ATTENDANCE - Secondary                                                                                    

Regular school attendance is essential for the student to make the most of his or her education—to benefit from teacher-led activities, to build each day's learning on that of the previous day, and to grow as an individual.
Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student's mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences.

-     Compulsory Attendance/Truancy

The state compulsory attendance law requires that: a student between the ages of 6 and 18 must attend school and District-required tutorial sessions unless the student is otherwise legally exempted or excused. A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after his or her eighteenth birthday is required to attend each school day. However, if a student 18 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 is then unauthorized and may be considered trespass. Upon enrollment in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, a child shall attend school.

School employees must investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance law. A student absent from school without permission from any class and/or from required special programs, accelerated (additional special) instruction assigned by the grade placement committee and/or from required tutorials will be considered in violation of the law and subject to disciplinary action.

Nonattendance may also result in assessment of penalties by a court of law against both the student and his or her parents. A complaint against the parent may be filed in the appropriate court if the student:

is absent from school on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, or

is absent on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period.

-     Attendance for Credit

To receive credit in a class, a student must attend at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. A student who attends fewer than 90 percent of the days the class is offered may be referred to the attendance review committee to determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit.

In determining whether there were extenuating circumstances for the absences, the attendance committee will use the following guidelines:

All absences will be considered in determining whether a student has attended the required percentage of days. Religious holy days and documented health care appointments for which routine make-up work has been completed will be reviewed. If make up work is completed for absences due to religious holy days or documented health care appointments, the absence will be considered days of attendance for this purpose.

For a student transferring in or enrolling in the District after school begins, only those absences after enrollment will be considered.

-    In reaching consensus about a student's absences, the committee will attempt to ensure that its decision is in the best interest of the student.

-    Consideration will be given as to whether the absences were for reasons over which the student or the student's parent could exercise any control.

-    Consideration will be given to the acceptability and authenticity of documentation expressing reasons for the student's absences.

-    Consideration will be given to the extent to which the student has completed all assignments, mastered the essential knowledge and skills, and maintained passing grades in the course or subject.

-    The student, parent, or other representative will be given an opportunity to present any information to the committee about the absences and to discuss ways to earn or regain credit.

-    Students and/or parents have 15 days to appeal the denial of credit due to lack of attendance. The 15-day window begins on the last day of the semester.

-    Students and/or parents have 15 days to correct any absence codes given during the semester. The 15-day window begins on the last day of the semester.

-    Parents will be notified by mail when student absences exceed the maximum allowed. It is a

misconception that after a certain time of day students are not counted absent. Attendance is taken  

at each period.                                                                                                                                  

-    If credit is lost because of excessive absences, the attendance committee will decide how the student may                                  
regain credit. The student or parent may appeal the committee's decision per district policy.                                

-    The actual number of days a student must attend in order to receive credit will depend on whether the class                                
is for a full semester or for a full year.

When a student must be absent from school, parents are asked to call the school each day the student will be absent. Upon returning to school, the student must bring a note signed by the parent that describes the reason for the absence.

•     Make-up Work

Students shall be expected to make up assignments and tests after an excused absence. (See District Guidelines for Absences and Excuses on the GCISD website at www.gcisdk-12.org or in the Student/Parent Handbook.) Students shall be allowed one school day for every school day missed, plus one additional school day, to make up work or

tests.

If a student submits all make-up work and completes all tests on time, they have the opportunity to receive full credit. If the work is submitted late, the student may receive a maximum of 70 percent credit for the work.

Teachers may assign additional work to ensure that students who have been absent have sufficient opportunity to master the essential knowledge and skills or to meet subject or course requirements. The assignments shall be based on the instructional objectives for the subject or course and may provide greater depth of subject matter than routine make-up work.

A student shall be responsible for obtaining and completing the make-up work in a satisfactory manner and within the time specified.

After the first 48 hours of absence, parents or students may request assignments during a prolonged absence due to illness by calling the school office. Schoolwork will not be provided prior to absences except in the case of illness or religious holy days. Assignments should be requested no later than 10:00 a.m.

•     Driver License Attendance Verification

By law to obtain a driver's license, a student between the ages of 16 and 18 must annually provide to the Texas Department of Public Safety a form obtained from the school verifying that the student has met the 90 percent attendance requirement for the semester preceding the date of application. The student can obtain this form at the campus office.

 

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