Research has proven that there is a high correlation between school attendance and academic performance and success, while absences from school is often the greatest single cause of poor performance and achievement. Students who are chronically absent do not perform as well as their peers who attend regularly (“chronically absent” is defined as a student missing 10 percent or more of their school days, equaling 18 days in a year or two days per month).

Students who are chronically absent in kindergarten are considerably less likely to read or be able to read at grade-level by third grade. On the same note, chronically absent ninth graders are much more likely to fail at least one core course (math, English, or science). In fact, attendance and failing a core course in the ninth grade are two of the strongest predictors of whether or not a student graduates high school.
Help ensure that your child has the best opportunity for success by following these simple attendance guidelines.

Students participating in CVA are expected to interact regularly with their teachers. See this article for communication expectations. Please note that one school week without teacher communications is equivalent to missing five (5) days of school. Illness, emergency and other unforeseen family situations will sometimes arise that may alter the usual method of communication. CVA adheres to the Washington State definition of excused and unexcused daily absences.

The following are valid excuses for absences from school:

• Participation in a district or school approved activity or instructional program;
• Illness, health condition or medical appointment (including but not limited to medical, counseling, dental or optometry);
• Family emergency, including but not limited to a death or illness in the family;
• Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or 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 status;
• Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action. (e.g., short-term or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion); and
• Principal (or designee) and parent, guardian, or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity.

The school principal (or designee) has the authority to determine if an absence meets the above criteria for an excused absence.

Students who are consecutively absent for more than two weeks, or are frequently absent (more than 5 days in a semester) may be required to provide a physician’s note explaining the absence in case of illness.

In the event student-teacher communications do not occur the following consequences occur:

First Unexcused Absence

• Student is marked absent

Second Unexcused Absence

• Student is again marked absent
• Progress is considered in jeopardy of being unsatisfactory
• Conference is scheduled with CVA principal, CVA teacher, parent or guardian and student

Third Unexcused Absence

• Third and/or subsequent unexcused absence
• Student is marked absent
• Another conference is scheduled with CVA principal, CVA teacher, parent or guardian and student
• Truancy proceedings in accordance with Washington State Compulsory Education Law may be initiated.