The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has updated its rules for attendance and truancy during remote learning. Learn about the rules and what they mean below.

You can also view the full OSPI policy HERE.

Remote Learning Absence Rule:

Schools must take daily attendance during remote hybrid or in-person learning. Student participation to be counted as in attendance in remote or hybrid learning can be synchronous or asynchronous. Any absence is coded either “excused” or “unexcused” but truancy petitions cannot be filed before March 1, 2020.

What Does It Mean?

Attendance will be taken daily during remote learning. Schools should allow students 24 hours to demonstrate participation in remote learning, which can be shown through synchronous or asynchronous learning engagement. Students with unexcused absences can be offered interventions to improve attendance.

Remote Learning Absence Rule:

A student is absent when they are not participating in planned class activities on a remote learning day. Participating can be demonstrated through daily log-ins to learning management systems, daily interactions with staff to acknowledge attendance, evidence of participation in tasks or assignments or other factors determined by school staff. Student participation can be synchronous or asynchronous.

What Does It Mean?

Students can be encouraged, but not required to view live video teaching at a scheduled time (synchronous learning). Schools should allow as many opportunities as possible for students to demonstrate participation in remote learning. Teachers will have 24 hours to record attendance.

Remote Learning Absence Rule:

A remote learning absence can be excused for the same reasons in-person learning can be excused (illness, appointment, etc.) and any COVID-19-related circumstances affecting a student or family member. The school principal has the authority to determine if an absence meets the criteria for an excused absence.

What Does It Mean?

Schools are encouraged to be flexible with allowing excused absences during remote learning.

Remote Learning Absence Rule:

Any absence from the beginning of school to October 4 is coded as a “non-truancy remote learning absence.” 

What Does It Mean?

Students can be marked unexcused and referred to truancy after October 4 if the school is unable to locate or contact the family using regular or alternative outreach methods.

Remote Learning Absence Rule:

Schools will implement a tiered response system to respond to chronic absenteeism and address barriers to engagement in learning, including daily notification of absences and a process for outreach to families to determine their needs and supports.

What Does It Mean?

Schools will develop and implement systems of outreach and support to respond to various levels of truancy. This includes outreach to families through traditional and non-traditional means, offering resources and supports to address barriers preventing regular attendance and more.