Attendance Requirements

State compulsory attendance laws generally require all children between the ages of six and 18 to attend school each day that school is in session.

A student who voluntarily remains enrolled after the age of 18 is required to attend school.  If an 18-year-old has more than five unexcused absences in a semester, we may revoke his or her enrollment.  If we revoke enrollment, the student will be treated as an unauthorized person and may be arrested for trespassing if he or she comes on school property.

Regular attendance is critical to your child's success in school.  It is also critical to the school district's success because it is a factor in the district and campus rating under the state accountability system and is a determining factor in the amount of state financial aid the district is entitled to receive.

School officials aggressively enforce the state compulsory attendance laws.  If you do not send your child to school, we will send you a written warning that you must comply with compulsory attendance laws.  If your child continues to be absent after we send that warning letter, we will file charges with the appropriate local court.  Every day that a child is out of school in violation of compulsory attendance laws is a separate offense.  You may be assessed a fine for each offense and may also be ordered to participate in a class designed to help you make sure your child attends school as required.

Of course, there are times that children are sick or have other legitimate reasons for being absent from school.  If he/she is sick and will not be at school that day, you should call the school attendance office at 398-0332 to let them know of the absence.  Whenever a child is absent from school for any reason, she/he should bring a note signed by you explaining the reason for the child's absence when she/he returns to school.  The principal or someone acting for the principal will make the final decision whether an absence is classified as excused or unexcused.

If the child does not bring a signed note, the absence will be classified as unexcused.  Students ordinarily will not be permitted to make up missed work for credit if the absence is unexcused.  Also, a student who has unexcused absences for 10 days or more days or partial days in six months or three or more days or partial days in four weeks must be referred to the juvenile court for violations of compulsory attendance laws.

Doctor and Dental Appointments

Absences for appointments with doctors, dentists, orthodontists, physical therapists, and other health care professionals will be classified as excused absences if the student returns to school on the same day as the appointment and presents a note from the health care provider stating the time of the appointment and the time the student left the doctor's office.  If the appointment is at the end of the school day and the student has been at school all day up to that time, the absence will be excused if the student brings a note from the health care provider the following day.

Religious Holidays

Absences for religious holy days, including up to two days of travel time if necessary, will be classified as excused absences.

Attendance and Credit

Separate and apart from the compulsory attendance requirements, students must attend school a certain amount of time in order to get credit for their academic work.  State law requires students to be "in attendance" for at least 90 percent of the days a class is taught during the semester or year.

Each campus has an attendance committee that will review student attendance records.  If the committee decides that extenuating circumstances prevented a student from meeting the minimum attendance for credit standard, the committee can award credit or tell the student what additional work or time needs to be completed in order for the student to get credit for the grade level or course.  We offer a Saturday school program as one way students can get make up time.  Students will be charged a fee for participating in that program.  If your child needs this program, the principal will provide complete information about the times and cost before your child is assigned.

Note:  Information above is from the LISD Student Handbook.