FEB - ATTENDANCE: ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING

The School shall maintain records to reflect the average daily attendance (ADA). The Superintendent, principals, and teachers shall maintain accurate, current attendance records.

19 TAC 129.21(a)

The School shall use the standards established by the Commissioner to maintain records and make reports on student attendance and student participation in special programs. The official standards are described in TEA's Student Attendance Accounting Handbook.

19 TAC 129.1023-1025

MINIMUM ENROLLMENT

A student must be enrolled for at least two hours to be considered in membership for a half-day, and for at least four hours to be considered in membership for one full day.

Half-Day Students

Students enrolled on a half-day basis may earn only half-day attendance each school day. Attendance is determined for these pupils by recording absences in a period during the half-day they are scheduled to be present.

ATTENDANCE FOR STATE FUNDING PURPOSES

Attendance for all grades shall be determined by the absences recorded in the second or fifth period of the day, unless the School has obtained permission from TEA for an alternate period to record absences.

The established period in which absences are recorded may not be changed during the school year.

Students absent during the daily period selected by a district for taking attendance shall be counted absent for the entire day. Students present at the time attendance is taken shall be counted present for the entire day.

19 TAC 129.21

Students in alternative education programs shall be counted in computing the average daily attendance of students in a district for the student's time in actual attendance in the program.

Education Code 37.008(f)

Exceptions

A student not actually on campus at the time attendance is taken may be considered in attendance for Foundation School Program purposes if:

Board-Approved Activities

1. The student is participating in a Board-approved extracurricular activity or public performance, which is under the direction of a member of a School's professional staff or an adjunct staff member who has a bachelor's degree.

Mentorships

2. The student is participating in a mentorship approved by School personnel to serve as one or more of the advanced measures needed to complete the Distinguished Achievement Program outlined in 19 TAC 74.13(a)(3).

Medicaid Students

3. The student is Medicaid-eligible and participating in the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program. Such students may be excused for up to one day at any time without loss of ADA.

Religious Holy Days

4. The student is observing holy days, including days of travel to or from a site where the student will observe holy days. Excused days for travel shall be limited to not more than one day for travel to and one day for travel from the site where the student will observe the religious holy days. Students excused under this provision shall be allowed a reasonable time to make up school work missed on those days. If the student satisfactorily completes the work, the days of absence shall be counted as days of compulsory attendance. A student whose absence is excused for the purpose of observing religious holy days shall not be penalized for the absence and shall be counted as having attended for purposes of calculating the average daily attendance in the School.

Health Care Appointments

5. The student has a documented appointment with a health care professional during regular school hours, if that student commences classes or returns to school on the same day of the appointment. The appointment should be supported by a document such as a note from the health care professional. A student whose absence is excused for an appointment with a health care professional shall not be penalized for the absence and shall be counted as having attended for purposes of calculating the average daily attendance at the School.

Education Code 25.087; 19 TAC 129.21

Parental Consent to Leave Campus

A student absent from school shall provide a note that describes the reason for absence. The note shall be signed by the student's parent or guardian. If the student is 18 or older or has been declared by a court to be an emancipated minor, the student may sign in place of a parent or guardian.

19 TAC 129.21(d)

EXCUSED ABSENCES

The following shall receive excused absences when all conditions are met:

Court Proceedings

1. A student who has been referred to a juvenile court for delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision shall be excused when:
1. The assigned juvenile judge or probation officer has detained the student or required the student to participate in activities related to the student's referral;
2. Detention or participation in such activities resulted in absence from class;
3. The probation officer communicates the cause of the absence in writing to district personnel; and
4. The student successfully completes all missed assignments.

Human Services

2. A student who has been referred to the Texas Department of Human Services or a county or local welfare unit on the basis that he or she has been abused or is neglected shall be excused when:
   1. The student's caseworker has required the student to participate in activities related to the student's referral;
   2. Participation in such activities resulted in the student's absence from class;
   3. The caseworker communicates the reason for the absence to district personnel; and
   4. The student successfully completes all missed assignments.

Temporary Absences

3. A child required to attend school may be excused for temporary absence resulting from any cause acceptable to the teacher, principal, or Superintendent of the school in which the child is enrolled.

Education Code 25.087; 19 TAC 129.22

Adopted: 4/1/05

Amended:

Reviewed:

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