3123: Withdrawal Prior to Graduation

Students age 16 or older identified by themselves or staff as potential dropouts will become a focus of attention in the following manner:

1. Each student and his/her counselor will meet for the purpose of discussing the reason for desiring to withdraw from school and the student's plans for the future, including the educational, counseling and related services which are available within the school and/or community.
2. The counselor and the student's teachers will meet to discuss the student's present status and to identify program modifications and/or options that will meet the student's present and future needs.
3. The student, parent or guardian, counselor and principal will review all pertinent information and the options that are available to the student and his/her parents with parent, counselor, and principal.

Reasonable efforts will be made to persuade the student to remain in school and complete requirements for a diploma. If unsuccessful, staff will attempt to find placement in an appropriate alternative educational setting. Failing that, the principal will determine if there is sufficient ground to excuse the student from continued compulsory attendance. If there is, the principal will recommend to the superintendent that the student be excused from further school attendance.

No student under the age of 18 will be permitted to withdraw unless he or she is lawfully and regularly employed and either a parent agrees that the student should not be required to attend school, or the student has been emancipated in accordance with Chapter 13.64 RCW. No student under the age of 16 will be permitted to withdraw from further school attendance unless another exception to compulsory attendance has been met.

The superintendent will provide the board an annual early withdrawal report which outlines the age and grade level for each student, the reason(s) for leaving and any follow-up data that has been collected after the student has withdrawn.

Cross References

• Board Policy 2090 Program Evaluation
• 2108 Remediation Program
• 2121 Substance Abuse Program
• 2140 Guidance and Counseling
• 2163 Response to Intervention

Legal References

• RCW 28A.225.010 Attendance mandatory — Age — Exceptions
• 28A.225.020 School's duties upon juvenile's failure to attend school