Elementary Attendance Information    (excerpt from the Elementary Student Handbook)

Secondary Attendance Information    (excerpt from the Secondary Student Handbook)

Attendance

The Texas Education Code (TEC) provides for compulsory attendance. Additionally, regular and punctual attendance is the greatest single factor in school success. Therefore, it is a responsibility and duty of both the school and the parent to cooperate and encourage students to establish a good attendance record. The District attendance officer may be used to encourage regular attendance.

Compulsory Attendance TEC 25.085

1. The Texas Education Code (Sec. 25.085) provides for compulsory attendance. A child, who is required to attend school under this section, shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided.
2. Unless specifically exempted by the Texas Education Code (Sec. 25.086), a child who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached the child’s 18th birthday shall attend school.
3. On enrollment in prekindergarten or kindergarten, a child shall attend school.
4. Unless specifically exempted by the Texas Education Code (Sec. 25.086) a student enrolled in a school district must attend an extended-year program for which the student is eligible that is provided by the district for students identified as likely not to be promoted to the next grade level or tutorial classes required by the district under the Texas Education Code (Sec. 29.084).
5. Regardless of loss of credit due to excessive absences, the grade will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
6. In accordance with Board Policy FEA (LOCAL) the District may initiate withdrawal of a student under the age of 18 for nonattendance under the following conditions:

• The student has been absent ten consecutive school days; and
• Repeated efforts by the attendance officer and/or principal to locate the student have been unsuccessful.

Absence Classifications
Students will be considered absent from class if they miss more than 15 minutes of the class period.

Excused Absences TEC 25.087
All absences must be verified by a parent with both a written note and a telephone call to the office or attendance office. Written notice must be given to the office within two school days if the absence is to be excused. Absences for the following reasons shall be considered unavoidable and shall be classified as excused for the student:

Student Illness
Five days or longer requires a doctor’s note to be excused.

Death of a Family Member • Health Care Appointments The principal shall require a note signed by the parent/guardian requesting that a student be released for a health care appointment. Students are required to bring a note signed by the health care professional upon return from the appointment.

Religious Holy Days
Any child of an established religious faith will be excused if his/her absence is for the purpose of observing a religious holy day, consistent with his/her creed or belief. The parent/guardian must submit, to the office, a written request for an excused absence.

Authorized School Sponsored Activities
A student may receive excused absences for participation in off-campus school-related activities. The District will not, however, permit students to participate in such activities that would require, permit, or allow a student to be absent from any class more than 10 times during the school year.

Approved College Visitation (see page H-38)

Court Appearance The principal shall require the presentation of an appropriate court document, subpoena, etc. which indicates a student should appear in court. Note: Parents should make a special effort to request scheduled appointments at a time after school hours. When several appointments must be scheduled during school hours, a different hour of the day should be used each time to avoid the student’s missing the same class period several times and falling behind in his/her classwork.

Excused/Counted as Present
Absences for religious holy days and/or partial day appointments with health care professionals will be counted as a day of attendance if the student satisfactorily completes the missed school work. These days will also be counted as present for any activities or recognitions that have attendance as criteria.

Unexcused
An absence for any reason other than those listed above shall be classified as unexcused. Absences that are classified as excused shall not be excused if the parent fails to notify the office of the reason for the absences within two school days of the absences. The building principal may review reasons other than those listed above and determine that they, too, may be excused. Under Section 25.085 the District may revoke for the remainder of the school year the enrollment of an eighteen-year-old who has more than five unexcused absences in a semester.

Truancy
Absence from school or class without prior knowledge and approval of the parents, guardians, or school officials will be considered truancy. Each absence Secondary Student/Parent Handbook H-3 2007-2008 due to truancy will result in a grade of zero for any activity, test, or assignment missed if all members of the class are assigned grades for the same work. Further disciplinary action may be taken if deemed necessary by the principal. In addition, no Alternative Learning Activities (ALA) will be given for truancy.

Guidelines for a Referral
School personnel will refer student absences to the SBISD Police Department using the following guidelines: Referrals for failure to attend school will be investigated by the SBISD Police Department.

• One (1) day or part of a day for truancy
• Three (3) days or parts of days for unexcused absences within a four-week period
• Ten (10) days or parts of days for unexcused absences within a six-month period
• Five (5) consecutive days of absence without illness verification being provided by a parent or guardian or a health care provider
• Ten (10) absences Note: Unexcused arrival at a class after more than fifteen (15) minutes of the class period shall be regarded as an unexcused absence.

Warning Notices to Parents TEC Sec. 25.095
If a student is absent from school three (3) days or parts of days in a four-week period without excuse, the parent will be notified by school personnel of the unexcused absences and will have an opportunity to meet with school personnel. If a student is absent from school ten (10) or more days or parts of days in a six-month period without excuse, school personnel are required by law to notify the SBISD Police Department TRIAT (Truancy Reduction Increased Attendance Team) Police Officer. The student is subject to receiving a Class C citation for each day or part of a day of unexcused absence.

Failure to Attend School TEC Sec. 25.094
Upon receipt of an attendance referral, a police officer will be assigned to investigate the referral. Following an investigation, the police officer may issue one (1) or more Class C citations to a student for Failure to Attend School. Failure to appear in court may result in the following sanctions against the student:

• Forfeiture of an existing drivers license • Unable to apply for a new first-time drivers license
• A fine for contempt of court that is not to exceed $500.00

Parent Contributing to Nonattendance TEC Sec. 25.093 Following receipt of a written warning as specified in the Texas Education Code (Sec. 25.095), a parent who with criminal negligence fails to require the child to attend school as required by law, and the child has absences for the amount of time specified under the Texas Education Code (Sec. 25.094), the court may use the following sanctions against the parent:

• A fine (each day can constitute a separate offense)
• Attendance in a program for parents to help identify the problems that contribute to student truancy
• Community service

Arriving Late to Class/School (Tardy)
Excused tardiness is defined as arriving to class with an acceptable excuse or admit during the first fifteen (15) minutes of the period.

Excused arrival at a class after more than fifteen (15) minutes of the class period shall be regarded as an excused absence.
Unexcused tardiness is defined as arriving to class without an acceptable excuse or admit during the first fifteen (15) minutes of the period.

Unexcused arrival at a class after more than fifteen (15) minutes of the class period shall be regarded as an unexcused absence. A teacher may impose sanctions under the teacher disciplinary plan, including denial of academic credit for the day’s work, if the grade was taken for all other members of the class. In addition, the student will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. There are no excused tardies to first period for students who assume responsibility for their own transportation instead of riding the school bus.