SB 5988: Truancy

Summary

• $ If a 6- or 7-year-old enrolls full-time in public school, the child is required to attend school regularly and the truancy provisions apply if the child does not attend regularly. If a 6- or 7-year-old becomes truant, any petitions are to be filed against the parent, not the student.
• $ The juvenile court is to establish community truancy boards and may delegate that responsibility to a school district if the district agrees to operate a truancy board.
• $ When a truancy petition is filed, the court requires a truancy board to work out an agreement, unless the court feels it would not be effective or a court hearing is requested. The court uses civil contempt and detention to get the truant child back in school. Truancy petitions may be served by certified mail.
• $ When a child transfers from one school district to another, attendance records follow; when a child moves from one county to another, the truancy petition can be transferred to the new county.
• $ If funds are available, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) studies truancy issues and also provides grants for alternative education programs and services.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SSB 5988), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗