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Attendance Policy

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The district will take attendance everyday at 9:30 AM.

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  • Attendance Policy

    • Students enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten are required to attend school and are subject to the compulsory attendance requirements as long as they remain enrolled. Ages 6–18 State law requires that a student who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached their 19th birthday, shall attend school, as well as any applicable accelerated instruction program, extended-year program, or tutorial session, unless the student is otherwise excused from attendance or legally exempt. State law requires a student in kindergarten–grade 2 to attend any assigned accelerated reading instruction program. Parents will be notified in writing if their child is assigned to an accelerated reading instruction program based on a diagnostic reading instrument. A student will be required to attend any assigned accelerated instruction program before or after school or during the summer if the student does not meet the passing standards on the state assessment for his or her grade level and/or applicable subject area. Age 19 and Older A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after his or her 19th birthday is required to attend each school day until the end of the school year. If the student incurs more than five unexcused absences in a semester, the district may revoke the student’s enrollment. The student’s presence on school property thereafter would be unauthorized and may be considered trespassing. 

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  • Compulsory Attendance - Exemptions for All Grade Level

    • State law allows exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for the following activities and events, as long as the student makes up all work:

      • Religious holy days

      • Required court appearances

      • Activities related to obtaining U.S. citizenship

      • Documented health-care appointments for the student or a child of the student, including absences related to autism services, if the student returns to school on the same day of the appointment and brings a note from the healthcare provider

      • For students in the conservatorship of the state

      • An activity required under a court-ordered service plan

      • Any other court-ordered activity provided it is not practicable to schedule the student’s participation in the activity outside of school hours

      • For children of military families, absences of up to five days will be excused for a student to visit a parent, stepparent, or legal guardian going to, on leave from, or returning from certain deployments.

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  • Compulsory Attendance - Exemptions for Secondary Grade Levels

    • The district will allow a student 17 years old or older to be absent for up to four days during the period the student is enrolled in high school to pursue enlistment in the U.S. armed services or Texas National Guard, provided the student verifies these activities to the district. The district will allow a student to be absent for up to two days per school year to serve as:

      •  An early voting clerk, provided the district’s board has authorized this in policy FEA(LOCAL), the student notifies his or her teachers, and the student receives approval from the principal prior to the absences

      • An election clerk, if the student makes up any work missed

      • The district will allow a student in grades 6–12 to be absent for the purpose of sounding “Taps” at a military honors funeral for a deceased veteran.

    • The district will allow junior and senior students to be absent for up to two days per year to visit a college or university, provided this

      • Has been authorized by the board under policy FEA(LOCAL) and the student receives approval from the campus principal

      • Follows campus procedures to verify the visit

      • Makes up any work missed. 

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  • Attendance - Student with Disabilities

    • If a student with a disability is experiencing attendance issues, the student’s ARD or Section 504 committee will determine whether the attendance issues warrant an evaluation, a reevaluation, and/or modifications to the student's individualized education program or Section 504 plan, as appropriate.

    • When a student ages 6–18 incurs three or more unexcused absences within a four-week period, the law requires the school to send notice to the parent

      • Remind the parent of his or her duty to monitor the student’s attendance and require the student to attend school

      • Request a conference between school administrators and the parent

      • Inform the parent that the district will initiate truancy prevention measures, including a behavior improvement plan, school-based community service, referrals to counseling or other social services, or other appropriate measures

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  • Truancy

    • Lesley Sanders (Truancy Case Representative)

    • A court of law may impose penalties against the parent if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. The district may file a complaint against the parent if the student incurs ten or more unexcused absences within a six-month period in the same school year. If a student aged 12–18 incurs ten or more unexcused absences within a six-month period in the same school year, the district, in most circumstances, will refer the student to truancy court.

    • Attendance Impact on Course Credit and Final Grades

      • To receive credit or a final grade in a class, a student must attend the class at least 90 percent of the days it is offered. A student who attends at least 75 percent but fewer than 90 percent of the days may receive credit or a final grade if he or she completes a plan, approved by the principal, that allows the student to fulfill the class’s instructional requirements. If a student is involved in a criminal or juvenile court proceeding, the judge presiding over the case must also approve the plan before the student receives credit or a final grade. If a student attends fewer than 75 percent of the class days or does not complete the principal-approved plan, then the attendance review committee will determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit or a final grade. [See policy FEC for more information.] All absences, excused or unexcused, may be held against a student’s attendance requirement. To determine whether there were extenuating circumstances for any absences, the attendance committee will use the following guidelines: 

        • If makeup work is completed, absences listed under Compulsory Attendance— Exemptions on page will be considered extenuating circumstances. 

        • A transfer or migrant student incurs absences only after he or she has enrolled in the district. 

        • Absences incurred due to the student’s participation in board-approved extracurricular activities will be considered by the attendance committee as extenuating circumstances if the student makes up the work missed in each class. 

        • The committee will consider the acceptability and authenticity of documented reasons for the student’s absences. 

        • The committee will consider whether the student or student’s parent had any control over the absences. 

        • The committee will consider the extent to which the student has completed all assignments, mastered the essential knowledge and skills, and maintained passing grades in the course or subject. 

        • The student or parent will be given an opportunity to present any information to the committee about the absences and discuss ways to earn or regain credit or a final grade. The student or parent may appeal the committee’s decision to the board by following policy FNG(LOCAL).

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