Becca bill is the washington state mandatory attendance law that passed in the spring of 1995 rcw 28a. The washington state legislature passed the 1995 becca laws in response to the case of. The truancy project is collaboration between clark county juvenile justice, cowlitz county juvenile justice, the courts, clark and cowlitz county school districts and educational service district 112 in response to washington state s becca law. Washington s truancy law, often termed the becca bill, is intended to stop truancy before it becomes a problem. Community truancy boards effect of diversion from truancy petitions evaluation by washington state institute for public policy. A parents guide to the becca bill a parents guide to. If a student does not attend school, the law requires the school district to take action. The petition must include a list of all interventions that have been attempted as set forth in rcw 28a. The law established a venue for school districts to compel youth to attend school by. Children in washington who are chronically absent from school are subject to the truancy laws of the state. The truancy laws, in turn, apply by definition only to persons under the age of eighteen.
The county saw just one truancy related detention in 2016. In the enforcement of the state compulsory school attendance law as amended by chapter 201, laws of 1979, 1st ex. Additional documents may be required by local county superior court rules. Formal education is a requirement for children of a certain age in all states, whether its public school, private school, home school, or other types of instruction. In all states, the first body responsible for enforcing truancy laws is. See the cbt resources below under tools for more resources on community truancy boards. A 2016 law requires school districts across the state to implement promising approaches to address truancy.
Certain districts may also require fiveyearolds to attend kindergarten. Dec 17, 2018 truancy proceedings vary from state to state. The new law removes habitual truancy as a ground to reassign a disruptive student to an aedy program under 24 p. As of this school year, every washington school district must coordinate with the local juvenile court to set up a community truancy board or other truancy intervention program. There are limited exceptions and exemptions to this requirement. Washington, it is the law that school attendance is required for all children ages 8 through 17 if enrolled in public school. A state law in washington, called the becca bill, requires all children between ages 8 and 18 to attend school regularly. School districts throughout washington will soon need to do more to help. Maryland requires regular school attendance unless a student is excused with a lawful absence. State laws about truancy are constantly changing contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state laws you are researching. Chart providing details of washington compulsory education laws. A student is required to attend school each and every day and every class period. Thus, school districts may no longer transfer students to aedy programs for habitual truancy.
Students who want to learn more about their rights can also use this guide, but we recommend that they ask a trusted adult or youth advocate to help them through the process. Jul 12, 2019 included in the attendance and truancy resources for parents attachment below are resources that include. Truancy is a risk factor for poor outcomes, like school failure, dropping out, unemployment or underemployment, and in some cases, criminal involvement. Included in the attendance and truancy resources for parents attachment below are resources that include. Under the state s 20yearold truancy law, known as the becca bill, schools must file truancy.
Definition of truancy minnesota state statute 120 requires that children attend school from age 7, or upon enrollment in school, until age 18. State law permits the first truancy hearing to be held without legal counsel for students. Chronic absenteeism and truancy both have negative long term impact on children. Below you will find a set of legal forms commonly used in truancy proceedings. Some states have a set number of days a student must be absent before truancy laws become applicable. Protect children who are endangering themselves keep families together through assessment and treatment services provide tools for schools, parents and juvenile court to keep children in school.
Washington new truancy law aims to keep kids out of court, juvenile detention by melissa santos. For instance, texas schools now send truant students to a civil truancy court rather than juvenile court. Truancy courts may also order their parents to participate in counseling or take parenting classes. This law addresses student truancy and replaced the old truancy law. This section has guides for parents to understand that law, truancy process, and ideas for working with their school and district. New truancy law aims to keep kids out of court, juvenile. The cohorts were followed for seven years through the 201112 academic year to allow for examination of both high school outcomes and postsecondary enrollment and outcomes. Becca affects all students in the state of washington ages 8 through 17. It requires schools to take a closer look at any student who is truant more than two times and. This applies to all children 5 years and older and under the age of 18, who live in the state. This guide is designed to help parents understand their childrens rights in the truancy process.
How washington s truancy laws negatively impact children by sarah lippek and starcia ague becca is a girls name many of us know because of the becca bill, a piece of legislation in washington state. Chapter 205, laws of 2016 64th legislature truancy. There are exceptions, and the state allows local school districts set higher ages for dropping out. The purpose of a community truancy board ctb is to identify the root causes of truant behavior and provide resources or interventions to youth and families in a collaborative and supportive manner. Relevant laws and data pertaining to attendance in washington state.
The bill requires that school districts file truancy. The goal of the becca bill is to keep students in school. District truancy liaison each school district must identify a point of contact for all matters related to excessive absenteeism and truancy rcw 28a. In 1995, the washington state legislature passed a law known as the becca bill. The legislature has passed a bill requiring washington school districts and juvenile courts to establish community truancy boards as a way to keep students in school and out of court. These interventions are outlined briefly in exhibit 1. Both parent and child are typically summoned for truancy hearings and may be required to return for any followup hearings during a probationary period. The sending school district shall provide this information to the receiving school, together with a copy of any previous assessment as required under subsection 1c of this section, history of any best practices or researchedbased intervention previously provided to the child by the childs sending school district, and a copy of the most.
Washington weighs an end to locking kids up for truancy. Washington state law, commonly referred to as the becca bill, requires children from age 8 to 18 to attend a public school, private school, or to receive. Updates to washingtons truancy laws cedar law pllc an. If a juvenile skips school five times in a month or ten times during the school year, the school district must file a truancy petition against the child andor the parents. Truancy has always been one factor that can trigger the suspicion of a disability, but the law now requires schools to step in quickly and screen students as soon as attendance appears to be a problem. See findlaws student conduct and discipline for more information. The law requires that students are in school, fulltime, every day, unless there is a valid excuse. How washingtons truancy laws negatively impact children by sarah lippek and starcia ague becca is a girls name many of us know because of the becca bill, a piece of legislation in washington state.
If a student misses a school day, or part of a school day for legitimate reasons, a parent or guardian must notify the school or this could be considered an unexcused. What is referred to as the becca bill, youth who are found to be a truant by the court will be placed under court order to attend school. The law provides schools and school districts with discretion regarding student penalties for truancy as long as they are consistent with state law. A state law, called the becca bill, requires children between 8 and 18 to attend public school regularly, with few exceptions.
Community truancy boards memoranda of understanding with juvenile courts designation of school district coordinators to address absenteeism and truancy communitywide partnerships. All washington school districts to create truancy boards to. The truancy program is available for those youth and parents who are not currently in compliance with the washington state compulsory school attendance laws. Truancy attendance improvement ca dept of education. Washingtons truancy laws seek to keep children in school by establishing a specific process that the schools must follow, which includes various interventions. The law requires parents or legal guardians to make sure their children are in. School district implementation and costs summary in 2008, the washington state institute for public. However, if parents enroll their 6 or 7yearold, the student must attend fulltime. Compulsory school attendance and admission washington. Confidentiality of juvenile court records in truancy cases. State laws are constantly changing contact a washington education attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state laws you are researching.
Since an adult can never be truant, truancy could not be a violation or crime if committed by an adult. The legislature recognizes second substitute house bill 2449 as amended by the senate passed legislature 2016 regular session state of washington 64th legislature 2016 regular session. Many school districts define truancy as any unexcused absence, where unexcused means the student has left school property without parental or school permission. You are in violation of the washington state truancy law if one or more of the following is true. The following is an overview of how truancy laws are enforced. According to the seattle times, on a sunday afternoon in 1993, a man picked up rebecca becca hedman on a. All children in washington state between ages 8 18 must go to school. Gjelten, author and editor learn how different states deal with unexcused absences from schoolfrom truancy prevention programs to threatening truants parents with fines or jail.
Truancy means being absent from school without a permission or a valid reason unexcused absences. If you choose to use any of the forms provided here in ms word format, please be advised that the appearance, page breaks, margins, fonts, and other aspects of the document that you prepare may be. This guide provides general information regarding students rights in truancy proceedings in washington state public schools and juvenile. Under new york state s compulsory education laws, every child between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend fulltime school. Still, truancy laws are relatively new and not in place in all jurisdictions. Washington state law, commonly referred to as the becca bill, requires children from age 8 to 18 to attend a public school, private school, or to receive homebased instruction. An explanation of the districts laws and regulations related to absenteeism and truancy. State of arizona truancy laws the washington elementary school district truancy prevention unit follows guidelines that mirror statutes set forth in arizona state law. Truancy law by law, children between the ages of 8 and 18 must attend school. This report explored education outcomes of youth who were enrolled in ninth grade in a washington state public school at any point during the 200405 academic year and who have had one or more truancies.
Attendance and truancy washington state governors office of the. Students can be in public school, private school or homeschool. Information on what you can do as a parent or legal guardian to prevent truancy. Did you know that recent revisions to washington truancy laws require schools to screen students for a disability when they have two or more unexcused absences and there is reason to suspect a disability. The law requires parents or legal guardians to make sure their children are in school regularly. The becca laws are washingtons procedures for serving truant students, atrisk youth, and children in need of services. Each school district must identify a point of contact for all matters.
Official state codes links to the official online statutes laws in all 50 states and dc. Enforcement of compulsory school attendance law washington. The becca law deemed truancy a civil offense, punishable by fines, community service or jail time. Pennsylvania s new truancy law education law center. Washington state institute for public policy 110 fifth avenue southeast, suite 214 po box 40999 olympia, wa 985040999 360 5862677. Under the states 20yearold truancy law, known as the becca bill. Chronic absenteeism means missing more than 10 percent of school days, including both excused and unexcused absences. Free legal help for washingtonians who cannot afford a lawyer.
Truancy and its correlates, school disengagement and failure, negatively impact life chances for children, the wellbeing of communities where they live, and the vitality of the state as a whole. Clark and cowlitz truancy projects version en espanol the truancy project is collaboration between clark county juvenile justice, cowlitz county juvenile justice, the courts, clark and cowlitz county school districts and educational service district 112 in response to washington states becca law. School attendance, absences and truancy asistencia y absentismo escolar en espanol a state law in washington, called the becca bill, requires all children between ages 8 and 18 to attend school regularly. Free legal information and selfhelp materials that provide information about non criminal legal problems affecting lowincome people in washington state. For more information, look for the aclu of washington booklets.
The penalties for truancy for students defined in ec section 48264. Washington state law requires that children between the age of 8 and 18 attend school regularly if the child is between the ages of 68 and enrolled in school, the law applies. The screening must take place between the second and fifth unexcused absence. Children who are 6 or 7yearsold are not required to be enrolled in school. Parents guide to public school discipline in washington parents guide to school board advocacy in washington. Confidentiality of juvenile court records in truancy cases the records of a juvenile court in a truancy case are confidential and not available for public inspection and copying, with the limited exceptions listed in rcw. To obtain legal advice you should hire a lawyer for full service representation or for limited representation or, if you cannot afford one, contact a low cost or free legal service program. Different rules may apply in private schools, tribal schools and tribal courts. Becca bill truancy law long beach elementary school will strictly adhere to washington state s becca bill washington s truancy law, often termed the becca bill, is intended to stop truancy and bad attendance patterns before they become a problem. In january 2009, the washington state court of appeals, division one, ruled that students are entitled to legal counsel at the initial truancy hearing and. The becca laws are washington s procedures for serving truant students, atrisk youth, and children in need of services. Attendance and truancy washington state governors office. Washington compulsory education laws state laws findlaw. State truancy law examplesalthough states vary in their responses to truancy, their laws in defining truancy are fairly similar.
State laws about truancy are constantly changing contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law s you are researching. The becca bill also requires schools and parents to make sure children attend school. Washington law requires children from age 8 to 17 to attend a public school, private school, or districtapproved home school program. The community truancy board shall enter into an agreement with the student and parent that establishes school attendance requirements and take other appropriate actions to reduce the childs absences. What happens to truants and their parents in new york. New truancy law aims to keep kids out of court, juvenile detention. The becca laws provide courts and families with authority to link schools and courts in a common responsibility to serve atrisk youth.
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