Important Information on Reporting an Absence
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the Texas Attendance Laws?
A: Section 65.003 of the Texas Family Code states: (a) A child engages in truant conduct if the child is required to attend school under 25.085, Education Code, and fails to attend school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year. This law applies to children between the ages of 6-19. However; if you voluntarily enroll your student in pre kindergarten or kindergarten before the age of 6, school attendance laws also apply to your child.
Q: What is the 90% Rule?
A: Texas Education Code Section 25.092 states, “a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered.” This means that students will need to make-up class time missed due to excessive absences. Even if your child has excused absences, he or she may be asked to make up class time to earn credit for classes.
Q: How does the district/school notify parents and guardians of student absences?
Attendance letters
Parent notification system phone calls
Home visits
School progress reports
School report cards
Skyward Family Access
Q: What if I disagree with the school?
A: If you feel your child’s circumstances warrant additional consideration before making up class time, talk with your child’s Assistant Principal about the campus attendance appeals process.
Q: What is an excused absence?
A: Excused absences are not viewed as days a student is entitled to take. Excused absences include, but are not limited to personal illness, funeral/memorial, Dr. appointments, or school-sponsored curricular or extracurricular activities.
Q: What is an unexcused absence?
A: An unexcused absence is any absence that does not meet the definition of an excused absence (example: personal business or vacation, out of town, traffic, car trouble).