Help Us Keep Our Students In School

Truancy Policy

                       Compulsory Student Attendance

A child who is required to attend school under Section 25.085 of the Education Code shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided. Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086 of the Education Code, a child who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached the child’s 18th birthday shall attend school each day of the regular

school term. Once enrolled in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, attendance is required. unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, a student enrolled in a school district must attend an

extended-year program for which the student is eligible that is provided by the district for students identified as likely not to be promoted to the next grade level or tutorial classes required by the district under Section 29.084 of the Education Code.

                                Failure to Attend School

Students who are truant or have unexcused absences from school will be considered to be in violation of TEC 25.094 for “Failure to Attend School” and may be subject to prosecution under this law. A student prosecuted under this law may be required to have a parent or guardian appear with the student in court on the date assigned.

PLEASE NOTE: Saturday Class(es) and/or Detention Class(es) are considered an extension of the school week. `Failure to attend either assignment may result in prosecution under this law.

Be advised that TEC 25.095 states,

(a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school shall notify a student’s parent in writing at the beginning of the school year that if the student is absent from school on 10 or more days or parts of days

within a six-month period in the same school year or on three or more days or parts of days within a four week period:

(1) The student’s parent is subject to prosecution under Section

25.093.

(b) A school district shall notify a student’s parent if the student has been absent from school, without excuse under Section 25.087, on three days or parts of days within a four-week period. The notice must:

(1) inform the parent That:

(A) it is the parent’s duty to monitor the student’s school attendance and require the student to attend school; and

(B) The parent is subject to prosecution under Section 25.093; and

(2) request a conference between school officials and the parent to discuss the absences.

(c) The fact that a parent did not receive a notice under Subsection (a) or (b) does not create a defense to prosecution under Section 25.093 or 25.094

(d) In this section, “parent” includes a person standing in parental relation.

The previous section on Compulsory Student Attendance deals with the number of days of attendance required by law and should not be confused with the following section which deals with the number of days of attendance required to receive credit for a class or grade level.

•1.   What is the district policy on attendance?

A. All students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time to class for the entire period of each of his/her classes in order to receive maximum benefits from their instructional programs. To receive credit in a class, state law requires that a student must attend at least 90% of the days that class is offered.

•2.   What to do when your child is absent/tardy?

A.       If your student is arriving late/absent/to school for any reason, you must call the attendance office. Please be sure and provide a dated, written, and signed note explaining why your child was tardy/absent. The student will need to bring his/her note signed by the parent or guardian to the Attendance office. It is your child's responsibility to see that his/her note is turned in.

B.        If your child leaves campus for a medical appointment, he/she must bring a doctor's visit notification form/note when returning to school. The doctor's note will need to include the date(s) that he/she was under their care and the note will need to be on the doctor's office, clinic, or hospital stationary. If your student returns the same day, sign back in the attendance office and they will be given a pass to class.

C.        Don't forget! When your child misses school, you will need to send a handwritten note explaining why he/she was absent. If your child was under a doctor's care, he/she will need a note from the doctor, with the date(s) they were under the physician's care and on their office/clinic/hospital stationary.

D.       Please remember that your child has two days after his/her return to school to bring an absence excuse, per student handbook. It is your child's responsibility to see that his/her note is turned in to the attendance office. If no excuse is submitted for the absence, then it will be regarded as truancy. Also, the student will receive a "zero" for the work that he or she has missed.

Truancy

Truancy is defined as any absence not authorized by school authorities when students are under school jurisdiction or without parental consent when students are under the supervision of parents. Any work made up due to truancy may not receive an academic grade higher than 70. In addition to an academic penalty the student is subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

Attendance Officers

Attendance officers are employed by Humble ISD. The attendance officers investigate possible compulsory attendance violations. The attendance officers present evidence of compulsory attendance law violations to the

court. The attendance officers also are asked to verify questions of student residency. and maybe required to do a home verification check.

Tardy Policy

All students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time to classes. Students who enter a class after the tardy bell sounds are a disruption to that class.

• On time arrival in class is expected. When the tardy bell rings, students are expected to be in the classroom ready to receive instructions for the day.

• Disciplinary measures may be taken for excessive tardiness. (For further information, see the Student Code of Conduct)

• Parents must send a note indicating the reason for being late, and the student must take that note to the office for a late admission slip.

At the middle schools and high schools levels, tardiness are described as being late to class, being admitted after school begins, or returning to class with no admission permit. Each school has its own tardy policy that will be explained at the beginning of the school year. For additional information please visit your student’s campus website.

The State of Texas Compulsory Attendance Law states:

Every child who is at least six (6) years of age, or who is younger than six (6) years of age and has previously been enrolled in the first grade, and who has not yet reached his or her eighteenth (18th) birthday shall attend school. On enrollment in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, students are subject to compulsory attendance rules.

How Many Absences Are Too Many?

Unexcused, voluntary absences from school on ten or more parts of days within a six-month period or three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period are considered too many.

Need some suggestions on avoiding truancy?  Click below: 

Humble ISD Police
341 Charles Street
Humble, Texas
Telephone: 281-641-7900 Fax: 281-446-4044
Police Chief: Solomon Cook