Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The office of superintendent of public instruction (OSPI) is initiating permanent rule making to make adjustments to the rules regarding absences in a continued effort to support the state and school districts in addressing the challenge of chronic absenteeism, improving learning outcomes and success in school for all students, and supporting the whole child. In addition, because health and safety considerations for staff and students related to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to require many school districts to provide instruction remotely, either completely or partially, OSPI is initiating rule making to adjust the statewide definition of absence to reflect districts' ongoing need to provide remote learning for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. OSPI is further considering adjusting the definition of absence to reflect remote learning opportunities in future school years.

Process for Developing New Rule: Early solicitation of feedback and recommendations respecting new or amended rules, and consideration of the comments and recommendations in the course of drafting rules. OSPI will follow the process for establishing a definition of student absence from school as prescribed in RCW 28A.300.046 (1)(a).

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Krissy Johnson, OSPI, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-6045, TTY 360-664-3631, email krissy.johnson@k12.wa.us, website k12.wa.us.