Attendance Regulations
Compulsory Attendance
In Texas, children who are 6, or who are younger than 6 but have previously been enrolled in 1st grade, and not over 19, are required to attend school, unless exempted by law. School employees investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance laws. Education Code Sections 25.085 and 25.087 require a person who is 18 or older and is enrolled in public school to attend school each day. If the person has more than five consecutive unexcused absences in one semester, the school district may revoke the person's enrollment for the remainder of the year.
Promotion/Credit Rule
In order to receive credit in a class, students must be in attendance for no fewer than 90% of the days the class is offered. Students may not miss more than 18 days per year without proper documentation.
Saturday School
Saturday school does not erase absences. It allows the student to regain credit for their classes.
Petition for Credit
Please contact your child's principal or counselor.
Three Day Rule
When returning to school after an absence, a student must bring a note signed by the parent (or doctor’s note) that describes the reason for the absence. If this note is not presented within (3) days of the absence, the day(s) away from school will be considered unexcused.
Note: Submitting Notes at a Later Date Will Not Change this Category.
Four Day Rule
When returning to school after an absence of 4 or more days, a student must bring a medical excuse signed by the doctor that describes the reason(s) for the absence.
All absences are counted against the attendance rule. Notes signed by the student, even with the parent's permission, will be considered a forgery and the student will be disciplined. For chronic illness information, please see the attendance clerk or principal.
Unauthorized Absences
A student's absence is considered "unauthorized" if
- the student is absent for any reason not authorized by his parents
- the student is absent from school or from any class without permission that absence will be considered as truancy. The student and/or parent may be subject to disciplinary action that includes court appearances and monetary fines.
Part Day Absences
- Students who must leave school during the school day, must bring a note from their parent that morning. If a parent picks up the student early, documentation must be provided after the student returns to school.Parents notes may be used for this purpose. Parents may use four notes per semester.
- 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 will notify the parent(s). Upon returning, the student must present to the principal a note, signed by the parent, that describes the reason for the absence.
Regaining Credit Due to Absence
Students must complete all of the school/class work that they missed because of an absence. Additional work may be required by individual teachers. This is one of the student's efforts that can help regain credit lost because of an illness. You may be required to attend Saturday school.
When a student must be absent from school, the student, upon returning to school, must bring a note signed by a parent that describes the absence. A note signed by a student, even with the parent's permission, will not be accepted unless the student is 18 years or older. Parents' or eligible students' (18 or older) notes stating the reason for absence will only be acceptable for four absences per semester. If a student is absent more than four times due to illness, then the note must be accompanied by supporting documentation such as a statement signed by a licensed physician stating that the student was sick and unable to attend school. All notes must be submitted within 72 hours upon returning to school. Parent notes should be used for medical or family emergencies.