# RCW 28A.300.046: RCW 28A.300.046: "Student absence from school"—Rules—Collection of attendance and discipline data > Washington · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S046 ## Section - **Citation:** RCW 28A.300.046 - **Heading:** RCW 28A.300.046: "Student absence from school"—Rules—Collection of attendance and discipline data - **Jurisdiction:** Washington - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Washington Code / Title 28A / Chapter 300 / Section 046 ## Text (1)(a) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules establishing a standard definition of student absence from school. By the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, the rules must categorize an absence for a mental health reason as an excused absence due to illness, health condition, or medical appointment. (b) In developing the rules, the superintendent shall review current practices in Washington school districts, definitions used in other states, and any national standards or definitions used by the national center for education statistics or other national groups. Prior to filing notice of the rules under RCW 34.05.320 , the superintendent shall consult with the graduation: a team effort partnership advisory committee established under RCW 28A.175.075 and a student advisory group with membership as described in (c) of this subsection. (c) The superintendent shall develop and publish guidelines for public schools to implement the definition of student absence from school adopted under this section. The superintendent must consider including guidance for schools to integrate their responses to student excused absences for physical and mental health into their support systems for student well-being. In developing the guidelines, the superintendent shall consult with a student advisory group whose members are directly impacted by student absence rules and policies and who represent the diversity of the public school population, including diversity in gender identity, family income, race and ethnicity, and geography, among other characteristics. The advisory group must also include a member of the legislative youth advisory council appointed by the lieutenant governor. (d) Using the definition of student absence adopted under this section, the superintendent shall establish an indicator for measuring student attendance in high schools for purposes of the PASS program under RCW 28A.175.130 . (2)(a) The K-12 data governance group under RCW 28A.300.507 shall establish the parameters and an implementation schedule for statewide collection through the comprehensive education and data research system of: (i) Student attendance data using the definitions of student absence adopted under this section; and (ii) student discipline data with a focus on suspensions and expulsions from school. (b) Student suspension and expulsion data collected for the purposes of this subsection (2) must be: (i) Made publicly available and easily accessible on the superintendent of public instruction's website; and (ii) Disaggregated and cross-tabulated as established under RCW 28A.300.042 . (c) School districts must collect and submit student attendance data and student discipline data for high school students through the comprehensive education and data research system for purposes of the PASS program under RCW 28A.175.130 beginning in the 2012-13 school year. ## Nearby sections - [RCW 28A.300.010 RCW 28A.300.010: Election—Term of office.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S010.md) - [RCW 28A.300.020 RCW 28A.300.020: Assistant superintendents, deputy superintendent, assistants—Terms for exempt personnel.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S020.md) - [RCW 28A.300.030 RCW 28A.300.030: Assistance of educational service district boards and superintendents—Scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S030.md) - [RCW 28A.300.035 RCW 28A.300.035: Assistance of certificated or classified employee—Reimbursement for substitute.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S035.md) - [RCW 28A.300.039 RCW 28A.300.039: Condensed compliance reports—Second-class districts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S039.md) - [RCW 28A.300.040 RCW 28A.300.040: Powers and duties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S040.md) - [RCW 28A.300.041 RCW 28A.300.041: Statewide student assessment system—Redesign—Reports to the legislature.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S041.md) - [RCW 28A.300.042 RCW 28A.300.042: Collection and submittal of student-level data—Student data-related reports—Disaggregation of data by subgroups—Modification of statewide student data systems.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S042.md) - [RCW 28A.300.045 RCW 28A.300.045: Pupil tests and records—Rules.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S045.md) - [RCW 28A.300.046 RCW 28A.300.046: "Student absence from school"—Rules—Collection of attendance and discipline data.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S046.md) - [RCW 28A.300.050 RCW 28A.300.050: Assistance to professional educator standards board for activities involving professional educator excellence.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S050.md) - [RCW 28A.300.060 RCW 28A.300.060: Studies and adoption of classifications for school district budgets—Publication.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S060.md) - [RCW 28A.300.065 RCW 28A.300.065: Classification and numbering system of school districts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S065.md) - [RCW 28A.300.070 RCW 28A.300.070: Receipt of federal funds for school purposes—Superintendent of public instruction to administer.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S070.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T28A_C300_S046. 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