Compulsory Attendance
Age 19 and Older
A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after his or her 19th birthday is required to attend each school day until the end of the school year. If a student age 19 or older has more than five
unexcused absences in a semester, the district may revoke the student’s enrollment. The student’s presence on school property thereafter would be unauthorized and may be
considered trespassing. [See policy FEA.]
Between Ages 6 and 19
State law requires that a student between the ages of 6 and 19 attend school, as well as any applicable accelerated instruction program, extended year program, or tutorial session, unless
the student is otherwise excused from attendance or legally exempt. State law requires attendance in an accelerated reading instruction program when
kindergarten, first grade, or second grade students are assigned to such a program. Parents will be notified in writing if their child is assigned to an accelerated reading instruction program as a
result of a diagnostic reading instrument. A student will be required to attend any assigned accelerated instruction program, which may occur before or after school or during the summer, if the student does not meet the passing standards on the state assessment for his or her grade level and/or applicable subject area.
Prekindergarten and Kindergarten
Students enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten are required to attend school and are
subject to the compulsory attendance requirements as long as they remain enrolled.
Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance
All Grade Level
State law allows exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for several types of absences if the student makes up all work. These include the following activities and events:
- Religious holy days;
- Required court appearances;
- Activities related to obtaining U.S. citizenship;
- Documented health-care appointments for the student or a child of the student, including absences for recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, if the student comes to school or returns to school on the same day as the appointment. A note from the health-care provider must be submitted upon the student’s arrival or return to campus; and
- For students in the conservatorship (custody) of the state,
- An activity required under a court-ordered service plan; or
- Any other court-ordered activity, provided it is not practicable to schedule the
student’s participation in the activity outside of school hours.
As listed in Section I at Children of Military Families, absences of up to five days will be excused for a student to visit with a parent, stepparent, or legal guardian who has been called to duty
for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from certain deployments.
Secondary Grade Levels
In addition, a junior or senior student’s absence of up to two days related to visiting a college or university will be considered an exemption, provided this has been authorized by the board
under policy FEA(LOCAL), the student receives approval from the campus principal, follows the campus procedures to verify such a visit, and makes up any work missed. Absences of up to two days in a school year will also be considered an exemption for:
- A student serving as an early voting clerk, provided the district’s board has authorized
this in policy FEA(LOCAL), the student notifies his or her teachers, and the student
receives approval from the principal prior to the absences; and - A student serving as an election clerk, if the student makes up any work missed.
An absence of a student in grades 6–12 for the purpose of sounding “Taps” at a military honors
funeral for a deceased veteran will also be excused by the district.
Failure to Comply with Compulsory Attendance, please see Southside ISD handbook.