Absences and Attendance
All Grade Levels
All absent notes and doctors notes/documentation should be uploaded to the form below:
https://forms.dentonisd.org/Forms/absence-note
State law allows exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for several types of absences if the student makes up all work. For the following exemptions, the ‘3 school day’ rule does not apply. With appropriate documentation, written excuses will be accepted at any time. These include the following activities and events:
Religious holy days;
Required court appearances;
Activities related to obtaining United States 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. 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,
Mental health or therapy appointments; or
Court-ordered family visitations or any other court-ordered activity, provided it is not practicable to schedule the student’s participation in activities 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.
School employees must investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance law. A student absent without permission from school; from any class; from required special programs, such as additional special instruction, termed “accelerated instruction” by the state; or from required tutorials will be considered in violation of the compulsory attendance law and subject to disciplinary action.
A court of law may also impose penalties against both the student and his or her parents 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 a six- month period in the same school year, or
Is absent without excuse on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period.
For a student younger than 12 years of age, the student’s parent could be charged with an offense based on the student’s failure to attend school.
If a student age 12 through age 17 violates the compulsory attendance law, both the parent and student could be charged with an offense.
Attendance for Credit or Final Grade (Kindergarten through Grade 12)
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.
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.
In determining whether there were extenuating circumstances for the absences, the attendance committee will use the following guidelines:
All absences, whether excused or unexcused, must be considered in determining whether a student has attended the required percentage of days. 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.
In reaching a decision about a student’s absences, the committee will attempt to ensure that it is in the best interest of the student.
The committee will review absences incurred based on the student’s participation in board-approved extracurricular activities. These absences will be considered by the attendance committee as extenuating circumstances in accordance with the absences allowed under FM(LOCAL) if the student made up the work missed in each class.
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 given an opportunity 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).
Official Attendance-Taking Time (All Grade Levels)
The district must submit attendance of its students to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) reflecting attendance at a specific time each day.
Official attendance is taken every day at 9:30 a.m. A student absent for any portion of the day, including at the official attendance-taking time, should follow the procedures below to provide documentation of the absence.
Documentation after an Absence (All Grade Levels)
All absent notes and doctors notes/documentation should be uploaded to the form below:
https://forms.dentonisd.org/Forms/absence-note
When a student is absent from school, the reason for that absence must be provided in writing within 3 school days to the school in order to make appropriate documentation. A handwritten note or email from the parent to the campus attendance secretary will be accepted. Phone calls will not be accepted as documentation. A phone call from the school verifying the parent note may be expected in some instances. A note signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the student is 18 or older or is an emancipated minor under state law.
The campus will document in its attendance records for the student whether the absence is considered by the district to be excused or unexcused. Please note that, 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 (All Grade Levels)
Upon return to school, a student absent for five or more 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 in order to determine whether the absence or absences will be excused or unexcused.
In order for an absence to be coded MED, the student must begin classes or return to school on the same day of the appointment. The appointment should be supported by a document, such as a note or fax from a healthcare professional. This documented medical appointment applies to any absence for the student.
Late Arrival (All grade levels)
Students are expected to be in their classrooms ready to start their day at 7:40 AM. Students who are dropped off after 7:45 AM must be checked in at the front office by a parent or guardian.