A – Compulsory School Attendance (Texas Education Code Section 25.085). A student between the ages of 6 and 19 MUST attend school and all District required tutorial sessions unless the student is otherwise legally exempted or excused. Upon enrollment in prekindergarten or kindergarten, a child shall attend school.

B – TRUANT CONDUCT. (a) A child engages in truant conduct if the child is required to attend school under Section 25.085, Education Code, and fails to attend school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year.

C – Parent Contributing to Non Attendance (Texas Education Code Section 25.093). If a warning letter is issued, the parent with criminal negligence fails to require the child to attend school as required by law, and the child has ten or more days or parts of days within a six month period, or three or more days or parts of days within a four week period; the parent shall be charged.

A – 3 or more UNEXCUSED absences in a four week period, will generate a Truancy Warning Letter. This letter is mailed home to the parent/guardian. 

B – Ten UNEXCUSED absences within a six month period, truancy charges SHALL be filed. Filing with the court system for missing ten or more (unexcused) days; or parts of days, in a six month period is required by state law.

All absence notes can be submitted through an absence online form. This form allows you to snap a photo of your doctor's notes or any other documentation you need to attach to your form. 

A link to the form will be sent through the automated absence notification, but you can also access it through Parent Resources on the District website.

Medical and absences excused with a parent note do not count toward the ten days for truancy. Contact your student’s school attendance office for the policy on the number of parent notes that will be accepted.

Except as provided by Texas Education Code 25.092, a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered.

Checking your child out of school before the end of the school day counts as “leaving early” and counts toward the ten unexcused absences for truancy. A medical note will excuse these absences.

If you receive a letter from your student’s school is it because he/she has three or more unexcused absences in a four week period of time. This letter is a reminder of Texas State Law and a warning that truancy charges will be filed once ten unexcused absences are attained.

School officials are not allowed to come to your home to pick up your student and take them to school. 

If you have concerns regarding the accuracy of your student’s attendance you will need to contact the campus attendance clerk or your student’s campus administrator.

The Compulsory Attendance laws of the State of Texas require that all children between the ages of six and 19 are to attend school unless they are exempted from attending by Sec. 25.086 of the Texas Education Code. Students who turn 19 during the academic year are further required to complete that academic year and attend school each and every day school is in session.

Once truancy charges are filed against either a student or parent, the case will not be dismissed by the District. It is up to the court to decide if the case should be heard or dismissed. It will be necessary to provide all documentation as part of your defense. It is necessary that the individual who was filed on to appear before the court on the date that is stated on the summons received in the mail. If the student is under the age of seventeen, they will need a parent or guardian present as well.

Article 45.054 Failure to Attend School Proceedings of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures states, on a finding by a court that an individual has committed an offense under Section 25.094, Education Code, the court may require that the individual; attend school without unexcused absences;  if the individual is 16, attend a preparatory class for the high school equivalency exam; attend a special programming not limited to; and alcohol/drug abuse program; rehabilitation program; counseling program, including self-improvement counseling; training in self esteem and leadership, job skills training; parenting and parental responsibility training; training in manners; violence avoidance; sensitivity training; and training in advocacy and mentoring.

The individual and the individual’s parents may also be required to attend a class designed for both the individual and their parents who are at risk of dropping out of school; complete reasonable community service requirements; or attend a tutorial program covering academic subjects in which the student is enrolled provided by the school the individual attends.

In addition to any other order authorized by this article, the court may order the Department of Public Safety to suspend the driver’s license or permit of the individual who is the subject of the hearing or, if the individual does not have a license or permit, to deny the issuance of a license or permit to the individual for a period specified by the court not to exceed 365 days.

The court may also fine the individual up to $500.00 per offense.