ATTENDANCE

Excellent attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his or her education to benefit from teacher led activities, to build each day’s learning on the previous day’s, to be prepared for college, and to grow as an individual or person. Absences from class may result in lower grades or lower mastery of classroom instruction. Therefore, students and parents must make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences.

*According to Senate Bill 1, students are required by law to attend school each school day, each period the course meets, during each tem of instruction. Students are required to attend class 90% of the semester in order to receive credit. Thus, they are allowed up to (9) absences the first semester and up to (9) absences the second semester. Students who exceed the allowable number of absences may petition the attendance committee for credit*

On the day of an absence a student’s parent/guardian is to call the attendance office (956-632-3126) to report the absence. When returning to school, the student must report to the attendance office with a written excuse prior to his/her first period class the day he/she returns but no later than their third day back in school. If not received within three days, the absence becomes an unexcused absence. The absence excuse must include: name of student, I.D. number, grade, date(s) of absence, reason for absence, telephone number where parent/guardian can be reached, and signature of parent/guardian.(FINAL DISCRETION ON EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCES LIES WITH THE ATTENDANCE ADMINISTRATOR AND /OR PRINCIPAL)

Truancy Officer: Marisela Leal (Marisela.Leal@mcallenisd.net)

TARDY POLICY

As instruction begins, the teacher will close their door immediately. Any student who fails to be inside the classroom once instruction begins will be considered tardy unless the student has an excuse from an administrator.(Please refer to the MAT tardy policy) Once the student has accumulated a total of 4 tardies for a particular period, a disciplinary referral will be produced on behalf of the discipline center for a tardy hearing. If the student continues to be tardy after that and fails to remedy the situation, the student will effectively be placed on an attendance contract and could receive a greater administrative consequence as outlined in our student code of conduct.

Tardy Policy (per Semester)

Students are encouraged to take traffic patterns into consideration as they plan for travel to the school.

Students who arrive to class after the bell has rung will be marked tardy.

Consequences for tardies

1st Tardy - Teacher warning

2nd Tardy -Teacher will submit student name for 1 day of after school detention.

3rd Tardy- Teacher will submit student name for 2 days of after school detention.

4th Tardy- Referral by teacher/one day in ISS/Parent contact will be made

5th Tardy - Parent meeting with administrator/Attendance Contract with Mrs. Leal/ Discussion of administrative consequence

*TARDIES WILL RESET AFTER EVERY NEW GRADING PERIOD*

*We encourage all parents/guardians to use Skyward to monitor student absences, grades, tardies, etc...*

For assistance call 956-632-3100

TRUANCY

As per Texas Education Code section 25.095, “a school district or open enrollment charter school shall notify a student’s parent in writing at the beginning of the school year that if the student is absent from school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six month period in the same school year or on three or more days or parts of days within a four week period:

The student’s parent is subject to prosecution under Section 25.093 of the Texas Education Code; and
The student is subject to prosecution under Section 25.094 of the Texas Education Code.

It is the parent’s responsibility to monitor the student’s attendance and require the student to attend school; and the parent is subject to prosecution under Section 25.093.
The fact that a parent did not receive a copy of a Warning Notice does not create a defense to prosecution under Section 25.093 0r 25.094. In this section, “parent” includes a person standing in parental relation.

Skipping Policy

Skipping Policy:

Cutting class/skipping school is defined as any unauthorized absence from school or class. Students who skip or cut class will receive a discipline consequence, which may include after school detention, ISS, Campus AEP, etc. Once students arrive on campus for the day, they may not leave campus without administator approval. This rule also applies if a student leaves campus before the official start of the school day. Skipping is considered an unexcused absence and the student code of conduct will be enforced.

Skipping Consequences:

1st Step/Offense:

1 day of ISS/Parent Contact will be made

2nd Step/Offense:

2 days of ISS/Parent Contact will be made

3rd Step/Offense:

3 days of ISS / Parent Contact will be made/ Attendance contract

4th Step/ Offense:

Campus AEP Placement will be discussed with the parent/guardian as outlined in our student code of conduct

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