Under TEC §25.085, compulsory attendance applies to students who are at least six years old as of September 1 of the applicable school year. The law requires a student to attend public school until the student’s 19th birthday, unless the student is exempt under TEC §25.086. This also applies to students below the age for compulsory attendance during any period that the student is voluntarily enrolled in pre-k or kindergarten.

In addition to the Compulsory Attendance Law, there is the 90% law. A student in any grade level from kindergarten through 12th grade shall not be given credit or a final grade for a class unless the student is in attendance 90% of the days the class is offered, regardless of whether the student's absences are excused [see FEA] or unexcused. If the student does not meet this requirement, the student must go through the Attendance Recovery Process.

When a student's attendance drops below 90% but remains at least 75% of the days the class is offered, the student may earn credit for the class or a final grade by completing a plan approved by the principal. This plan must provide for the student to meet the instructional requirements of the class as determined by the principal.

If the student fails to successfully complete the plan, or when a student's attendance drops below 75% of the days the class is offered, the campus attendance committee shall review the student's entire attendance record and the reasons for absences and shall establish requirements for the student to fulfill in order to award credit or a final grade.

See full policy FEC - Attendance

If a student fails to attend school without excuse on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, a district shall within ten school days of the student's tenth absence refer the student to a truancy court for truant conduct under Family Code 65.003.

It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the campus in writing or via email whenever their child will be absent. If the campus is not notified, the absence will result in an unexcused absence. ALL absences, excused or unexcused, are subject to the 90% rule. If a student has established a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require that a student present a physician or clinic statement of illness after a single day’s absence as a condition of excusing the student’s absence.

A school district is required to adopt truancy prevention measures under TEC §25.0915. If a student has three or more unexcused absences for three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period but less than 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period, the district shall initiate truancy prevention measures.

• Impose a behavior improvement plan
• Refer the student to counseling, mediation, mentoring, teen court, or other in-school or out-of-school service aimed at addressing the truant behavior

We recognize that perfect attendance is not always possible. Ill children should be kept at home to allow recovery and to keep other students from contracting the illness if contagious.

If your child is absent from all or part of a school day, the student (upon arrival or return to school) must bring a note signed by the guardian or health care professional that describes the reason for the absence. All notes should be provided within three days of returning to school. The campus will update attendance records based on the provided documentation.

If you have any questions about your child’s attendance record, please ask your child’s school.

Chronic absence is defined as missing 10% or more of a school year. For example:

• In Socorro ISD there are 175 school days in a year
• Missing 18 days is 10%
• Missing 18 days in 9 Months
• Missing 2 days a month adds up

Missing only two days of school a month makes a student chronically absent. It may not seem like much, but two days each month adds up!

YES! Truancy is the intentional or unexcused absences. Chronic absence will be noted by unexcused and/or excused absences, and days missed from suspension. All absences from school no matter the reason is counted in chronic absence.

You can closely monitor your child’s attendance by logging into Tyler Student 360. It will allow you to access your child’s attendance records in real time.

The assistant principal or the attendance specialist can review your child’s attendance and assist you.

If you know your child is skipping class on purpose or your child states they do not want to attend school, make contact with the school in order for them to assist you and seek resources to assist your child.

No, a doctor's note is not required for each absence. When a student's absence for personal illness exceeds 3 consecutive days, the principal or attendance committee may require that the student present a statement from a physician or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student's extended absence from school as a condition of classifying the absence as one for which there are extenuating circumstances. If a student has established a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require that a student present a physician's or clinic's statement of illness after a single day's absence as a condition of classifying the absence as one for which there are extenuating circumstances.

Parents and guardians are notified of absences through:

• school progress reports
• report cards
• notification letters

Some examples of absences that count against the 90% attendance law include,

• Family trips
• Vacations
• Attendance at non-school sponsored events

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

• School field trip
• UIL activity
• Dual credit course
• College visit or other school-related events

For high school courses, attendance is taken for every class period because students are taking courses for credit to complete their high school degree. See your attendance specialist or assistant principal for a specific explanation to your student’s situation.

For middle school students who are taking courses for high school credit, the high school rules apply. To earn credit for all middle school courses, they must meet the 90% attendance requirement by the end of the year.