For attendance questions, please contact our attendance clerks or call the front office (512) 772-7200.

Telma Chaidez, A-L, tchaideznavar@bisdtx.org

Lindsie Winkler, M-Z, lwinkler@bisdtx.org

The BHS truancy officer is Cecilia Lugo. She can be contacted at clugo@bisdtx.org.

TEXAS COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

Section 25.085
COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
A child who is required to attend school under this section shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided. 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 previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached the child's 19th birthday shall attend school.

Section 25.0915
TRUANCY PREVENTION MEASURES
A school district shall adopt truancy prevention measures designed to:
(1) address student conduct related to truancy in the school setting before the student engages in conduct described by Section 65.003(a), Family Code; and
(2) minimize the need for referrals to truancy court for conduct described by Section 65.003(a), Family Code.

Section 25.092
MINIMUM ATTENDANCE FOR CLASS CREDIT
Except as provided by this section, a student in any grade level from Kindergarten through 12th grade may not be given credit or a final for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered.

Section 25.093
PARENT CONTRIBUTING TO NONATTENDANCE
If a warning is issued as required by Section 25.095(a), and the parent with criminal negligence fails to require the child to attend school as required by law, and the child has absences for the amount of time specified under Section 65.003(a) Family Code, the parent commits an offense.
The attendance officer or other appropriate school official shall file a complaint against the parent in a justice court of any precinct in the county in which the parent resides or in which the school is located.

Section 25.095
WARNING NOTICES
A school district shall notify a student's parent if the student has been absent from school, without excuse under Section 25.087, on three days or parts of days within a four-week period. The notice must inform the parent that:
A. it is the parent's duty to monitor the student's school attendance and require the student to attend school; and B. the student is subject to truancy prevention measures under Section 25.0195; and C. request a conference between school officials and the parent to discuss the absences.

The fact that a parent did not receive a notice under Subsection (a) or (b) does not create a defense to prosecution under Section 25.093 or Section 65.003 Family Code. In this section, "parent" includes a person standing in parental relation.

Section 25.0951
SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPLAINT OR REFERAL FOR FAILURE TO ATTEND SCHOOL
a. If a student fails to attend school without excuse on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, a school district shall within 10 school days of the student's 10th absence, refer the student to a truancy court for truant conduct under Section 65.003(a), Family Code.
b. If a student fails to attend school without excuse as specified by Subsection (a), a school district may file a complaint against the student's parent in a county, justice, or municipal court for an offense under Section 25.093 if the school district provides evidence of the parent's criminal negligence.

In this subsection, "parent" includes a person standing in parental relation.
A court shall dismiss a complaint or referral made by a school district under this section that is not made in compliance with this section.

Texas Education Code 25.087  ~  Excused Absences

Absences that are considered EXCUSED (with a parent or doctor's note) under Texas State Law:

When a student is absent, the parent must provide a note that explains the reason for the absence within 3 school days after the student returns to school.  Absence notes must include the students full name, ID number, and the reason for the absence.  The specific reasoning for the absence is needed to appropriately code the absence according to guidelines established in the Texas Education Code.  If no documentation is provided, the absence is considered unexcused. 

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 and Seniors Only (2 days per year)
• Pursuing enlistment in a branch of the US Armed Forces
• Student serving as a voting or election clerk
• Student participating in sounding Taps for military honors
   

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

• Personal illness of the student
• Healthcare appointment (doctor, dentist, etc.) 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 approrpiate 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, LSSP, 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 three school days after the child returns to school. The three-day period begins with the day the student returns to school.
 

What is an Unexcused Absence?

An unexcused absence is an absence that does not meet state or district guidelines. Unexcused absences also occur when the parent cannot produce any documentation that explains the absence or if the parent presents documentation that does not meet criteria for excused absences.

What is an POD?

A Part of Day Absence, or POD may be defined as 50 minutes or more of lost instructional time throughout the day.  This can occur when a student is late to school or class, when a student leaves school or class early.  Basically, anytime a student misses 50 minutes or more of instructional time a POD has occurred.

Absences that are considered UNEXCUSED:

• Part of Day Absence (POD) without an accompanying note from a health care provider (this includes arriving more than 49 minutes late or leaving more than 49 minutes early)
• Being absent without parental consent or knowledge
• Being absent without written notification from a parent or legal guardian
• Religious festivals, ceremonies, or other events not celebrated or recognized by the international religious calendar
• Weddings
• Graduations not for the student
• Family reunions
• Vacations/Cruises
• International Travels
• Leaving campus during class or a lunch period without official permission
• Being in an unauthorized area of the school or campus without permission
• Willfully refusing to attend school
• Oversleeping/Alarm failure
• Needed at home for babysitting, chores, etc.
• Car trouble
• Missing the bus
• Any other absence that is not covered under the law  
   

More information regarding attendance polices can be found in the Texas Education Code and the Bastrop ISD Student & Parent Handbook.

TRUANCY ENFORCEMENT

Texas Education Code 25.085 and 25.0915

Bastrop ISD enforces the Texas compulsory attendance laws in the following ways:

• Automated phone calls and emails sent to parents or guardians daily notifying them when a student has been marked absent (this includes LOSIT’s).  It is the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to ensure that the most current and up-to-date contact information is on file at their child’s school.  Parents and Guardians may refer to the district’s Student & Parent Handbook, the Attendance Website, or the Campus their child attends for resources, information and support regarding attendance.
• All students will be issued a warning letter when attendance records reflect that the student has absences without an excuse on three days or parts of days in a four-week period.  This is also when the campus will begin implementation of Truancy Prevention Measures for the student.  Truancy prevention measures (TPM) are required by law to assist parents and prevent the filing with the court for compulsory attendance.
   

Truancy Prevention Measures will include, but are not limited to:

• Parent and or Student Conference
• Truancy Prevention Class (Online)
• Attendance Contract
• Saturday School
• Student Detention
• Referral to Administration, Counselor, or Truancy Office
• In-School Suspension
• Home Visits
   

When Truancy Prevention Measures fail to solve the attendance problem, referral to a truancy court becomes an option.  If a student fails to attend school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year and those absences have been verified by the campus as unexcused, students 12 and older may be referred to the prosecutor of the truancy court of Bastrop County.  At this point the campus may also file a criminal complaint against parents who contribute to the nonattendance of their child, regardless of the age of their child.  The goal of each campus is to provide truancy prevention measures for students who exhibit attendance issues in a way that meaningfully addresses the student’s overall attendance.  Bastrop ISD may delay the referral to court if the Truancy Prevention Measures are successful and the delay is in the best interest of the student.

Texas Education Code Section 25.092  ~  MINIMUM ATTENDANCE FOR CLASS CREDIT OR FINAL GRADE

What Does The 90% Rule Mean For Your Child?

• In addition to Texas compulsory attendance laws, districts are required to enforce the 90% rule which states that students in grades Kindergarten through 12th must attend class for 90% of the time it is offered to receive credit or a final grade.  This rule applies even if your child has an IEP or 504 Plan. 
• The average school year is 180 days.  This means your child can only miss 18 days (or parts of a day) of school or 18 days (or parts of a day) of a specific class.  If the school is on a semester schedule, this number is cut in half.
• A student who is in attendance for at least 75 percent, but less than 90 percent, of the days a class is offered may be given credit or a final grade if the student completes a plan approved by the principal that provides for the student to meet the instructional requirements of the class.
• The 90 percent rule applies to all absences (excluding those exempt by law), including excused absences.
• For elementary students, this means they could repeat a grade if they are in school less the 90% of school days.  A middle or high school student may have to repeat a class that they received a passing grade in if they did not attend that class at least 90% of the days of the class. 
   

What Can You Do If Your Child Falls Below 90% Compulsory Attendance?

• If the student drops below 90% attendance but attends class at least at 75% of the days the class is offered, the student may earn credit for the class by completing a plan approved by the principal or campus attendance review committee which allows the student to fulfill the instructional requirements for the class. 
• If a student falls below the 75% attendance rate or has not completed the plan approved by the principal, the student will be referred to the Campus Attendance Review Committee and they will review the reasons for your student's absences, review performance, and determine if there are extenuating circumstances for the absences.  If extenuating circumstances exists, the committee will develop a plan that will allow the student to regain credit or a final grade lost due to attendance.  Each plan will be unique and based on individual student's circumstances.
• The student or parent may appeal the Attendance Review Committees decision to the building principal.  
   

Which Absences are Exempt From The 90% Rule?

State law allows for exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for several types of absences if the student makes up all assigned work and turns in the appropriate documentation.  In addition, the appointment must be for the student.  The following activities are exempt:

All Grade Levels

• Religious Holy Day
• Required Court Appearance
• Activities Related to US Citizenship
• Documented Health Care Appointments (must attend school on the same day as the appointment)
• Students in the Conservatorship of the State
• Students of Military Families
   

Secondary Grade Levels

• College Visit (11th & 12th Grade Only)
• Students Pursuing Enlistment in the Armed Services
• Serving as an Early Voting or Election Clerk
• Sounding Taps at a Funeral

Even with your best efforts, your child will miss some days of school for important reasons.  The attendance laws are designed to make sure that the missed days of school don’t interfere with your child’s academic achievement and earned credit.  It is very important that you stay in constant communication with your child’s school so that your child may receive all of the support and resources available to promote academic success.

How Do You Ensure Your Child Does Not Miss Too Much School?

• Stay in constant communication with your child's campus, make sure they know when absences are necessary for your child.  There are many resources the campus can refer to you that may assist families in crisis.
• 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.
• Review Bastrop ISD’s school calendar and whenever possible schedule health care appointments and family trips/vacations before or after school, or during school breaks or holidays.
• Switch between morning and afternoon appointments so that your child doesn’t miss the same class all the time.
• Attend tutoring sessions anytime instructional time is lost due to attendance.

• Establish and stick to the basic routines (early bedtime, set wake up time, laying out outfits, etc.) that will allow your child to develop a habit of on time attendance.
• Consistently talk to your child about why going to school every day is important.  Help your child get excited about going to school.
• Do not allow your child to stay home unless they have a contagious illness or are too sick to be confortable.  Sometimes your child may not feel well, but are not sick enough to stay home.
• Come up with a "plan B" for who you and your family can rely on to help get your child to school when something comes up.
• Schedule doctor, dentist, or other health care appointments on early release days, school holidays, or at the beginning or end of the school day.
• Schedule vacations or other non-school related activities during days when students are not scheduled to attend school.
• If your family runs into personal setbacks (car trouble, loss of income, divorce, family illness, etc.) or anything that will affect how your family functions, reach out to the school and ask for help. The campus can help you connect with needed resources.
• Stay involved and in constant communication with your child's school.  Read all information that is sent home with your child.
• When your child is absent, work with teachers to provide your child with additional opportunities to learn and make-up work.
• Follow district policy for reporting absences and submitting absence documentation within 3 school days of your child's return to school.
• Monitor your child's attendance through Skyward.  if an absence is marked incorrectly, contact the campus attendance clerk.

To appeal attendance hours, please use the documents linked below. Turn them in to Victoria Vargas at BHS.