Attendance at Eckstein

Contact Attendance
Attendance Office: 206-252-5014
ecksteinms.attendance@seattleschools.org

Eckstein Middle School Attendance Policy

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.
Learn more about the importance of attendance.

You can use the Source to check your students’ attendance record. You can see all absences and lates that your student has accrued since the first day of school. We encourage you to check in with your student and review their attendance record together!

District Letter on State Compulsory School Attendance law
SPS Attendance Policy

Contacting Attendance:

• Attendance contact: Katy Ryan
• Phone: 206-252-5014
• Email: ecksteinms.attendance@seattleschools.org

Reporting an Absence

Phone: 206-252-5014
Email: ecksteinms.attendance@seattleschools.org

Parent/Guardian must contact attendance office by phone call, email or note with the following information:

• Student name
• Parent/Guardian name and phone number
• Date of absence
• Reason for absence

Students Absent From School – Planned

Vacations – Eckstein strives to preserve instructional time for our students and teachers. While a student can make up assignments, there is no substitute for the classroom experience. We encourage families to arrange vacations during scheduled school vacations and holidays. If a student must miss school for a vacation, parents must complete the “Pre-Planned Absence Form” and submit it to the Attendance Office.
Please have your student pick up a Pre-Planned Absence form from the Attendance Office.

It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with teachers prior to the trip to make arrangements for work. Very often teachers will refer the student to Schoology for the days’ work. Upon return, the student is responsible for submitting missing work in a timely way agreed to by the specific teacher.

Participating in Sports Tournament – Parent must notify school by email, note or phone prior to the absence.

Students Arriving to School Late

Showing up to class everyday on time helps students on their path to success in middle school. Understanding the importance of good attendance will help them in high school, college and at work in the future.

Students must check in at the attendance office first when they arrive late to school.  At the attendance office they will receive a pass to go to class.

To Excuse a Late Arrival:

• Email: ecksteinms.attendance@seattleschools.org
• Phone: 206-252-5014
• Note with the following information:
  • Student’s name
  • Parent/Guardian’s name
  • Relationship to the student
  • Day and time you need your student released
  • Reason for the late

A parent’s request to “excuse my child’s tardiness” without a stated valid reason or with a reason that does not meet the criteria for excused tardiness will result in the child’s tardy remaining unexcused.

Leaving School Early

When you need to take your student out of class before school is over please notify the attendance office by email, phone or written signed note Before the early dismissal.

Students leaving school early will receive an Early Dismissal. Students must check out in the Attendance office before exiting the school.

• Email: ecksteinms.attendance@seattleschools.org
• Phone: 206-252-5014
• Note with the following information:
  • Student’s name
  • Parent/Guardian’s name
  • Relationship to the student
  • Day and time you need your student released
  • Reason for the dismissal

SPS Attendance Information

SPS Student Attendance

All children in Washington state have a constitutionally guaranteed right to an education. They are also legally required to attend school. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% of school, regardless of the reason — that’s 18 days in a school year!

Regular school attendance is the key to student academic success. Attendance has a dramatic impact on key milestones, including 3rd grade reading, 9th grade achievement, high school graduation, and life success.

Unexcused Absences and Truancy – WA State Law “Becca Bill”

If a student has unexcused absences, Washington state law requires that schools take specific actions:

How can families help?

We miss your student when they are gone, and we value their contributions to their school. Please help us ensure your student attends regularly and is successful in school:

• Have your child attend school unless they are truly sick, such as a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, a contagious rash, any health conditions related to COVID-19 or other communicable diseases as defined in WA state law.
  • When is my child too sick for school?
• Schedule appointments and arrange travel for times when school is not in session.
• Keep track of your child’s attendance. Missing school, excused or unexcused, puts your child at risk of falling behind.
  • Compulsory Attendance Letters (translations available)
• Maintain communication with your student’s school and teacher if additional support is needed or to discuss barriers that prevent your student from participation.
• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine. Ensure that your child finishes their homework the night before.

Contact your school:

• To report a student absence
• If you have a question about an automated message you received
• If you have general attendance questions

Contact the SPS Attendance Office:

• If you have questions about truancy
• If you have questions about an attendance letter you received from the district or court

SPS Attendance Office
attendance@seattleschools.org 
206-252-0827
SPS Attendance Office webpage