No, Everett Schools Won’t Close Wednesday For Seahawks Celebration

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Because some of you asked, we asked and the official word from Everett Public Schools is no, they won’t be letting kids out of school in Everett so they can attend the Seahawks celebration in Seattle on Wednesday. In talking to Mary Waggoner at Everett Public Schools, there are no current plans for civics classes to make field trips and if a parent does take their child out of school it would likely be considered an unexcused absence under the Everett School District’s Attendance policy. In case you may be looking for a loophole, here is the attendance policy…

Excused Absences
The following are valid excuses for absences and tardiness and describe the process to have an absence or tardy excused.

A. Participation in a district or school-approved activity or instructional program:
To be excused this absence must be authorized by a staff member and the affected teacher(s) must be notified prior to the absence unless it is clearly impossible to do so.

B. Illness, health condition or medical appointment including but not limited to medical,counseling, dental or optometry:
When possible, the parent/guardian is expected to notify the school office on the morning of the absence and send a signed note of explanation with the student upon his/her return to school.If the student is confined to home or hospital for an extended period, the school will arrange for the accomplishment of assignments at the place of confinement whenever practical. If the student is unable to do his/her schoolwork, or if there are major requirements of a particular course which cannot be accomplished outside of class, the student may be required to take an incomplete or withdraw from the class without penalty.

C. Family emergency including but not limited to a death or illness in the family.

D. Religious purposes including observance of a religious holiday or participation in religious instruction.

E. Judicial proceeding or serving on a jury.

F. Post secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview.

G. State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055.

H. Absence directly related to the student’s homeless status.

For items C-H, when possible the parent/guardian is expected to notify the school office on the morning of the absence and send a signed note of explanation with the student upon his/her return to school.

I. Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action (e.g., short-term suspension, or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion): As required by law, students who are removed from a class or classes as a disciplinary measure, or students who have been placed on short-term suspension, will have the right to make up assignments or exams missed during the time they were denied entry to the classroom if the effect of the missed assignments will be a substantial lowering of the course grade.

J. Principal (or designee) and parent/guardian mutually agreed upon approved activity: This category of absence will be counted as excused for purposes agreed to by the principal (or designee) and the parent/guardian or emancipated youth. The principal (or designee) has the authority to determine if an absence meets the above criteria for an excused absence.

Unexcused Absences
Any absence from school for the majority of hours or periods in an average school day is unexcused unless it meets one of the criteria for an excused absence.

Unexcused absences fall into two categories:

1. Submitting a signed excuse which does not constitute an excused absence as defined above;

2. Failing to submit any type of excuse statement signed by the parent/guardian