ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL 2044
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Ormsby, Parshley, Macri, and Gregerson
Read first time 03/24/25. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to addressing unexcused student absences by eliminating truancy petition requirements, while maintaining options for community engagement boards; amending RCW 28A.225.0261 , 28A.225.015 , 28A.225.020 , 28A.225.025 , 28A.225.030 , 28A.225.035 , 28A.225.090 , 28A.225.151 , 2.56.140 , and 28A.225.900 ; adding a new section to chapter 28A.710 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.715 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 28A.225.0261 and 2021 c 119 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) (( By requiring an initial stay of truancy petitions for diversion to community engagement boards )) The legislature intends to eliminate the option for school districts to file a truancy petition before a child's fifth unexcused absence. Instead, the legislature intends for school districts to enter into an attendance agreement with the parent or child if age eight or above, either directly or through a community engagement board. The legislature further intends that school districts be required to file a truancy petition only if the parent or child fails to comply with the attendance agreement or if no attendance agreement is reached.