Attendance

Absences & Attendance

Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his or her education—to benefit from teacher-led and school activities, to build each day’s learning on 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 parents should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences. Two state laws—one regarding compulsory attendance, the other regarding attendance for course credit—are of special interest to students and parents.

Attendance for Credit

To receive credit for a class, a student must attend at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. A student who attends at least 75 percent but fewer than 90 percent of the days the class is offered may receive credit for the class if he or she completes a plan, approved by the campus principal, that allows the student to fulfill the instructional requirements for the class. If a student is involved in a criminal or juvenile court proceeding, the approval of the judge presiding over the case will also be required before the student receives credit for the class.

If a student attends less than 75 percent of the days a class is offered or has not completed a plan approved by the campus principal, then the student will be referred to the attendance review committee to determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit, if appropriate. See Board Policy FEC.

College Visit

Doctor's Note

Students absent for more than three consecutive days because of a personal illness must bring a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s extended absence from school. See Board Policy FEC(LOCAL)
Should a student develop a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s absence from school. See Board Policy FEC(LEGAL)
The attendance committee may, if the student has established a questionable pattern of absences, also require a physician’s or clinic’s statement of illness after a single day’s absence as a condition of classifying the absence as one for which there are extenuating circumstances.

Driver's License VOE

For a student between the ages of 16 and 18 to obtain a driver's license, the Texas Department of Public Safety must have written parental consent to access the student’s records to verify 90 percent attendance for credit for the semester.
A WHS student may request a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) by visiting the WHS Attendance Office or scanning the QR Code outside the WHS Attendance Office. VOEs require a 24-hour notice to allow the WHS attendance clerks to verify all required information.
It is the WHS student's responsibility to obtain the completed VOE from the WHS Attendance Office during school hours. The Attendance Office cannot fax or email the completed Verification of Enrollment.
A VOE is valid for 30 days from the issue date.

Guidelines

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. If makeup work is completed, absences as Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance will be considered days of attendance for this purpose.
A transfer or migrant student begins to accumulate absences only after he or she has enrolled in the district. For a student transferring into the district after school begins, including a migrant student, only those absences after enrollment will be considered.
In deciding a student’s absences, the committee will attempt to ensure that it is in the best interest of the student.
The committee will consider the acceptability and authenticity of documented reasons for the student’s absences.
The committee will consider whether the absences were for reasons over which the student or the student’s parents could exercise any control.
The committee will consider 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 or parent will be allowed to present any information to the committee about the absences and consider alternatives to earn or regain credit.

The student or parent may appeal the committee’s decision to the board of trustees by filing a written request with the superintendent following Board Policy FNG(LOCAL).

The actual number of days a student must be in attendance to receive credit will depend on whether the class is for a full semester or a full year. Student attendance must be at 90% to receive credit. If a student does not attend 90%, an attendance hearing will be held. At that time, a determination will be made on the most appropriate action for student completion of instruction time. Note: The state of Texas does not consider absences as “excused” or “unexcused” as a determination for promotion.

Make-Up Work

Routine and In-depth Makeup Work Assignments Because of Absence

For any class missed, the teacher may assign the student makeup work based on the instructional objectives for the subject or course and the needs of the individual student in mastering the essential knowledge and skills or in meeting subject or course requirements.

The student is responsible for asking teachers about assignments missed and making arrangements for the make-up work. This must be done on the first day the student returns to that class. Students will have one day for each day of absence to make up assignments. For a longer absence, the student will make special arrangements with the teacher.
If work or make-up work is turned in on time, the student will be eligible to gain full credit.
If work or make-up work is not turned in by the designated time, the student is subject to a grade penalty. For example, if the student turns in the late work by the next class period, the student can receive a grade of no higher than 70. After the initial two-day period, a student may turn his/her work in on the following school day in order to receive a grade of no higher than 50. Failure to turn in work after the three-day period, a grade of zero may be given.
Unexcused absences include vacations during scheduled school days, babysitting, oversleeping, and missing the bus. If an absence is unexcused, the student must still do the work he/she missed, but the grade will be reduced by 10%. Work must be turned in within the same number of days as the student was absent. Truancy will result in a grade of zero for all work missed. For example: If a student is absent on a Monday and returns on Tuesday, his or her work is due on Thursday (One day absent = one day to make-up work; work due the next day).
Work that is assigned when a student is present must be turned in on the first day a student returns to that class from being absent, or the work will be considered late. The student must turn in all work that was assigned before the student was absent. All tests assigned before the absence must be taken on the first day back to that class or at the teacher’s discretion.
Make-up assignments, projects, or tests shall be made available to students after an excused absence. Teachers may assign a late penalty to any long-term project in accordance with timelines approved by the principal and previously communicated to students.
Students on field trips or school trips must have their assignments ready when they return to class.
When your child is absent from school and you wish to pick up assignments, To request assignments, please call the attendance office at (972) 923-4600 before 10:00 AM to allow the teachers sufficient time to prepare the assignments and have them in the office to pick up after school. Work must be turned in within the same number of days as the student was absent.

Note After Absence

When a student must be absent from school, the student—upon returning to school—must bring a note, signed by the parent or guardian, that describes the reason for the absence. A note signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the student is 19 or older. Notes must be received within three days of the student’s return to school. Only five notes a year will be excused. Any child may be excused from school for absences resulting from personal sickness, sickness or death in the family, quarantine, and weather or road conditions.

Truancy

Violations

School employees must investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance law. A student absent without permission from school; from any class; from required special programs, such as additional special instruction (termed “accelerated instruction” by the state) assigned by a grade placement committee and basic skills for ninth graders; or from required tutorials will be considered in violation of the compulsory attendance law and subject to disciplinary action.

A court of law may also impose penalties against both the student and his or her parents if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. A complaint against the parent may be filed in court if the student:

Is absent from school on ten or more days or parts of days within six months in the same school year, or
Is absent on three or more days or parts of days within four weeks. If the student is over age 18, the student’s parents should not be subject to penalties as a result of their child’s violation of the state compulsory attendance law. See Board Policy FEA(LEGAL)