Attendance

The Texas State Compulsory Attendance Law requires students aged 6 through 19 to attend school.  Section 25.085 requires students to go to school each school day for the entire school day unless exempted by law.  This requirement includes students who have voluntarily enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten and students who are nineteen years old or older.

Students are required to attend school from the time the school day begins until the time the school day ends. A partial day absence occurs when a student is not present for part of the school day.

Students who violate this law may get referral(s) for court proceedings against the parent, guardian or student to enforce the law.

Violation of the law occurs when students get unexcused absences for 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period.

State law allows exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for several types of absences if the student makes up all work. These include the following activities and events:

• 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 for recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, if the student comes to school or returns to school on the same day as the appointment. A note from the health-care provider must be submitted upon the student’s arrival or return to campus; and
• For students in the conservatorship (custody) 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. As listed in Section I at Children of Military Families, absences of up to five days will be excused for a student to visit with a parent, stepparent, or legal guardian who has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from certain deployments.

Other Exemptions

An absence will also be considered an exemption if a student 17 years of age or older is pursuing enlistment in a branch of the U.S. armed services or Texas National Guard, provided the absence does not exceed four days and the student provides verification to the district of these activities. Absences of up to two days in a school year will also be considered an exemption for:

• 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; and
• An election clerk, if the student makes up any work missed.
• An absence of a student in grades 6–12 for the purpose of sounding “Taps” at a military honors funeral for a deceased veteran will also be excused by the district.

In addition to the Compulsory Attendance Law, there is the “90% Rule,” which states that in order to receive credit for a final grade for a class, a student is required to attend class 90 percent of the days a class is offered regardless of whether the student’s absences are excused or unexcused. When students do not meet the 90% attendance rate in a class, CSISD provides written notification to the parent/guardian in the form of an Excessive Absence Letter. The loss of credit is also reflected on a student’s report card. If the student does not meet the 90% requirement in a class, the student must go through the Attendance Recovery Process outlined in the BISD Student Handbook, which denotes that:

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 BISD Board Policies FEC (LEGAL) and FEC(LEGAL)FEC (LOCAL).

Truancy Prevention Measures: If the student fails to attend school without excuse on three or more days or parts of days within a four week period, the district shall initiate truancy prevention measures on the student. A campus administrator shall request a conference with the parents to:

• inform the parents it is their duty to monitor the student’s attendance
• explain the possibility and consequences of truancy charges if the pattern continues
• make the parents aware of the 90% attendance requirement in order to maintain credit
• implement strategies that will prevent future unexcused absences 

District Complaint or Referral: If a student fails to attend school without excuse on ten or more days or parts of days within a 6 month period in the same school year, a district shall within ten school days of the student’s tenth absence refer the student to a truancy court. *Student Liability: A child (12 years old or older) engages in truant conduct if the child fails to attend school on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year. 

Note: The 90% attendance requirement in order to maintain credit does not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. A student may be in danger of losing credit even if truancy charges are not filed. 

When a student is absent from school, the student—upon arrival or return to school—must bring a note signed by the parent that describes the reason for the absence. A note signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the student is age 18 or older or is an emancipated minor under state law. A phone call from the parent may be accepted, but the district reserves the right to require a written note. The campus will document in its attendance records for the student whether the absence is considered by the district to be excused or unexcused. Note: Unless the absence is for a statutorily allowed reason under compulsory attendance laws, the district is not required to excuse any absence, even if the parent provides a note explaining the absence.

Doctor’s Note after an Absence for Illness

Within three (3) days of returning to school, a student absent for more than five (5) consecutive days because of a personal illness must bring a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s extended absence from school. Otherwise, the student’s absence may be considered unexcused and, if so, would be considered to be in violation of compulsory attendance laws. Should the student develop a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s absence from school to determine whether the absence or absences will be excused or unexcused. [See policy FEC(LOCAL).]