State Senator Manka Dhingra stopped by Ella Baker Elementary on October 12 to promote the need for everyone to participate in a democracy and to tell students what motivated her to run for office.
Community Truancy Boards
Community Truancy Boards are an approach to reducing student absences. Lake Washington School District has two boards: One board covers the Eastlake and Redmond areas. The other covers the Juanita and Lake Washington areas.
The mission of Community Truancy Boards is to improve attendance and school engagement. They find positive solutions to the reasons for each student’s absences. Community Truancy Boards help families address obstacles that prevent students from attending school.
Washington’s truancy law, often called “the Becca Bill,” is intended to stop absenteeism before it becomes a problem. If a student does not attend school, the law requires the school district to take action. A new law requires Community Truancy Boards as a middle step before formal legal action. Each Community Truancy Board is made up of educators and community members.