What can I do to help?
- Keep Reviewing Your Child's Attendance Records
It is important to monitor your child’s attendance and stay in communication with the school to ensure that you are informed about your child’s attendance history.
- Minimize Instructional Time Lost
Schedule any appointments (doctor, dentist, etc.) outside of school hours.
- Send a Note
For an excused absence, you must send a note to the campus that describes the reason for the absence within two school days of your child returning to school.
- Get to know Your Child’s Teachers
Be sure to get to know your child’s teachers. Ask questions about their classes, how they arrive at assigning grades, homework policies and make-up work procedures. Attend parent-teacher conferences; they will help you stay informed about your child’s progress.
- Make-Up Work and Passing Grades
If your child is absent for any reason, including extracurricular activities, be sure the assigned make-up work is completed. Submitting missed assignments due to absences will help maintain eligibility for extracurricular activities as well as a student’s GPA.
- How Can I Monitor My Child’s Attendance?
You can sign up for the SAISD Frontline Parent Portal, which will allow you to access your child’s attendance records online, including absence codes identifying excused and unexcused absences. You can also see your child’s grades in real time.
- Check Our Accuracy
Review your child’s attendance record and absence codes as often as possible. As soon as you notice a problem with attendance, or if you receive a letter and do not recognize the absence dates listed, contact the school immediately. Unexcused absences can lead to a variety of other issues including a referral to Truancy Court. You can set up the Parent Portal system to contact you immediately after your child is marked absent.
How does the district notify the parents/guardians and students regarding violation of the attendance law?
Parents and guardians are notified of absences through:
- school progress reports
- report cards
- warning letters
- SchoolMessenger phone calls
What types of absences count against my student's 90% attendance law?
Some examples of absences that count against the 90% attendance law include, but are not limited to:
- family trips
- vacations
- attendance at non-school sponsored events
What types of absences do not count against my student's 90% attendance law?
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 for juniors and seniors or other school-related events
What To Do If Your Child Refuses To Go To School
It is well known that the adolescent years are particularly stressful years for students and making the move from elementary to middle school and middle school to high school can bring about behaviors that were not present before. Despite this transition, you can help your child by immediately taking one or more of the following actions:
- Check report cards for absences, low conduct marks and grades;
- Call the school if you think your child has been skipping school;
- If the school calls you, do not cover for your child to get them off the hook. This tells them that there are no consequences for breaking rules.
Teenagers thrive with parents who care enough to enforce rules and are available to provide help when it's needed.
Whom should I talk with first on the campus?
Check in with your student’s assistant principal or the attendance clerk. One of these individuals can review your child’s absences with you and let you know next steps.
Why did my student lose credit?
TEC section 25.092 reads “…any grade level from kindergarten through grade 12 may not be given credit or a final grade for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered.” Click here to read entire policy.
Is a doctor's note required for each absence?
No, a doctor's note is not required for each absence. When a student's absence for personal illness exceeds 5 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.
Why does my student have different attendance rates for each course?
For high school courses, attendance is taken for every class period because students are taking courses for credit to complete their high school diploma. Please your attendance clerk or assistant principal for a specific explanation to your student’s attendance.
How does the 90% law impact middle school students?
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.
What activities may be assigned to recover attendance?
The method of credit approval or recovery is unique to each student. Examples of actions under the Principal’s Plan for recovery may include but are not limited to:
- Attend Saturday school or Twighlight School
- Additional work is assigned
- Tutoring/study hall time is assigned
- Any combination of the above or
- Other academic activities as assigned