First Three Weeks of School
For attendance purposes during the first three weeks for face-to-face students, students will be required to either attend their scheduled synchronous lesson or submit assignments as proof of engagement per instructional block/class period, on a daily basis and before midnight. This allows students to be counted present, which is essential for them to receive credit for their courses/classes.
Attendance will be counted if the student is present in the synchronous class activities
Attendance will be counted if the student is not present in the synchronous class activities BUT completes asynchronous assignments by the end of the day through the appropriate application
Virtual Academy Students:
Virtual Academy students will begin their virtual learning experience on August 13 and are expected to adhere to the live, synchronous expectations of checking in with teachers each class period or instructional block on a daily basis. This is consistent with the expectation throughout a student’s participation in Virtual Academy.
Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his or her education—to benefit from teacher-led and school activities, to build each day’s learning on the previous day’s, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences. Please know that missing even one period counts as an absence.
If your child is going to be absent from school for any part of or the entire day, please provide our data clerk with a parent note/email or doctor’s note within three school days of your child returning to school. Only 8 parent notes are allowed per year for absences.
Missed Work Due To Absences:
It is a good idea to email your child’s teachers if they are out multiple days to get any work that can be done at home if possible. Students are responsible for collecting make-up work the first day they return to the class(es) that was missed. After receiving their make-up work, students will turn in their work as follows: one day of absence, one day (next class period) to make up work; two days absence, two days (class periods) to make up work; three days or more absent, three days (class periods) to make up work.
When a student between ages 6 and 19 incurs unexcused absences:
- On the 3rd unexcused absence: The school administrators will notify a student’s parent (including a letter), as required by law, to remind the parent that it is the parent’s duty to monitor the student’s attendance and to require the student to come to school. A student attendance behavior intervention plan will be initiated.
- On the 5th unexcused absence: The school administrators will notify a student’s parent (including a letter), as required by law, to remind the parent that it is the parent’s duty to monitor the student’s attendance and to require the student to come to school. The student attendance behavior intervention plan will be updated.
- On the 7th unexcused absence: The school administrators will meet with both the student and parents to review attendance concerns and update the student attendance behavior intervention plan. The district truancy prevention facilitator will be notified and students and parents will be referred to the Frisco ISD Truancy Tribunal with Judge Payton. Parent notes will no longer be accepted to excuse absences.
- On the 10th unexcused absence: A referral to truancy court will be made if the student is absent without excuse from school on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year. Missing one class period and tardies count as parts of days.
The state requires 90% attendance. Students who are in attendance less than 90% of the school year are at risk of losing credit. Students will be expected to make up instructional time outside of the regular school day through tutorials, Thursday Night Reflections, etc.
See the FISD Student Handbook for more information on attendance, including excused/unexcused absences, truancy, exemptions, family vacations.