YOUR ATTENDANCE MATTERS!

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 fewer than 90 percent of the days the class is offered will be referred to the attendance review committee. The committee will determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit or a final grade. [See policy FEC for more information.] With the exception of absences due to serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment, all absences, excused or unexcused, may be held against a student’s attendance requirement. To determine whether there were extenuating circumstances for any absences, the attendance committee will consider:

• Whether the student has mastered the essential knowledge and skills and maintained passing grades in the course or subject.

• Whether the student has completed makeup work satisfactorily. If the student completes makeup work, absences listed under Compulsory Attendance — Exemptions and absences for extracurricular activities will be considered extenuating circumstances.

• Whether the student or the student’s parent had any control over the absences.

• Any information presented by the student or parent to the committee about the absences. The student or parent may appeal the committee’s decision to the board by following policy FNG(LOCAL).

Here are a few tips to consider:

• Have your student arrive to school on time and attend every class period, especially the OAT—official attendance-taking period (10:45 AM)
   

• What happens if your student needs to see a doctor/dentist/therapist? If possible, we encourage you to schedule appointments outside of school hours. Obtain and submit a medical note for documentation to provide to your student’s campus Attendance Specialist. Documentation is needed so the absence will be coded correctly.
   

• When you receive an absence notification, please follow up with your student and the campus attendance specialist. If you have documentation for your student’s absence, please submit as early as possible (it is recommended to submit within 48 hours). If you believe a teacher has marked a student incorrectly, please have your student reach out to the teacher of the marked period.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What type of absences do count against my student's attendance?

Some examples of absences that count against the 90% attendance law include, but are not limited to:

• Vacations

• Parent/guardian illness note

• Attendance at non-school sponsored events

• What type of absences do not count against my student's attendance?

Activities that do not count against the 90% attendance law include, but are not limited to:

• School field trip

• University Interscholastic League (UIL)

• Observing religious holy days under TEC 25.087. Travel is limited to no more than one day of travel to and one day of travel from the observation site. Church retreats, camps, and missions’ trips, and individual religious rites (Baptisms, Christenings, Bar and bat mitzvahs, etc.) are not holy days.

• Temporarily absent during the school day because of a documented appointment for the student, with a healthcare professional. The professional is licensed, certified or registered by an appropriate agency of the State of Texas. The student begins classes or returns to school the same day of the appointment.

• Appearing at a governmental office to complete paperwork required in connection with the student’s application for US citizenship or taking part in a US naturalization oath ceremony

• Participation in activities related to Child Protection Services or the Juvenile Justice System

• The official standards are described in TEA's Student Attendance Accounting Handbook (SAAH). 19 TAC 129.1025.