Attendance Policies

Compulsory Attendance:

Prekindergarten and Kindergarten 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 6-19 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.

Ages 6 -19

When a student ages 6 -19 incurs 3 unexcused absences within a four-week period, the law requires the school to send notice to the parent.

The notice will:

• Remind the parent of their duty to monitor the student’s attendance and require the student to attend school.
• Request a conference between school administrators and the parent; and
• 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

Age 19 and Older

A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after their 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.

[If a student pre-k through 12th grade is absent from school for 10 or more days or part of days without an excuse within a 6-month period, the parent and/or student are subject to legal prosecution.]

Compulsory Attendance Exemptions:

All Grade Levels State law allows exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for the following activities and events, as long as the student makes up all the 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 as the appointment and brings a note from the healthcare provider.
• Absences resulting from a serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes a student’s attendance infeasible, with certification by a physician.
• For students in the conservatorship of the state.
• An activity required under a court-ordered service plan; or
• 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

• Is in grades six through 12 and misses school for the purpose of playing “Taps” at a military honors funeral held in Texas for a deceased veteran.

• Misses school for the purpose of serving as a student early voting clerk

• Misses school for the purpose of taking part in the student’s own US naturalization oath ceremony, including traveling for that purpose.

• Is in his or her junior or senior year of high school and misses school for the purpose of visiting an institution of higher education accredited by a generally recognized accrediting organization to determine the student’s interest in attending the institution.

• Is 17 years of age or older and pursuing enlistment in a branch of the US uniformed services or the Texas Army National Guard.

• Misses school for the purpose of visiting a driver’s license office to obtain a driver’s license or learner permit. The student must be enrolled in high school and 15 years of age or older.

• Is in his or her junior or senior year of high school and misses school for the purpose of visiting a professional at the professional’s workplace for the purpose of career investigation to determine the student’s interest in pursuing a career in the professional’s field.

NOTE: The District will excuse up to five days per semester with a parent note. Any absence with a parent note after the fifth absence will be at the campus' discretion. Not all absences with parent notes are excused.

Compulsory Attendance Failure to Comply:

All Grade Levels School employees must investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance law. A student who is absent without permission from school for any class, any required special programs, or any required tutorials will be considered in violation of the compulsory attendance law and subject to disciplinary action.

Students 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.

Attendance for Credit or Final Grade (Kindergarten–Grade 12):