What is the Texas Compulsory Attendance Law?
The law requires a student between the ages of 6 and 18 and students enrolled in prekindergarten and kindergarten to attend school 90% of the time.
Are parents and their children held responsible for their school attendance?
You and your child are legally responsible for your child’s regular attendance so long as the child falls under the guidelines of the Compulsory Attendance Law. Failure to attend school is a Class C misdemeanor filed in the Justice of the Peace Court in Wise County. Charges may be filed against both the parent and the child or just the parent or the child.
Since Decatur ISD does not designate whether an absence is “excused” or “unexcused”, should I send a note?
Parents should always send a note giving the school the reason(s) for the student's absence.
Why are my absences still showing in “Parent Access” as unexcused when I sent a doctor’s note to the school for my child’s absence?
The Skyward program that the district uses for “Parent Access” notes all absences as “unexcused”. The attendance clerks at the campus will input any information from notes received about the absences, and those notes will determine which absences will be considered for the 90% rule and if any absences fall into the truancy category. When parents receive progress reports and report cards, absences will simply be noted as “absences”.
Do tardies count as absences?
Students CAN be counted absent for missing any part of a day. All students are expected to arrive on time for the start of school, be on time for any classes, and stay in attendance for the instructional day. Suppose a pattern of early leave develops at any time during the school day. In that case, a student may be referred to campus administration or the campus attendance committee to review possible action, intervention, or consequences.
Can absences affect my child’s ability to apply for or renew his/her driver’s license?
For a student between the ages of 16 and 18 to obtain a driver's license, written parental permission must be provided for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to access the student’s attendance records and, in certain circumstances, for a school administrator to provide the student’s attendance information to DPS. A verification of enrollment (VOE) form may be obtained from the office, which the student will need to submit to DPS upon application for a driver's license.
If my child is absent, will he/she be allowed to make up his/her work?
A student may make up any missed work from an absence based on on-campus practices.
Are there any absences that will not be part of the 90% attendance rule?
With proper documentation, the following absences will not count in the 90% rule:
Health Care Appointments - Student temporarily absent due to a documented appointment. Students must return with a note from the physician either on the same day or the next day. Student must have been present for some portion of the school day on the day of appointment.
Observing Religious Holy Days - May include 1 day of travel to and 1 day of travel from the event and requires notification from the parent to a designated school representative
School-Related/Extracurricular Activity - Examples include a field trip or an athletic event with a designated school/sponsor/employee(s).
Court Appearance - The student is involved in court proceedings and includes travel for that purpose. The student should provide documentation of the required appearance before date of absence.
Taps - (Grades 6-12 only) to sound “Taps” at military honors funeral for a deceased veteran. Requires parental documentation
College Visit - With parent documentation, and limited to two days for 12th graders and one day for 11th graders
Naturalization - At the governmental office to complete paperwork for US citizenship and take part in the Naturalization process
What absences do count as part of the 90% attendance rule?
If a student is absent for any other reason than those listed above, the absences DO count toward the 90% attendance rule. A note is required for any absence and must be turned in to the school office. The following are examples of absences that would count toward the 90% rule:
Any normal student absence documented by parent/guardian due to illness or other non-recognized absence
Undocumented student absences
Absences from out-of-school suspension
Required participation in an ongoing court case
Funeral attendance
How will I know if my child is falling below the 90% attendance rule?
When a student between ages 6 and 19 incurs undocumented absences for three or more days or parts of days within four weeks, the school will send a notice to the student’s parent, as required by law, to remind the parent that the parent has to monitor his or her child’s attendance and to require the student to come to school. The notice will also inform the parent that the district will initiate truancy prevention measures and request a conference between school administrators and the parent. These measures will include a behavior improvement plan, school-based community service, or referrals to either in-school or out-of-school counseling or other social services. Any other measures considered appropriate by the district will also be initiated.
The truancy prevention facilitators for the district are the campus assistant principals. If you have questions about your student and the effect of his or her absences from school, please contact the facilitator or any other campus administrator.
A court of law may also impose penalties against a student’s parent if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. A complaint against the parent may be filed in court if the student is absent without excuse from school on ten or more days or parts of days within six months in the same school year.
If a student ages 12 through 18 incurs unexcused absences on ten or more days or parts of days within six months in the same school year, the district, in most circumstances, will refer the student to truancy court.
[See policy FEA(LEGAL).]
Will my child receive credit if he/she is not in school 90% of the time?
To receive credit or a final grade in a class, a student in kindergarten–grade 12 must attend at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. A student who attends at least 75 percent but fewer than 90 percent of the days the class is offered may receive credit or a final grade for the class if he or she completes a plan, approved by the principal, that allows the student to fulfill the instructional requirements for the class. If a student is involved in a criminal or juvenile court proceeding, the approval of the judge presiding over the case will also be required before the student receives credit or a final grade for the class.
Most often, elementary students will be required to attend summer school. Secondary students could be asked to make up the time after school hours (after school or on Saturdays). Attendance at Saturday School or summer school will not erase absence; it will allow students to regain credit.
If a student attends less than 75 percent of the days a class is offered or has not completed the plan approved by the principal, then the student will be referred to the attendance review committee to determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit or a final grade lost because of absences.
All absences must be considered in determining whether a student has attended the required percentage of days. In determining whether there were extenuating circumstances for the absences, the attendance committee will use the following guidelines:
If makeup work is completed, absences for the reasons listed above at Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance will be considered extenuating circumstances for purposes of attendance for credit or the award of a final grade.
A transfer or migrant student begins to accumulate absences only after he or she has enrolled in the district.
In deciding a student’s absences, the committee will attempt to ensure that it is in the best interest of the student.
The committee will consider the acceptability and authenticity of documented reasons for the student’s absences.
The committee will consider whether the absences were for reasons over which the student or the student’s parent could exercise any control.
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 allowed to present any information to the committee about the absences and to talk about 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).
