Attendance
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FAQ's
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What is the official attendance time?
The district will take official attendance every day at:• LECHS – 8:30am• TMS – 9:30am• THJ, NPE, MSI – 10:00am• THS – 10:30amA student absent for any portion of the day, should follow the required procedures to provide documentation of the absence.Although these are the state required official attendance times, you should make EVERY effort to be at school on time and in EVERY class, in EVERY period, EVERY day. -
What is the required documentation after an absence?
A parent must provide an explanation for any absence upon the student’s arrival or return to school. The student must submit a note signed by the parent. The campus may accept a phone call from the parent but reserves the right to require a written note.A note signed by the student will not be accepted unless the student is age 18 or older or is an emancipated minor under state law.The campus will document in its attendance records whether the absence is excused or unexcused.Note: The district is not required to excuse any absence, even if the parent provides a note explaining the absence, unless the absence is an exemption under compulsory attendance laws. -
How do I submit a doctor’s note after an absence due to an illness?
Within 3 days of returning to school, a student absent for more than 3 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 absence. Otherwise, the absence may be considered unexcused and in violation of compulsory attendance laws.Should the 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 absence to determine whether an absence will be excused or unexcusedAbsences of four consecutive days or more MUST have a doctor’s note in order to be considered excused. Shorter absences, due to illness, can be excused via a note, email from the parent, guardian and/or doctor. -
What should I do if my student is absent due to a severe illness or treatment?
If a student is absent because of a serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes a student’s attendance infeasible, a parent must provide certification from a physician licensed to practice in Texas specifying the student’s illness and the anticipated period of absence related to the illness or treatment
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What do I do if I have a special circumstance where my student will have a planned absence?
To help stay on track academically for special circumstances, you may fill out a Pre-Arranged Absence form if you know you will miss school.
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What information should I include on all excuse notes?
o Student’s First and Last Name
o Student ID #
o Grade Level
o Date(s) of absence(s)
o Reason for absence
o Parent/Guardian Printed Name
o Parent/Guardian Signature
o Parent/Guardian Phone Number -
What do I do if my student is mark absent in error?
If you feel your child was marked absent in error, please contact your child’s teacher and/or the campus Attendance Clerk/Registrar for additional review.
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What kind of note is required?
Parent notes may be:o Handwritten by a parent and dropped off to the campus Attendance Clerk/Registraro Emailed to the campus Attendance Clerk/RegistrarAbsences must have written notes/emails on file to be excused. Phone calls will NOT suffice and should be accompanied by a note.If an absence note is not received within 3 days of the student’s return to school, the absence will be coded as unexcused, which may result in truancy actions, if specific criteria are met. (Per TISD Student Handbook) -
Who should I email my parent note to?
Parent notes should be emailed to the campus Attendance Clerk email address of your student’s school. See below.o T. H. Johnson Elementary School§ Registrar/Attendance Clerk – THJRegistrar@taylorisd.orgo Pasemann Elementary School§ Registrar/Attendance Clerk – NPERegistrar@taylorisd.orgo Main Street Intermediate School§ Registrar/Attendance Clerk – MSIRegistrar@taylorisd.orgo Taylor Middle School§ Registrar – TMSRegistrar@taylorisd.org§ Attendance Clerk – TMSAttendance@taylorisd.orgo Taylor High School§ Registrar – THSRegistrar@taylorisd.org§ Attendance Clerk – THSAttendance@taylorisd.orgo Legacy Early College High School§ Registrar – LECHRegistrar@taylorisd.org§ Attendance Clerk – LEGACYAttendance@taylorisd.org -
How does my student obtain the form for Driver’s License Attendance Verification (Secondary Only)?
A currently enrolled student seeking a driver’s license shall submit the Texas Department of Public Safety Verification of Enrollment and Attendance Form (VOE), signed by the parent, to the campus central office at least 10 days before it is needed. The district will issue a VOE only if the student meets class credit or attendance requirements. The VOE form is available at: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/driver/forms/VOE.pdf.Further information may be found on the Texas Department of Public Safety website: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license.See Compulsory Attendance—Exemptions for Secondary Grade Levels in the TISD Student Handbook for information on excused absences for obtaining a learner license or driver’s license. -
What happens if my student has 3 or more unexcused absences?
When a student up to age 18 incurs three or more unexcused absences within a four-week period, the law requires the school to send notice to the parent.The notice will:o Remind the parent of his or her duty to monitor the student’s attendance and require the student to attend school;o Request a conference between school administrators and the parent; ando Inform the parent that the district will initiate truancy prevention measures, including a behavior improvement plan, school-based community service, referrals to counseling or other social services, or other appropriate measures.The truancy prevention facilitator for each campus is the campus principal. For any questions about student absences, parents should contact the facilitator or any other campus administrator.A court of law may impose penalties against the parent if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. The district may file a complaint against the parent if the student incurs ten or more unexcused absences within a six-month period in the same school year.Students Age 12-18If a student age 12–18 incurs ten or more unexcused absences within a six-month period in the same school year, the district, in most circumstances, will refer the student to truancy court.Students Age 19 or OlderAfter a student age 19 or older incurs a third unexcused absence, the district is required by law to send the student a letter explaining that the district may revoke the student’s enrollment for the remainder of the school year if the student has more than five unexcused absences in a semester. As an alternative to revoking a student’s enrollment, the district may implement a behavior improvement plan.[See policies FEA(LEGAL) and FED(LEGAL) for more information.] -
How does attendance impact my student’s credit, final grade, or being promoted to the next grade level (all grade levels)?
To receive credit or a final grade in a class, a student must attend the class at least 90 percent of the days it is offered.A student who attends at least 75 percent but fewer than 90 percent of the days may receive credit or a final grade if he or she completes a plan, approved by the principal, that allows the student to fulfill the class’s instructional requirements. If a student is involved in a criminal or juvenile court proceeding, the judge presiding over the case must also approve the plan before the student receives credit or a final grade.If a student attends fewer than 75 percent of the class days or does not complete the principal approved plan, then the attendance review committee will determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit or a final grade. [See policy FEC(LEGAL) and FEC(LOCAL) for more information.]With the exception of absences due to serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment, all absences, excused or unexcused, may be held against a student’s attendance requirement. To determine whether there were extenuating circumstances for any absences, the attendance committee will use the following guidelines:o If makeup work is completed, absences listed under Compulsory Attendance— Exemptions within the TISD Student Handbook will be considered extenuating circumstances.o A transfer or migrant student incurs absences only after he or she has enrolled in the district.o Absences incurred due to the student’s participation in board-approved extracurricular activities will be considered by the attendance committee as extenuating circumstances if the student makes up the work missed in each class.o The committee will consider the acceptability and authenticity of documented reasons for the student’s absences.o The committee will consider whether the student or student’s parent had any control over the absences.o 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.o The student or parent will be given an opportunity to present any information to the committee about the absences and discuss ways to earn or regain credit or a final grade.The student or parent may appeal the committee’s decision to the board by following policy FNG(LOCAL). -
What do I do if my student is late to school?
Any student entering the building after school has begun, or re-entering the building after leaving for an appointment, should sign in at the campus front desk. Students who enter the classroom within the first 19 minutes are considered TARDY. Students who are 20 minutes or more late to class will be marked absent to class, and will require written documentation.
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What do I do if my student needs to leave from school early?
Students leaving campus without signing out at the time they leave will be considered unexcused during the class periods they miss, even if they bring a valid note.o Parents/Guardians may sign out students at the campus front office. You must show your ID and be on the authorized pick-up list. Students are not called out of class prior to a Parent/Guardian arriving on campus. Please allow enough time, prior to your appointment (at least 15 minutes) for the pick-up process.o For students who drive themselves to school, a parent/guardian may send an email or a handwritten note or with the student stating the reason he/she is to leave school and indicate they are authorized to drive themselves. The student should provide the note to the Attendance Clerk/Registrar. The note will be verified and the student must check out before exiting the campus. -
Does my student need to sign in again to get back into school after signing out?
YES. Students are required to sign in anytime they have exited the building. It is not necessary to turn in the excuse note at the time of re-entry, however, if he/she has a medical appointment and returns to school the same day, it is best to drop off the doctor’s note at the time of re-entry.
