ATTENDANCE BROCHURE 2013-2014 Attendance Office 397-8208 and 397-8248 Attendance Administrator Mr. Leandro Miranda, Assistant Principal 397-8217
TEXAS STATE LAW AND ATTENDANCE AFFECTING STUDENTS IN 2 SEPARATE AREAS SIMULTANEOUSLY I. TEXAS COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW: The Texas Education Code states a child is required to attend school from the age of 6 until they are 18 years old. Attendance Warning Notices: If a student accumulates 3 unexcused absences, the school will notify the parent that it is the parent s duty to monitor the student s school attendance and require the student to attend school and that the parent is subject to prosecution under Section 25.093. Once the Attendance Warning Notice has been issued, only notes from a medical provider will be accepted to excuse an absence. Notes from parents will no longer be accepted after the Warning Notice is issued. Court Referrals: If a student accumulates 3 additional unexcused absences after the Warning Notice has been issued, a Court Referral will be submitted for Truancy. 18 or Older Students: A student 18 years old or older can be withdrawn if he/she accumulates 5 unexcused absences during the school year. II. ATTENDANCE FOR CREDIT: The Texas Education Code also states that students must be in attendance at least 90% of the time to receive credit for a course. This means a student may not have more than nine (9) absences in a semester. This includes both Excused and Unexcused absences. Even if a student passes the course, a student will NOT receive credit for a class if he or she exceeds the number of allowable absences. The only exceptions to this policy are Health, School Business, and College Visits (2 days per year-jr.s & Sr.s only) absences. Attendance Recovery Attendance Recovery (AR) is a means for students to recover credit lost from excessive absences during the school year. Attendance Recovery is offered on scheduled Wednesday evenings during the school year from 4:15 pm to 7:15 pm. Location and dates will be posted throughout the year. The student will be credited one period per one hour of Attendance Recovery. AR hours can also be earned through Homework Center and Teacher Tutoring. An AR log sheet can be obtained from the Attendance Administrator in the AP Office. AR log sheets must be turned in by Monday for the previous week. Late AR log sheets will NOT be accepted. The deadlines to complete hours for Attendance Recovery are the last day of the current semester. Participating in Attendance Recovery will NOT prevent or cancel a Warning Notice or a Court Referral Excellent sources of information about a student s attendance and grades can be found through Parent Connection (via the NISD webpage), progress reports, and report cards. 2013-14 Brandeis High School Attendance Brochure Page 1
. Frequently Asked Questions What is a student s responsibility when he or she is absent? If a student is absent (whether for one class or all day) he/she must bring a note to the Attendance Office. This can be done before 8:35 AM, during lunch, or at the end of the school day. The note must include: the date; student name and ID number; date(s) of the absence; the specific reason for the absence(s); and the doctor or parent/guardian signature with a current & valid phone number. Upon the student s return to school, all absences must be cleared within 3 school days. Documentation must be provided even if a parent had called the school previously. If a note and/or documentation is not received within 3 days of the absence, the absence will remain Unexcused. What Absences are Excused and which are Unexcused? EXCUSED (EA) absences include, but are not limited to, personal illness, family funerals, medical appointments, court appearances, truancy court, district approved church/religious trips with documentation, and family emergencies. Students must provide proper documentation to have an absence excused. UNEXCUSED (UA) absences include, but are not limited to, car trouble, missing the bus/ride, oversleeping, caring for a family member, traffic, incomplete notes, family vacations, and truancy. The Attendance Office will determine if an absence is Excused or Unexcused and reserves the right to request additional documentation. Appeals can be made to the Attendance Administrator. What is a Health (H) excuse? A student who is absent because of a Health Care appointment will be initially coded as having an Unexcused Absence. This can be changed to a Health (H) absence if the following criteria are met: 1. The student is present for any part of the day. 2. The student signs out and/or signs in through the Attendance Office. 3. Documentation from a Health Care Professional is submitted confirming the appointment within 3 days of returning to school. The Attendance Office will review the documentation and decide the absence meets the criteria for a Health absence. Only the Attendance Office can code for the H excuse. Teachers CANNOT change an absence to an Health absence. Health absences will not count against a student as it relates to a Warning Notice or losing course credit. If a student is gone all day for a medical appointment, he/she will receive an Excused Absence (EA), NOT a Health (H) excuse. However, the student must still provide any notes and/or medical documentation to the Attendance Office within 3 days of returning to campus; otherwise, the absence will remain Unexcused. How is School Attendance related to obtaining a driver s license? A student who is under 18 needs a TEA Verification of Enrollment and Attendance form in order to obtain a Texas instructional driver s permit, a Texas driver s license, or to renew a Texas driver s license. This form verifies that he/she has been in attendance for at least 90% of the days classes are offered. A student with excessive absences which results in non-credit for any class will not be issued this form. This form can be obtained from the school receptionist. 2013-14 Brandeis High School Attendance Brochure Page 2
Frequently Asked Questions (continued) How does a parent/guardian check a student out of school? If a student is to be checked out of school during the day, the parent/guardian should send a note with the student, to be dropped off in the Attendance Office before school begins. The student will then receive an early release pass from the Attendance Office. For our students safety, when a parent or guardian arrives onto campus to pick up their student, Brandeis requires the parent or guardian to physically report to the Attendance Office and present a valid ID. Brandeis also requires both the student and parent or guardian to sign out in the Attendance Office before leaving campus. When the student returns to campus, he/she must turn in a note to the Attendance Office for the absence to be Excused. In the case of a Health Care appointment, the student must return with proper documentation from the medical office (see Health excuse). What if a student becomes ill at school? When a student becomes ill at school, he/she needs to report to the Nurse. The Nurse will determine if he or she should be sent home due to illness. If a student is sent home by the school nurse, this is considered an Excused Absence (EA) for the remainder of the day. Subsequent absences will require a parent note in order to be Excused. Should the nurse decide NOT to send a student home and the parent chooses to sign out his/her student anyway, this will be coded as an Unexcused Absence (UA) unless a parent note is received into the Attendance Office within 3 days. Note for 18 year old Students: A student who is 18 or older must have a signed Parent Relinquish Rights Form on file to sign himself/herself out. If not, the student is considered Truant. Otherwise, a parent/guardian must check out the student according to the process described above. What is the School Messenger? School Messenger is an automated phone call generated when a student is absent from one or more classes. The system calls the contact number on file with the campus to inform the parent/guardian that his/her child has been absent from class. If the parent/guardian would like to have this number changed for more direct or efficient communication (e.g., cell phone or work phone), they can contact the attendance office at 397-8208 or 397-8248. What is an Attendance Medical Waiver? If a student has an extraordinary circumstance (e.g., a hospital stay due to an illness), the parent of the student may apply for an Attendance Medical Waiver in order to have these absences not counted against the student for course credit only. To apply: 1. Pick up an application from the Attendance Administrator in the Assistant Principals Office. 2. Return the completed and signed application with copies of supporting documents (e.g., Health Care forms or letters), and reason(s) for the absences. 3. All documentation must be in the Attendance Office by the last day of each semester. 4. Only days that have been excused by a medical professional (EAPN) by a note that is on file with the Attendance Office will be considered for waiver. Once all information is submitted, an Attendance Committee will meet to determine acceptance or denial of the Waiver. Only one Attendance Medical Waiver per semester will be accepted. Seniors: Days that are waived are still included in the 3-day minimum for Senior Exemptions from Final Exams (see page 4). For additional information of the District s Attendance Policy, please refer to your Student/Parent Handbook, pages D-3 through D-7 2013-14 Brandeis High School Attendance Brochure Page 3
Spring Semester Final Exam Exemptions Senior Exemptions from Final Exams: Seniors can be exempt from 2 nd semester final exams if they meet the following 4 conditions: 1. The Senior has 3 or fewer absences during the 2nd semester. Excused, Unexcused, Suspensions, and Waived absences are included in the 3 absences notes above. However, absences that are School Business (SB), Health (H), College Visit (CV--only 2 days per school year), or Required Court Appearances (CRT) are NOT included. Please note that each type of absence require proper documentation to be accepted. 2. The Senior is passing the entire school year of a full year, one credit course. 3. The Senior s 2nd semester average is 80 or better. 4. The Senior s conduct grade for the 2nd semester must be Satisfactory or better. See page B-16 of the Student/Parent Handbook. A Special Note for Freshmen Attendance at Louis D. Brandeis High School is taken seriously. Excessive absences can affect whether or not you receive credit for a class, if you will graduate on time, or could result in having to go to Truancy Court. Attendance is important every day, every period. What if I still have questions? Refer to the Student/Parent Handbook and/or contact the Attendance Office or the Attendance Administrator. Excellent sources of information about a student s attendance and grades can be found through Parent Connection (via the NISD webpage), progress reports, and report cards. 2013-14 Brandeis High School Attendance Brochure Page 4