Policy No. 3110

Students

QUALIFICATIONS OF ATTENDANCE AND PLACEMENT

A. Age of Admission

Attending the schools of the district shall be recognized as a right and responsibility for those who meet the requirements prescribed by law. Every resident of the district who satisfies the minimum entry age requirement and is less than 21 years of age has the right to attend the district's schools until he/she completes high school graduation requirements. Children of age 8 and less than age 18 are required by law to attend a public school, an approved private school or educational center, unless they are receiving approved home-based instruction. Under certain circumstances children who are at least 16 and less than 18 years of age may be excused from further attendance at school. The superintendent shall exercise his/her authority to grant exceptions when he/she determines that the student:

1. Is lawfully and regularly employed, and
2. Has permission of a parent, or,
3. Is emancipated pursuant to Chapter 13.64 RCW; or
4. Is subject to one of the other exceptions to compulsory attendance.

A resident student who has been granted an exception retains the right to enroll as a part-time student and shall be entitled to take any course, receive any ancillary services and take or receive any combination of courses and ancillary services which is offered by a public school to full-time students.

B. Entrance Qualifications

Children must be at least five years of age on or before August 31 to enroll in kindergarten.

Children must be at least six years of age on or before August 31 to enroll in first grade.

Children entering either kindergarten or first grade for the first time must have their birth dates verified on the original registration form by presenting a registered certificate of birth or a hospital certificate.  Exceptions to the age limit requirements will be considered on appeal by parents, based on a review of maturity and readiness for the school experience.  A fee will be charged for any such review.  At the time the fee is discussed, parents will be informed that the fee may be waived if the family qualifies for a free or reduced lunch.

C. Admission of Students Aged Twenty-One or Older

Students aged twenty-one or older should not be enrolled in school in the district except under the most unusual circumstances.  When, in the judgment of the Superintendent, such enrollment is deemed to be in the best interests of the school district and the student, the following conditions must be met:

1. There is available space in the school and program which the student shall attend;
2. Tuition is prepaid;
3. The student provides his/her own transportation;
4. The student resides in the Longview School District; and
5. In the judgment of the superintendent, no adult education program is available at reasonable costs and the district's program is appropriate to the needs of the student. 

Initially Adopted: January 21, 1970

Adopted: February 8, 2010

Amended: June 8, 2015