About truancy

In 1993, a 13-year-old runaway named Rebecca Hedman ("Becca") was murdered in Spokane, Washington, far from her home in Tacoma. A group of parents and legislators came together and successfully pushed for legislation (passed in 1995) designed to prevent situations like Becca's from happening again. The so-called "Becca Bill" addresses several areas of public policy, including those affecting truant, at-risk, and runaway youth.

King County Superior Court operates and manages three programs, Truancy, At-Risk Youth, and Child in Need of Services, as court services under the Becca Bill. We also facilitate the King County Community Attendance Support Team (CAST). These programs are designed to support families and school districts to help them meet their statutory and court-ordered obligations when filing Becca petitions.

Laws

• Washington State Law requires, with some exceptions, all children between the ages of 8 and 18 years old to attend school every day when it is in session (RCW 28A.225.010).
• Six- and seven-year-olds enrolled in school are required to attend every day (RCW 28A.225.015).
• If a child who is required to attend is absent from school and the absence is not verified by a parent or guardian and/or the reason for the absence does not meet the definition under Washington State Law (Chapter 392-401 WAC) or school district policy, that absences is considered “unexcused”.
• School districts are required take steps to eliminate or reduce unexcused absences from school, and file truancy petitions with the Juvenile Court when students have accumulated seven unexcused absences in one month or not later than 15 unexcused absences in an academic year.