The Compulsory Attendance Law, found in Texas Education Code Section 25.085, requires that all enrolled students attend school on time, all day, every day the school is in session. Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, a child who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has been enrolled in first grade and has not yet reached the child’s 19th birthday shall attend school.

• Upon enrollment into pre-kindergarten (PK) or Kindergarten (KG), a child is subject to the Compulsory Attendance Law.
• A student who voluntarily enrolls after his or her 19th birthday is required to attend each school day until the end of the school year. If a student aged 19 or older has more than five unexcused absences in a semester, the district may revoke the student’s enrollment.
• State law requires all enrolled students to attend school on time, all day, every day that school is in session. Frenship ISD requires a written note with explanation for the absence to have an absence considered to be excused.
• To receive credit for a class a student is passing, a student must attend class at least 90 percent of the days the class if offered for the entire period of instruction.

VIOLATION OF COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

If truancy prevention measures fail and the student is absent ten or more unexcused days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, the student’s parents are subject to prosecution, and the student is subject to a truancy court referral for truant conduct. [Texas Education Code 25/093 / Texas Family Code 65.003(a)]

The District shall notify a student’s parent or guardian in writing if the student has been absent three (3) times for any part of day in a four-week period. The fact that a parent or guardian did not receive the notice described is not a defense to prosecution.

 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

• A parent or guardian is expected to submit notes within three (3) school days after the student returns to school. Failure to submit an acceptable note may result in unexcused absences. This includes both late arrivals and early departures.
• Absences not eligible to be excused and absences for which a note is not received within the time allowed shall be counted as an unexcused absence.
• Students will not receive excused absences for visiting relatives, oversleeping, car trouble, vacations, no transportation, non-school related instruction, non-Frenship sponsored extra-curricular or co-curricular activities or illness other than the immediate family.

The final decision for all absences, excused or unexcused, is up to the campus principal.

Absences can be reported by emailing the attendance clerk at the student's school

• Scroll to the top of this attendance page to the "Contact your campus attendance clerks" section:
  
  • Choose appropriate campus and clerk.
  • Email clerk with absence information and include note.
  • Email or send a note within 3 days of absence.
• Parents can also call the attendance clerk at their student’s campus to report an absence; however, the absence is not excused without proper documentation.
• If the parent is unable to reach someone, the parent can email the attendance clerk or leave a message that includes the student's ID number or date of birth.

Notes should be sent (email or hard copy) to attendance clerk at appropriate campus (scanned, picture, email from health care provider)

• Send note within 3 days of absence (health care appt, etc.).
• Parents/Guardians may submit or email handwritten notes for up to 3 days per semester; this includes late arrival and early departure notes.
• Notes are expected for a student absence which include days, parts of days, late arrivals and/or early departures.
• A note signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the student is age 18 or older, or is an emancipated minor under state law.
• If a parent or guardian fails to submit a note, the absence will be considered unexcused.
• When a student is absent for more than three consecutive days because of a personal illness, a note from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness may be required by the campus.
• If the student establishes a questionable pattern of absences, a note may be required from a doctor or health clinic for any future health related absence.

The final decision for all absences, excused or unexcused, is up to the campus principal.

Notes are required for documentation of any absence including those considered Exempt.

• Medical: The student has a personal illness, doctor’s appointment, or an appointment with a health care professional. The student must attend part of the school day for the absence to be exempt.
• Religious Holy Day: The student is observing a recognized religious holy day. Two (2) days excused are allowed for travel and one (1) day excused for the event.
• Funeral: A student may be excused for attendance at a funeral for an immediate family member. Two (2) days are allowed for travel and one (1) day excused for the funeral.
• Court Appearance: The student is involved in court proceedings or is participating in an activity related to those court proceedings. This includes students who are in conservatorship of DFPS for purposes of participating in activities as required by DFPS.
  • Students will need to provide a note from the court verifying the court proceedings.
• Higher Education Visits: The District will excuse a student for up to two (2) days during the student’s junior year and up to two (2) days during the student’s senior year to visit an accredited institution of higher education.
  • Students will need to bring documentation from the college verifying the visit.
• Citizenship Activities: The student is engaged in the process to secure their own U.S. Citizenship or participation in their own naturalization ceremony; serves as an election clerk or participates in a military funeral by playing Taps.
• Armed Services Enlisted: The District shall excuse a student 17 years of age or older for up to four (4) days for activities related to pursuing enlistment in a branch of the U.S. Armed Services or Texas National Guard.
• Military Dependent: Student has a parent or legal guardian who is an active-duty military member who has been called for deployment, is on leave from, or immediately returned from a combat zone or combat support posting.
  • Up to five (5) total days for the school year.
• Learner or Driver’s License: The District shall excuse a student 15 years of age of older for one (1) day during their enrollment in high school for obtaining a learner license and one (1) day for obtaining a driver’s license.
• Serious or Life-Threatening Illness: The District shall excuse an absence when attendance is not feasible due to a serious or life-threatening illness.
• Early Voting or Election Clerk: The District shall excuse up to two (2) days per school year to serve as an early voting or election clerk.
• Nurse Releases: A student is excused when the nurse releases the student due to injury or illness for the remainder of school day.

The final decision for all absences, excused or unexcused, is up to the campus principal.

State law requires children to attend school each day that instruction is provided. The student must be in class at least 90 percent of the time if they are to receive credit for the class. Elementary students may be required to repeat a grade if they are at school less than 90 percent of school days. All absences, except those exempt by the State, count toward the 10 percent absence rate.

 When attendance drops below 90 percent:

The student’s parent or guardian shall be given written notice prior to and at such times when a student’s attendance in any class drops below 90 percent of the days that the class is offered. The notice will provide students and parents with opportunities to work with either the campus principal or with an attendance committee in creating an attendance recovery plan. This plan is designed to help students earn credit for attendance, grades, or for both to pass a class or graduate on time. FEC (LEGAL) (LOCAL)

If a student attends less than 75 percent of the days a class is offered or has not completed the plan approved by the principal, then the student will be referred to the attendance review committee to determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences, the attendance committee will use the following guidelines:

• If makeup work is completed, absences for the reasons listed as Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance will be considered extenuating circumstances for the purposes of attendance for credit or award of a final grade.
• A transfer or migrant student begins to accumulate absences only after he or she has enrolled in the district.
• In reaching a decision about a student’s absences, the committee will attempt to ensure that it is in the best interest of the student.
• The committee will review absences incurred based on the students’ participation in board-approved extracurricular activities. These absences will be considered by the attendance committee as extenuating circumstances in accordance with the absences allowed under FM (LOCAL) if the student made up the work missed in each class.
• The committee will consider the acceptability and authenticity of documented reasons for the student’s absences.
• The committee will consider whether the absences were for reasons why the student or the student’s parents could exercise any control.
• The committee will consider the extent to which the student has completed all assignments, mastered the essential knowledge and skills, and maintained passing grades in the course or subject.
• The student or parent will be given an opportunity to present any information to the committee about the absences and to talk about ways to earn or regain credit or a final grade.

The student or parent may appeal the committee’s decision to the board in accordance with Board Policy FNG (LOCAL).

• Praise your child when they exhibit good attendance and promptness.
• Establish routines. Give your child enough time to get ready for school in the morning by preparing lunches, school bags, and outfits the night before.
• Establish an alternate plan for who can help you to get your child to school when something comes up.
• Allow your child to stay home only when he/she has a contagious illness.
• When scheduling appointments with health care providers, choose a time that will allow your child to begin or end their day at school.  A student who has an appointment with a health care provider but attends school for a part of that same day or class will receive credit for attending the whole day or class.
• Switch between morning and afternoon appointments so that your child does not miss the same class all the time.
• When your child is absent, work with teachers to provide your child with opportunities to learn and make up their work.
• Follow district policy for reporting absences and submitting absence documentation within three (3) school days of your child's return to school. 
• Notify the school if your family runs into personal setbacks (car trouble, loss of income, divorce, family illness, etc.) or anything that will affect your family functions. The campus can support you by connecting you to helpful resources.
• Consistently talk to your child about why going to school every day is important.  Help your child get excited about going to school.
• Monitor your child’s attendance through Frenship ISD’s Skyward Family Access.