Attendance Regulations

Compulsory Attendance

State law requires children who are six years old as of September 1 to attend school through their 19th birthday, unless the student is exempt from attendance. Compulsory attendance also applies to students who are younger than six who have previously been enrolled in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten. Texas Education Code 25.085 (b)-(c).

School employees investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance laws. Code 25.085 requires a person who is enrolled in public school to attend school each day.

Promotions & Credits

In order to receive credit in a class, students must be in attendance for no less than 90% of the days the class is offered. Students may not miss more than 18 days per year without proper documentation such as a parent’s note or one received from a physician’s office. Saturday school is available for your student to assist with regaining missed credits for their classes. Credit recovery can be discussed with your child’s principal or counselor. Students must complete all of work they missed due to absences.

Absences

When returning to school after an absence, a student must bring a note signed by the parent or legal guardian, or one from a physician’s office. If this documentation is not presented within 72 hours of the student’s return to school, the absence will be considered unexcused. All absences are counted against the 90% attendance rule. Each semester you are allowed six parent notes. We will accept notes over the phone, via email, or in person.

Unexcused Absences

Any absences without documentation are considered unexcused. If a student is absent without permission, that absence will be considered unexcused.

All unexcused absences may result in, but not limited to: disciplinary action, truancy, monetary fines and court appearances. Texas State Law states the school district shall file for truancy after 10 unexcused absences.

Partial Day Absences

Students who must leave school during the day must provide a note from their parent or guardian stating that they need to leave early. If a parent or guardian chooses to pick up the student early, documentation such as a parent’s note must be provided and the student must be signed out at the front office. If your child is going to an appointment, that note can be turned in when your child returns to school.

Nurse Visits

Students who become ill or are injured during the school day should, with permission, report to the school nurse. The nurse will decide whether or not the student should be sent home and if they will provide a nurse’s excuse. The nurse will contact the parent or guardian to come pick up their student if needed. If the nurse decides the student is fit to return to class, then no nurse’s excuse will be given, but a parent note may be used if the parent or guardian decides to take their student home.

Chronic Illness Forms

If your student has a chronic illness diagnosed by a physician, please fill out a Chronic Illness Form on your child’s campus. You can ask the attendance office to provide this information for you if needed. This form may allow additional days excused as decided by your child’s physician. This form can assist with illnesses such as asthma or migraines.

Notifications from your student’s campus will be sent in regular intervals to keep the parent or guardian informed of all attendance. The notifications will be as follows: emails, phone calls, letters and text messages upon request.