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Attendance

Good attendance is important for many reasons. Your child receives the maximum benefit of education by being in school every day:

  • proven strong link between academic performance and consistent attendance
  • strengthens peer relationships
  • improved relationships with teaching staff
  • builds essential social-emotional habits like responsibility and discipline
  • a key indicator for high school graduation and future career success.
     

Because attendance is so critical for the quality of your child’s education, Texas has a compulsory attendance law.


COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW

Section 25.085 of the Texas Education code states that children are required to attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided, unless exempted by law.  Absences are identified as excused or unexcused, based on state law and the absence reason or documentation provided by the parent.   Almost all absences, whether excused or unexcused, count towards state attendance requirements as explained below in two different policies:

  • THE 90% RULE
    Districts are required to enforce the 90 percent rule, which states that students in grades K-12 must physically attend class for 90 percent of the time it is offered to receive credit or a final grade. The 90 percent rule applies to most absences, including most excused absences. 

  • TRUANCY
    Unexcused absences may result in truancy measures being taken, triggered at 3 unexcused absences in 4 weeks, or 10 unexcused absences in 6 months. These measures may include an attendance improvement plan, school-based community service, or a referral to counseling, mediation, or teen court. A student who is between the ages of 12 to 18 may also be referred to a truancy court within 10 school days of the student's 10th unexcused absence. In addition, parents may be criminally charged or fined if their child continues to miss school.

  • NOTABLE EXCEPTION: PARTIAL DAY ATTENDANCE
    The state defines an absence as all or part of a school day.   However, if your student attends a medical appointment on a portion of a school day, was in attendance for the other portion of the school day, and provides documentation from the provider, the absence will not be counted against the student.

 

ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE MEASURES

Districts are required to notify families of student absences.  Letters will be mailed by each campus at the following student absence intervals:

  •  Applying towards the 90% Rule:
    • 4 absences in a semester, adding excused and unexcused together
    • 6 absences in a semester, adding excused and unexcused together
    • 8 absences in a semester, adding excused and unexcused together
  •  Applying toward Truancy:
    • 2 unexcused absences in 4 weeks
    • 9 unexcused absences in 6 months

Attendance Committees on University Academy campuses meet to discuss each student with excessive absences.  The committee, at the approval of the Director, may require those students to complete a plan that allows students to fulfill the instructional requirements for class time missed.

The Student Handbook outlines University Academy's full attendance policy on pages 29 - 33.  

To report absences or inquire about the procedures on your campus, please email: