ATTENDANCE
Regular school attendance is essential for student learning and language development. When students are absent excessively there are gaps in learning. This became more evident last year during the pandemic when students only intermittently attended class in-person or virtually.
When a student returns from an absence she/he needs to bring a parent or doctor’s note.
- Parent notes are to be turn in within 3 days of the student returning to school.
- Doctor notes will continue to be accepted at any time throughout the year.
Parent notes may be used to excuse a total of 8 absences for the school year.
A student who is absent for more than 5 consecutive days due to personal illness must bring a statement from a doctor verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s extended absence from school.
Excessive absences may result in a violation of compulsory attendance laws and the Student Code of Conduct. Such violations may result in the loss of course/grade credit, and/or court action.
TARDIES
In accordance with Texas Education Code, students must receive a minimum of 75,600 minutes of instruction (TEC § 25.081) in a school year. Every minute that a student is tardy is a loss of required instruction; it is important that they arrive to school on time.
A student is considered tardy if he/she is not physically in the classroom when the tardy bell rings at 8:05 a.m. Students who are still eating in the cafeteria or waiting with parents to obtain a visitor's pass when the tardy bell rings will be considered late. When a student is tardy, parents are required to accompany their child into school, sign him/her in, and obtain an admittance slip.