for families, school staff and the community to work together to prevent chronic school absence.”
Named in memory of a runaway teenager murdered in 1993, the Becca Law was passed by the Washington state Legislature in 1995. The law requires schools to monitor attendance and to contact and work with families when their child starts missing school without permission. If those unexcused absences reach seven in a month or 10 in a year, the district can file a truancy petition with the local county juvenile court.
Tibbitts’ goal is to prevent that threshold from being crossed by shifting the emphasis of the Federal Way BECCA office from one of punishment to a prevention focus.
The message to students: It’s hard to achieve your goals in life without an education, and regular school attendance is critical for academic success. After schools have exhausted their resources in addressing a student’s attendance, community truancy boards provide one last intervention before referral to the courts. Truancy boards are made up of school staff and representatives of relevant nondistrict social agencies, all brought to the table by Tibbits. They meet with the student and family to discuss issues contributing to the student’s absenteeism. The goal is to develop a plan that addresses the causes of the absences and provide a “warm hand-off” to community agencies that provide resources and support.
A systemic approach to keeping kids in school
Chronic absenteeism, even when excused by the parent, is now attracting attention and outreach by the school. “Every parent wants his or her kid to be successful, but they aren’t always aware of the connection between attendance and success,” Tibbitts points out.
This fall, the district is participating in the “Every Day Counts” campaign, designed to raise the awareness of the importance of regular attendance. Students are more likely to attend regularly when they feel comfortable in the school environment and find relevance in their education. This adds importance to the district’s work to ensure that every student has a skillful teacher in every class, and that he or she understands the expectations of the school.
Schools across the district have initiated efforts like Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), a process for clearly defining and reinforcing expected behaviors. Read more about PBIS in the Spring 2014 edition of the Progress Report to the Community (pages 2-3).
