Attendance

Absence Procedures

Notification
Doctor/Parent Notes

Notification

If your student is ill or will be absent, please let the campus office know as soon as possible, preferably before 8:30 a.m. Please let us know at least 24 hours in advance for planned absences (dentist appointments, etc.). Note: If your child is absent and we do not hear from you, we will make an attempt to contact you.

Call 940-769-3847
Email attendance@santoisd.net

**A student will be considered absent if they arrive more than 20 minutes after the tardy bell has rung.

Doctor/Parent Notes

The student will be responsible for providing a note to the office with the reason for the absence that is signed by the parent or guardian (or documentation provided from a doctor’s office or dentist’s office) upon their arrival or return to school. A note signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the student is 18 or older and no longer resides with a parent or guardian, or is an emancipated minor under state law.

The student has two (2) days to bring a note after returning to school. When the student brings the note to the office, it will be determined if the absence is excused or unexcused. Otherwise, the student’s absence may be considered unexcused and, if so, would be considered to be in violation of compulsory attendance laws.

Note: unless the absence is for a statutorily allowed reason under compulsory attendance laws, the district is not required to excuse any absence, even if the parent provides a note explaining the absence.

Should the student develop a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the absence to determine whether an absence will be excused or unexcused.

Compulsory Attendance

Prekindergarten students, once enrolled, are required to attend the program in the same manner that K-12 students are expected. Attendance is taken daily, and tardies are monitored. TEA Attendance Accounting Handbook states, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten students are subject to compulsory school attendance while they are enrolled in school. Texas Education Code - EDUC § 25.085. Compulsory School Attendance

When a student age 6-18 three or more unexcused absences within a four-week period, the law requires the school to send notice to the parent.

The notice will:

Remind the parent of their duty to monitor the student’s attendance and require the student to attend school
Request a conference between school administrators and the parent
Inform the parent that the district will initiate truancy prevention measures, including a behavior improvement plan, school-based community service, referrals to counseling or other social services, or other appropriate measures

The truancy prevention facilitator for the campus is:

Devon Mann
JH/HS Assistant Principal & Campus Behavior Coordinator
PO Box 67, Santo, TX 76472
dmann@santoisd.net
940-769-3847

For any questions about student absences, parents should contact the facilitator or any other campus administrator.

Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance
Truancy

Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance

Truancy

A child engages in truant conduct if the child is required to attend school under the TEC, §25.085, and fails to attend school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year.A court of law may impose penalties against the parent if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. The district may file a complaint against the parent if the student incurs 10 or more unexcused absences within a six-month period in the same school year.

If a student age 12-18 incurs 10 or more unexcused absences within a six-month period in the same school year, the district, in most circumstances, will refer the student to truancy court. Santo ISD has adopted truancy prevention measures designed to address student conduct related to truancy before the student engages in truant conduct, and has minimized the need for referrals to truancy court for absences.

Parents will be notified by mail when a student has excessive absences.

90% Attendance Rule for Credit

What Does The 90% Rule Mean for Your Child?

· In addition to Texas compulsory attendance laws, districts are required to enforce the 90% rule which states that students in grades Kindergarten through 12^th must attend a class for 90% of the time it is offered to receive credit or a final grade. This rule applies even if your child has an IEP or 504 Plan.

· The average school year is 170 days. This means your child can only miss 70 days (or parts of a day) of school or 17 days (or parts of a day) of a specific class. If the school is on a semester schedule, this number is cut in half.

· A student who is in attendance for at least 75 percent, but less than 90 percent, of the days a class is offered, may be given credit or a final grade if the student completes a plan approved by the principal that provides for the student to meet the instructional requirements of the class.

· The 90 percent rule applies to all absences (excluding those exempt by law), including excused absences.

Your child may have to retake one or more classes if the do not attend school regularly!

Texas Education Code Section 25.092

What Can You Do If Your Child Falls Below 90% Compulsory Attendance?

· If the student drops below 90% attendance but attends class at least 75% of the days the class is offered, the student may earn credit for the class by completing a plan approved by the principal or campus attendance review committee which allows the student to fulfill the instructional requirements for the class.

· If a student falls below the 75% attendance rate or has not completed the plan approved by the principal, the student will be referred to the Campus Attendance Review Committee and they will review the reasons for your student's absences, review performance, and determine if there are extenuating circumstances for the absences. If extenuating circumstances exist, the committee will develop a plan that will allow the student to regain credit or a final grade lost due to attendance. Each plan will be unique and based on individual students' circumstances.

· The student or parent may appeal the Attendance Review Committee's decision to the building principal.

Which Absences Are Exempt From the 90% Rule?

State law allows for exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for several types of absences if the student makes up all assigned work and turns in the appropriate documentation. In addition, the appointment must be for the student. The following activities are exempt:

All Grade Levels

Religious Holy Day
Required Court Appearance
Activities Related to US Citizenship
Documented Health Care Appointments (must attend school on the same day as the appointment)
Students in the Conservatorship of the State
Students of Military Families

Secondary Grade Levels

College Visit (11^th & 12^th Grade Only)
Career Visit (11^th & 12^th Grade Only)
Students Pursuing Enlistment in the Armed Services
Serving as an Early Voting or Election Clerk
Sounding Taps at a Funeral