SANGER ISD
ELEMENTARY ONLINE
TRUANCY CLASS
REGULAR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IS THE KEY TO YOUR CHILD’S SUCCESS
Student success begins with good attendance. The US Department of Education states that for every missed day of school, it takes a child two days to catch up. This is difficult because the child is forced to make up missed work at the same time they are receiving new learning.
ATTENDANCE CATEGORIES
A student with Good Attendance generally achieves higher grades and enjoys school more. Your child will make the most of their educational opportunities and feel more connected to their school.
Good Attendance is 9 or fewer absences per school year.
ATTENDANCE CATEGORIES
Student’s with Average Attendance generally miss a year’s worth of school before their senior year. Your child will need to spend extra time catching up on school work to avoid underachieving.
Average Attendance is 10 to 17 absences per school year.
ATTENDANCE CATEGORIES
A student with Chronic Absences lose opportunities to gain basic social and academic skills that are critical to ongoing academic success. These students are at-risk for eventually dropping out of school.
Chronic Absences are 18 or more absences per school year.
WHAT CATEGORY IS YOUR CHILD IN?
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
WHAT DOES TEXAS LAW STATE?
Texas Education Code 25.085
State law requires children to attend school each day that instruction is provided. The law applies to children ages 6 – 19. If you voluntarily enroll your child in Pre-K or Kindergarten before age 6, school attendance laws apply to your child as well. A person who voluntarily enrolls in or attends school after turning 19 is also required to attend for the entire period of the program of instruction.
WHAT DOES TEXAS LAW STATE?
Family Code Section 65.003
A child engages in truant conduct if the child is required to attend school under TEC 25.085, and fails to attend school.
When a student is absent for 10 or more
days or parts of days within a 6-month
period in the same school year, court
action may be taken against the student
and/or the parent.
WHAT DOES TEXAS LAW STATE?
Parent/Guardian Notices: If a student who is required to attend school under Texas Education Code 25.085 is absent from school 3 days or parts of days in a 4-week period, the District will send a warning letter and initiate Truancy Prevention Measures.
If a student is absent for 10 or more days or parts of
days in a 6-month period in the same school year:
prosecution under Texas Education Code 25.093.
WHAT IS A LOSIT?
LOSIT - Loss of Significant Instructional Time
A LOSIT occurs when a student is late, or frequently leaves school early. The Texas Education Code uses the language “parts of days” when referring to a LOSIT. This may be defined as 15 minutes or more of lost instructional time throughout the day. If a student consistently misses any part of the school day including, but not limited to, ARRIVING LATE or LEAVING EARLY, the school may take action to ensure that your child receives the maximum amount of instructional time everyday.
WHAT ABSENCES ARE EXCUSED BY LAW?
Although perfect attendance is the goal, it’s not always possible. School districts are required to excuse a student’s absence for reasons listed in state law, such as:
The Texas Education Code describes these reasons in greater detail and lists additional statutorily excused absences.
WHAT ABSENCES ARE EXCUSED BY THE DISTRICT?
Sanger ISD has its own criteria for determining what else is considered an excused absence. Generally, the following absences may qualify as excused:
WHAT ABSENCES ARE NOT EXCUSED?
Examples of unexcused absences include, but are not limited to:
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT?
A handwritten note or electronic note (submitted on the campus website) from the parent to the campus (explaining the reason for the absence) is required when a student is absent from school. This documentation must be received within 3 school days of your child returning to school.
We are NOT able to accept phone calls as acceptable documentation.
Please note that, unless the absence is for an allowed reason under compulsory attendance laws, the district will not excuse any absence, even if the parent provides a note explaining the absence.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT?
When a student is absent for four or more consecutive days because of personal illness, the parent must present a statement from a physician or health clinic verifying the illness or other condition causing the student's extended absence from school.
Without this documentation, the student’s absence will be considered unexcused and, if so, would be in violation of compulsory attendance laws.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE EXCESSIVE ABSENCES FOR PERSONAL ILLNESS?
A parent note may be used to excuse an absence for the first nine days missed for an illness. After the ninth absence excused by a parent note, future absences require a statement from a doctor or health clinic for an absence to be excused from school.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A MEDICAL ABSENCE?
Students who begin classes or return to school on the same day of an appointment will not accumulate an absence. The appointment must be supported by documentation from a healthcare professional. The school nurse may serve as an acceptable health clinic statement.
WHAT IS THE 90% RULE?
Attendance laws require districts to enforce the 90 percent rule, which states that students in grades K-12 must attend school for 90 percent of the time the school is offered to receive a final grade. The 90 percent rule applies to ALL absences, including excused absences.
WHAT IS THE 90% RULE?
A student who attends at least 75 percent, but fewer than 90 percent of the days the class is offered, may receive a final grade for the class if the student completes an instructional plan approved by the principal and the campus Attendance Review Committee.
WHAT CAN THE PARENT DO?
Pay attention to the phone calls from Sanger ISD to alert you every time your child is absent. You will only receive these calls when your child has been marked absent (this includes LOSIT).
Contact the school immediately if you
believe there is an error with your
child’s attendance.
WHAT CAN THE PARENT DO?
Turn in a note every time your child is absent. Do not rely on your child to turn in a note, and do not turn notes in to the teacher. Parent notes and doctor’s notes must be handed to the campus attendance clerk or submitted electronically on the campus website.
If you are signing your student out for a doctor’s
appointment, a note from a medical provider is
required; otherwise please follow up with a parent
note explaining why your student was absent.
WHAT CAN THE PARENT DO?
When school is in session, schedule appointments before or after school. When appointments must be made during the school day, schedule the appointments to allow your child to attend a part of the school day and provide a doctor’s note to the office.
We are not able to excuse absences for a student when the appointment is for a parent or sibling.
WHAT CAN THE PARENT DO?
Check Parent Portal often for up to date information about your child’s grades and attendance.
Review the attendance webpage for information
regarding attendance. If you still have questions,
contact your child’s school.
Click on the A+ icon on the district website to login to TxConnect.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
TRUANCY CLASS QUIZ
Click on the link below to complete the quiz required to receive credit for this truancy class. You must receive a score of 80 or higher to pass this quiz. You may take the quiz as often as needed to obtain this score. Please print a copy of the quiz results for your records.