Attendance

FUNDED ABSENCE REASONS

Below are the TEA-approved Funded absence codes:
For more detail see the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook

Reason Code	Description	Funding Details
AE	Discipline Alternative Education Placement (DAEP)
CI	Junior and senior career investigation	No more than 2 days/year
CN	Student US naturalization oath ceremony	No more than 2 days
CT	Required student court appearance	No more than 2 consecutive days per appearance
CV	Junior and senior college visit	No more than 2 days/year
CZ	Student US citizenship activity	2 days
DA	Distinguished Achievement Mentorship Program
DC	Dual credit program	Student is not on campus - does not qualify for Alternative Attendance Taking Time
DF	Department of Family & Protective Services or foster care conservatorship and misses school	No more than 2 days per activity, appointment or visitation
DV	Driver’s Permit/License (High School only)	1 day for each
EC	Election Clerk (High School only)	No more than 2 days/yr
HB	Homebound
IS	In-school suspension
LT	Life threatening illness/treatment	Medical documentation required
MD	Partial day - doctor appointment	Supported by documentation; includes telemedicine visits and generally recognized services for students with autism
MP	Parental/legal guardian military deployment	No more than 5 days/year
MR	Military recruitment visit	No more than 4 days/year
P	Partial day - doctor appointment for child of student	Medical documentation required
PT	Playing Taps (Secondary Only)
RH	Religious holy day	No more than 2 consecutive days
SR	School related (Field trips, UIL events)
TS	Short-term program TSBVI/TSD
TV	Full-time Texas Virtual School Network
WB	Off-campus work-based learning	Student is not on campus - does not qualify for Alternative Attendance Taking Time
XO	With school staff (Nurse, AP, Counselor)

90% RULE
Texas Education Code Section 25.092; FEC (Legal) FEC (Local)

(a)Except as provided in this section, a student in any grade level from kindergarten through grade 12 may not be given credit for a final grade for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90% of the days the class is offered.

*This is regardless of whether the student’s absences are funded/excused or unfunded/unexcused.    

*Exceptions:

1. Students who have a serious life-threatening illness
2. Absences related to observance of religious holidays

In Eanes ISD, the academic calendar is 174 days. Elementary and middle school students must be present 157 days (no more than 17 absences) to receive credit/final grade for a class.

High school credits are awarded each semester; the fall semester has 85 days and the spring semester has 89 days.  A middle- or high school student enrolled in a course for high school credit may be absent no more than 8 days each semester to receive final credit for a course.

(a-1) A student who is in attendance for at least 75% but less than 90% of the days a class is offered may be given credit or a final grade for the class is the student completes a plan approved by the school’s principal that provides for the student to meet the instructional requirements of the class.

In Eanes ISD, any student present 131 - 156 days (18 - 43 absences) would be eligible for this consideration. Examples of elements in a plan may include:

1. Maintaining attendance standards for the rest of the semester
2. Completing additional assignments, as specified by the committee or teacher
3. Attending tutorial sessions as scheduled
4. Completing other instructional programs, as specified by the committee
5. Taking an examination to earn credit, as outlined in policy

(a-3) A student’s excused absence under Section 25.087 (b)(3) may not be considered in determining whether the student has satisfied the attendance requirements under Subsection (a) or (a-1).

(b) The Board of Trustees of each school district shall appoint one or more attendance committees to hear petitions for class credit or a final grade by students who are in attendance fewer than the number of days required under Subsection (a) and have not earned class credit of a final grade under Subsection (a-1). Classroom teachers shall comprise a majority of the membership. A committee may give class credit or a final grade to a student because of extenuating circumstances.

In Eanes ISD, Grade Placement Committees (GPC), are convened for these purposes.  Each campus forms their own GPC.

 

TRUANCY
TEC Section 25.085; Family Code Section 25.093

Definition: When a child who is required to attend school fails to attend school without an excuse on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period.

Exceptions:

1. Pregnancy
2. Being in state foster care system
3. Experiencing homelessness
4. Having a severe or life-threatening illness or related treatment
5. Being the principal income earner for the student’s family

Types of truancy court filings:

1. Parent contributing to non-attendance:  Campuses may file a criminal case on a parent or parents for contributing to non-attendance of a minor if the student is enrolled or should be enrolled in school, Pre-K to 12th grade.
2. Student truancy: Campuses may file a civil case on the student for truancy if the student is between 12 and 19 years of age and is enrolled or should be enrolled in school.

Campuses may file on both the parent(s) and the student (age 12-19) if they believe both are contributing to the truancy.

Steps before filing:
Campuses must implement at least one of the following Truancy Prevention Measures (TPM) to improve attendance before filing against the student or parent:

1. Impose a “behavior management plan” on the student
2. Impose school-based community service on the student
3. Refer the student to counseling, mediation mentoring, teen court program, community based services or other in-school or out of school services aimed at preventing student’s truancy