What is..........

A Truancy Hearing

Pre -Hearing Preparation (this applies to both petition and contempt hearings):
The clerk will prepare daily calendars showing the cases which are scheduled for hearing. The clerk will forward that calendar to the truancy prosecutor, who will forward the email to each school district’s designated Becca coordinator.

The District Becca coordinators are responsible for contacting the school of each student to assure updated attendance records are sent in no later than 48 hours before the hearing. Updated attendance records are required for all truancy hearings. They can be sent by email ( truancy.prosecutor@co.yakima.wa.us), or mailed via Next Day US Postal service.

The truancy prosecutor will print three copies of the attendance records: for the truancy prosecutor, for defense counsel, and for the court commissioner.

At the Petition Hearing:
The petition hearings are scheduled on the 1:30 docket.

The school district’s designated Becca coordinator is responsible for determining which school employee will appear at court hearings. The school employee will be assisted in court by the truancy prosecutor. The student must attend, with their appointed attorney. The parent must attend.

At the petition hearing, after the court has heard from the parties, the court will decide whether a student or parent have violated the Becca Bill.

Agreed cases: When a family agrees that the student has had unexcused absences, the court will sign an order requiring the student to attend school, and possibly order substance abuse testing for the student.

Contested cases : If a case is disputed but can be resolved by brief testimony, the hearing will proceed and be completed the same day. Otherwise, the case can be postponed to another day which it can be given more time.

The truancy prosecutor fills out the resulting court order and hands it to the Becca staff person to circulate for signatures.