FAQ - Attendance Requirements

Section 65.003 of the Texas Family Code states: (a) A child engages in truant conduct if the child is required to attend school under 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.

FAQ - TASB 

 

According to Texas state law and Board policy, a student is required to be in attendance at least 90% of the days school or classes are offered. If a student misses more than 10% or approximately 18 days of school, they must make up class time or they will not earn credit for class or a final grade.  

Texas Education Code 25.087 ~ Excused Absences
Absences that are considered EXCUSED (with a parent or doctor’s note) under Texas State Law:

When the student is absent, the parent must provide a note that explains the reason for the absence within 48 hours after the student returns to school.
 

Absence notes must include:

• Student’s full legal name

• Student ID# and grade

• Date(s) of absence

• Reason for absence

• Parent/guardian signature (handwritten, not typed)

If no documentation is provided, the absence is considered unexcused.
 

Contact Your Child’s Campus to Find Out What if Any Additional Documentation is Needed for Excused Absences Under Texas State Law

Georgetown High School ghsattendance@georgetownisd.org	East View High School attendanceevhs@georgetownisd.org
Richarte High School rhsattendance@georgetownisd.org	Georgetown Alternative Placement attendancegap@georgetownisd.org
Benold Middle School attendancebms@georgetownisd.org	Forbes Middle School attendancefms@georgetownisd.org
Tippit Middle School attendancetms@georgetownisd.org	Wagner Middle School attendancewms@georgetownisd.org
Ford Elementary attendanceford@georgetownisd.org	Frost Elementary attendancefrost@georgetownisd.org
McCoy Elementary attendancemccoy@georgetownisd.org	Mitchell Elementary attendancemitchell@georgetownisd.org
San Gabriel Elementary attendancesangabriel@georgetownisd.org	Village Elementary attendancevillage@georgetownisd.org
Williams Elementary attendancewilliams@georgetownisd.org	Wolf Ranch Elementary attendancewre@georgetownisd.org
Purl Elementary purlattendance@georgetownisd.org	Carver Elementary attendancecarver@georgetownisd.org
Cooper Elementary attendancecooper@georgetownisd.org

 

ALL GRADE LEVELS

• Religious holy days (festivals, ceremonies, etc. are not excused)

• Required court appearances

• Activities related to obtaining United States citizenship or taking part in a United States naturalization oath ceremony (for the student)

• Service as an election clerk

• Documented healthcare appointments for the student or a child of the student (a  note from the healthcare provider must be submitted upon the student’s return to campus)

• Students in the custody of the state

• Mental Health or therapy appointments

• Court ordered family visitations, or any other court ordered activity, provided it is not practicable to schedule the student’s participation in the activity outside of school hour

• Visit with parent or guardian called to duty

SECONDARY GRADE LEVELS

• COLLEGE VISITS JUNIORS (Visitation Form) AND SENIOR ONLY (2 days per) Pursuing enlistment in a branch of the US Armed Forces (17 years or older)

• Student serving as a voting or election clerk

• Student participating in sounding Taps for military honors

• Visiting a driver’s license office to obtain a driver’s license or driver’s permit (Enrolled in high school, 15 years or older, 1 day for permit, 1 day for license while enrolled in high school)

• Visiting a professional at the individual's workplace to determine the student's interest in pursuing a career in the professional's field, provided the student verified these activities to the district (up to 2 days for Juniors and up to 2 days for seniors) 

Absences that are considered EXCUSED (with a parent or doctor’s note) under District Policy: 

• Personal illness of the student

• Healthcare appointment (doctor dentist, ets,) with appropriate documentation

  • If a student attends school for a portion of the school day, and attends a healthcare appointment on this same school day AND provides appropriate documentation, the student will receive credit for attending the whole day. 

• Death of an immediate family member with appropriate documentation

• School official sent student home from school (Nurse, Counselor, Administrator)

• UIL Activities

• School-sponsored curricular or extracurricular activities

Parent notes must be turned in or emailed to the school’s attendance clerk no later than 48 hours after the child returns to school. The 48-hour period begins with the day the student returns to school.

An unexcused absence is any absence that does not meet the definition of an excused absence (example: personal business or vacation).