Washington Policies

State Policy Evaluation Framework

We used 11 criteria to assess state policies across three categories:

Data and Accountability

For states to make progress toward addressing chronic absenteeism, all stakeholders must have access to useful, accurate, and timely attendance data. As stewards of state data systems, state education agencies (SEAs) are best positioned to establish common definitions and collect and share this data, which should be publicly available and easily accessible so stakeholders can make targeted, strategic workforce decisions at the school, district, and state level.

Investments in Strategies to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism

To improve chronic absenteeism rates, state leaders must prioritize sustained investments and implement evidence-based strategies that address the root causes especially for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and students with disabilities. SEAs, in partnership with districts and communities, are uniquely positioned to allocate resources toward high-impact interventions such as wraparound services, policy agenda, improved transportation, and family engagement. These investments should be driven by data and equity, aligned with state-level goals, and monitored for effectiveness.

Eliminating Harmful Practices and Adopting Evidence-based Policies and Practices

To improve school climate, schools should eliminate discipline practices such as suspensions for disrespect, minor disruptions, dress-code violations, and other non-violent behaviors that harm the relationship between students and school. Success means removing these policies and replacing them with supportive, restorative approaches that keep students connected to leaning and contribute to their social-emotional development.

LEGEND:
  • Most supportive
  • Partially supportive
  • Least supportive

  • Data and Accountability

    • Does the state require taking daily attendance, and does it set a definition of daily attendance?

      The state requires daily attendance to be taken. Students are marked present for a full day if they attend at least 50% of the day. Secondary schools take attendance at each class period; elementary schools take attendance at least twice per day.

    • Does the state disaggregate chronic absenteeism and attendance data?

      The state disaggregates data by race/ethnicity, income status, subgroups, disability status, English learner status, grade level, school type, data collection, and reporting.

    • Does the state have attendance monitoring systems in place?

      School districts are required to report attendance through the Comprehensive Education Data and Research System (CEDARS). The system is designed to capture various types of absences, conduct data analysis, and support equity initiatives.

    • How often does the state collect chronic absenteeism data from school districts?

      All districts are required to share their reports with the state on a monthly basis. The state publishes the data annually.

    • Is chronic absenteeism data publicly available and accessible?

      The state produces an annual report focused on truancy, which includes some data on chronic absenteeism. The report is publicly available and accessible via the report card website.

    • Does the state use early warning indicators?

      The state utilizes the Comprehensive Education Data and Research System (CEDARS), which is designed to proactively identify and support students at risk of academic failure, truancy, or dropping out. This system integrates various tools and processes to monitor student performance and well-being, enabling educators and support staff to intervene in a timely manner. CEDARS provides data collection and monitoring, flagging at-risk students, multidisciplinary team support, and intervention planning and implementation.

  • Investments in Strategies to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism

    • Has the state invested in strategies to increase engagement and lower rates of chronic absenteeism?

      No evidence.

    • Does the state have a clear policy agenda that prioritizes the reduction of chronic absenteeism?

      The state has a state policy framework that mandates specific actions related to attendance, such as taking daily attendance, the use of MTSS, and monthly data reporting.

    • Are the state's investments to reduce chronic absenteeism financially sustainable?

      There is no evidence of a long-term plan to invest in chronic absenteeism outside of policies and practices.

  • Harmful Practices

    • Has the state adopted evidence-based discipline guidance and policies?

      Improved data accountability and transparency in reporting expectations, changing the “emergency expulsion” to “emergency removal,” and implementing culturally responsive practices to ensure discipline policies are practiced fairly across the school districts.

    • Has the state eliminated harmful discipline practices that contribute to chronic absenteeism?

      The state has reduced exclusionary discipline practices.

Washington Chronic Absenteeism Numbers

Understanding state policy conditions to address chronic absenteeism is one part of the story. It’s also important to review actual – timely – data on chronic absenteeism to understand attendance patterns, engage in early intervention and prevention, identify trends, allocate resources where they are needed most, and implement targeted interventions in a way that addresses root causes and meets the needs of students and their families. Timely and transparent data can also help advocates understand where to ask educators in their communities to focus efforts.

The data below presents information about chronic absenteeism rates in 2022-23, and projects how those rates would need to change to reduce chronic absenteeism by 50% over five years — overall and for individual student groups, because averages hide important details about how specific groups of students are faring. And since we can’t accept different standards for different groups, the goal displayed is for each student group to achieve the same chronic absenteeism rate as other groups.

Do you want to see the data for another state?