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Showing up — every day, on time — is one of the strongest things that helps a child do well in school and in life. Most absences don't feel like much in the moment. Here's why they add up, and how we can make every day we can count, together.
Sources: Attendance Works & the Everyone Graduates Center (Johns Hopkins); OSPI's Washington 5-Year Challenge to cut chronic absence to 14% by 2029.
A day here, a day there — it never feels like much. Move the slider and watch the school year fill in.
Missing less than 5% of the year keeps a child in the strongest position: about 2 in 3 of these students read proficiently by 3rd grade — versus just 1 in 6 of the students who become chronically absent.
Each dot is one school day — a year is about 180. Chronic absence starts at 18 days(10%). Some absences are unavoidable, and that's okay — the goal is to make every day we can count.
Sources: Attendance Works · Johns Hopkins Everyone Graduates Center · UChicago Consortium on School Research.
The early grades are where children learn to read — the foundation for everything after. Missing even a couple of days every few weeks in kindergarten and first grade can put a child behind before they ever notice.
Beacon Elementary →By the middle grades, attendance is one of the clearest early warning signs of whether a student is on track. Good habits now — and catching dips early — keep doors open later.
Simpson Elementary →In high school, days add up to credits and credits add up to a diploma. Ninth grade and senior year are the toughest for attendance — and the most important to protect.
Jr./Sr. High →“Every day counts” never means sending a sick child to school. A child who is genuinely ill belongs at home — resting, and keeping classmates and staff healthy. Keep them home for a fever (100.4°F+), vomiting, diarrhea, or anything contagious, and follow our return-to-school guidance.
The goal isn't perfect attendance — it's catching the avoidableabsences: the slow mornings, the “I don't feel like it” days, the appointments that could wait until 3:00.
When to keep your child home →Across the state, about 1 in 4 students is chronically absent. Washington has set a goal to cut that from 27% to 14% by 2029, stepping down a little each year. Montesano is part of that work — and attendance is something we can move together, family by family, day by day.
Most of our kids show up most days — something to be proud of. But that still leaves about 22.6% who were chronically absent, so we're not done. Every family who makes attendance a priority moves this number. See the full report card →
Source: OSPI Washington State Report Card (Regular Attendance — the share of students who attended more than 90% of days).
We don't hand out “perfect attendance” prizes — those quietly punish kids who get sick or have a tough week they didn't choose, and they nudge families to send sick children to school. Instead we celebrate being here and getting better: classrooms that show up together, students who turn a rough stretch around, and the everyday habit of walking through the door ready to learn.
A few small routines do most of the work. Here are six that protect a school year.
Lay out clothes, pack the backpack, and set a consistent bedtime. Mornings go smoother when the night did the work.
Line up a second option — a neighbor, a family member, the bus — so one hiccup doesn't become a missed day.
Fever, vomiting, or something contagious? Keep them home. A sniffle or “I don't feel like it” usually isn't a reason to miss.
Let the office know the same morning. Excused or not, telling us helps — and lets us help you if something bigger is going on.
When you can, schedule dentist and doctor visits for after 3:00 or on a day off.
If getting to school is hard, tell us. Reaching out leads to support, not trouble. We'd much rather help than have your child fall behind.
The Bulldog promise: I'll do my best to be here, every day I can — because the people at Monte are counting on me, and I'm counting on them.
Did you know?
If your student will be absent or tardy — including for appointments — please notify your child’s school office before 8:30 a.m. You can report an absence in any of the following ways: online through Skyward Family Access, by phone, by email, or with an advance written note to the office.
All absences must be excused within twenty-four (24) hours of your student’s return, in accordance with district policy. Unexcused absences for in-person learning may be reported to families through an automated phone call.
School | Phone | Online | |
Beacon Elementary | 360-249-4528 | beaconskyward@monteschools.org | Skyward Family Access |
Simpson Elementary | 360-249-4331 | simpsonskyward@monteschools.org | Skyward Family Access |
Montesano Jr./Sr. High School | 360-249-1634 | sfry@monteschools.org (Attendance Secretary) | Skyward Family Access: Attendance › Absence Request › Add Request |
We know students miss school for many reasons. Washington State rules (WAC 392-401-020) and district practice recognize the following as excused, authorized absences:
Absences that are not approved or reported are considered unexcused. Common examples of unauthorized reasons include:
Washington’s compulsory attendance law (RCW 28A.225.010), known as the Becca Bill, requires children ages 8 through 17 to attend a public school, an approved private school, or a district-approved home-based program. Children who are 6 or 7 are not required to be enrolled; however, once a parent enrolls a 6- or 7-year-old, the child must attend full time.
Washington law makes parents primarily responsible for ensuring their children attend school. Students must be in attendance every day unless they are ill or have approval from the school to be absent. Schools are required to record attendance daily and to notify families when a student has an unexcused absence.
State law (RCW 28A.225.020 and 28A.225.030) requires every school to take the following steps as unexcused absences add up. These steps are designed to identify barriers early and connect your family with support before any court involvement.
Unexcused absences | What the school is required to do |
1 in a month | We notify you by phone or in writing and explain the possible consequences of additional absences. |
2 in a month | We take data-informed steps to identify and reduce barriers — which may include a WARNS* screener, adjusting your student’s schedule, or adding individualized support. |
3 in a month | State law requires a conference with you and your student to analyze the causes of the absences and connect you with available supports. |
By the 7th in a month | The district must take one of three actions: (1) enter into a written attendance agreement with you and your student, (2) refer your student to the Community Engagement Board** (formerly the Community Truancy Board), or (3) file a truancy petition with juvenile court. |
7 in a month or 15 in the school year | If earlier steps have not substantially reduced absences, the district is required to file a truancy petition with the Grays Harbor County juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010. |
*WARNS — Washington Assessment of the Risks and Needs of Students, a brief screener that helps identify what support a student may need.
**A Community Engagement Board offers support and resources to understand and reduce the reasons behind a student’s absences.
For elementary students, Washington law (RCW 28A.225.018) sets an additional requirement based on excused absences. After five (5) excused absences in a month or ten (10) in the school year, the school will schedule a conference with you and your child to identify barriers and supports. A conference is not required if you have provided a doctor’s note, or pre-arranged the absences in writing, and a plan is in place so your child does not fall behind academically.
Arriving on time matters — students who are repeatedly tardy miss critical instruction. Excessive tardies are addressed as an attendance concern through school-based supports and, at the secondary level, may result in disciplinary consequences. Consistent with WAC 392-401-040, tardies are not counted as absences for the purpose of a truancy petition. At Montesano Jr./Sr. High School, five (5) tardies in a semester may result in disciplinary action, including a lunch detention.
When an absence is excused, your student will be allowed to make up missed assignments outside of class under reasonable conditions and time limits set by the teacher. Even when work is made up, students still miss valuable instruction and hands-on learning — which is why regular attendance matters so much. Students with chronic absences who do not complete their work may be asked to complete it at home or during recess or study periods.
Where to find assignments: Elementary families may request homework through the office — at Beacon before 9:00 a.m. and at Simpson before 10:00 a.m. — so teachers have adequate time to prepare materials. Secondary students should check Google Classroom and/or Skyward for missing work.
School hours: 8:20 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Principal: AnnMarie Greene Assistant Principal: Vaughn W. Uber
We miss your student when they are gone, and we value what they bring to our schools. We also know families face all kinds of challenges — transportation, illness, anxiety about a class, and more. There are many people in each of our buildings ready to help. If something is making it hard for your student to get to school regularly or on time, please reach out to your child’s teacher, counselor, or main office as early as possible so we can connect you with support.