Attendance Policy

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Before- and After-School Care Programs

Regular school attendance is essential for the student to make the most of education—to benefit from teacher-supervised activities, to build each day’s learning on that of the previous day, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class may result in a serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences.

Compulsory Attendance

The state compulsory attendance law requires that students at least 6 years of age, and those who have not yet reached their 19th birthday, attend school and school-required tutorial sessions unless the student​​​​​​​ is otherwise legally exempted or excused. School staff must investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance law. A student absent from school without permission from any class, from required special programs (such as basic skills for ninth graders), or from required tutorials will be considered “truant” and subject to disciplinary action. Note, Kindergarten students are required to attend school and are subject to compulsory attendance requirements as long as they remain enrolled.

Truancy may also result in the assessment of penalties by a court of law for the parent. State law requires that the school apply truancy prevention measures if the student is absent, without excuse, on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period. If a student is absent, without excuse, on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, and those absences are verified by the campus as unexcused, students 12 years and older may be referred to truancy court. Further, state law permits the school to file a complaint against parents contributing to nonattendance regardless of their child’s age. Please refer to Texas Education Code (TEC) 25 and the Texas Family Code 65 for more details.

A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after his or her 19th birthday is required to attend each school day. If a student 19 years of age or older has more than five unexcused absences in a semester, the school may revoke the student’s enrollment, except that the school may not revoke the enrollment on a day on which the student is physically present at school. The student’s presence on school property thereafter would be unauthorized and may be considered trespassing.

Notice to Parents: Under TEC § 25.095(a), you are hereby notified that if a student is absent from school on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, the student’s parent is subject to prosecution under TEC § 25.093; and the student is subject to referral to a truancy court for truant conduct under Texas Family Code § 65.003(a)

Attendance for Credit

To receive credit in a class, a student must attend at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. These days include both excused and unexcused absences. A student who attends fewer than 90 percent of the days the class is offered may be referred to the Attendance Committee to determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit.

In determining whether there were extenuating circumstances for the absences, the Attendance Committee will use the following guidelines:

  1. All absences will be reviewed, with special consideration given for religious holy days, documented health-care appointments for which routine makeup work has been completed, and other special circumstances as defined by the TEC.
  2. For a student transferring into the school after school begins, including a migrant student, only those absences after enrollment will be considered.
  3. In reaching consensus about a student’s absences, the committee will attempt to ensure that its decision is in the best interest of the student.
  4. The committee will consider whether the absences were for reasons over which the student or parent could exercise control.
  5. The committee will consider the acceptability and authenticity of documentation expressing reasons for the student’s absences.
  6. 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.
  7. The student, parent, or other representative will be given an opportunity to present any information to the committee about the absences and to discuss ways to earn or regain credit.

If credit is lost because of excessive absences, the Attendance Committee will decide how the student may regain credit. The student or parent may appeal the committee’s decision to the Board of Trustees by filing a written request with the Superintendent. The appeal notice must be postmarked to the following address within 30 days following the last day of instruction in the semester for which credit was denied:

Responsive Education Solutions Notice of Appeal:
Class Credit Attn: Superintendent
P.O. Box 292730
Lewisville, TX 75029

The appeal will then be placed on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Superintendent or designee shall inform the student or parent of the date, time, and place of the meeting.

Excused and Unexcused Absences

The following absences are considered excused absences:

  1. personal illnesses that do not exceed three consecutive days, or personal illnesses that extend beyond three days if the student or the student's parent provides the required doctor's note;
  2. family emergency;
  3. serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes the student’s attendance infeasible, if the student or the student’s parent provides a certification from a physician licensed to practice medicine in Texas specifying the student’s illness and the anticipated period of the student’s absence relating to the illness or related treatment;
  4. visit to a driver's license office by a student who is 15 years of age or older to obtain a driver’s license or learner license, provided that more than one day of school may not be excused during the period the student is enrolled in high school for the purpose of (i) obtaining a driver’s license or (ii) obtaining a learner license, and the school verifies the student’s visit to the driver’s license office in accordance with school procedures; 
  5. observance of religious holy days;
  6. juvenile court proceeding documented by a probation officer;
  7. visit to a governmental office to complete paperwork required in connection with the student’s application for United States citizenship;
  8. participation in student’s United States naturalization oath ceremony;
  9. documented health-care appointment, if the student begins classes or returns to school on the same day as the appointment, including absences for recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders;
  10. service as an election clerk;
  11. required screening, diagnosis, and treatment for Medicaid-eligible students;
  12. documented college visit by a junior or senior student (see “College Days [H],” p. 34);
  13. a student’s 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 (up to five days);
  14. attendance of an activity required under a court-ordered service plan for students in the conservatorship of the state; or any other court-ordered activity, provided it is not practicable to schedule the student’s participation in the activity outside school hours; 

  15. temporary absence resulting from any cause acceptable to the Campus Director.

For religious holy days, required court appearances, activities related to citizenship, and services as an election clerk, one day of travel to the site and one day travel from the site shall also be excused.

Any absence not listed above will be considered an unexcused absence. Examples of unexcused absences include, but are not limited to, class cuts, car trouble, oversleeping, personal business, vacation, etc.

Required Documentation of Absences

When a student must be absent from school, it is the parent’s responsibility to call the school office each day to explain the reason for the student’s absence. Upon returning to school, the student must bring a note to the school office, signed by the parent, which describes the reason for the absence. To excuse the absence, the note must:

  1. be submitted to the school office within three school days of the student’s return to school, and
  2. describe an acceptable reason for the absence (see “Excused and Unexcused Absences,” p. 2).

Notification to Parents

The school will notify the parent by mail when the student is absent from school, without excuse, on three days or parts of days within a four-week period. The notice will inform the parent, among other things, that the student is subject to truancy prevention measures; remind the parent of the parent's responsibility to monitor the student’s attendance; and request a parent conference between the parent and the Attendance Officer/Campus Director to discuss the absences.

Driver’s License Attendance Verification

To obtain or renew a driver’s license, a student under 18 years of age must annually provide to the Texas Department of Public Safety a form obtained from the school verifying that the student has met the 90 percent attendance requirement for the semester preceding the date of application. Eligible students can obtain the required Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form from the school office.

The school will issue a VOE form for any transfer student who is transferring with no more than three absences for the previous six weeks.