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. They are discussed below.

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 for the reasons listed above at 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 reaching a decision about 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 parent 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 given an opportunity to present any information to the committee about the absences and to talk about ways 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 in accordance with Board Policy FNG(LOCAL).

The actual number of days a student must be in attendance in order to receive credit will depend on whether the class is for a full semester or full year. The 2018-2019 instructional calendar has 167 school days; 90% is 150 days. Therefore, a student must attend 150 days to receive credit. If a student does not attend 150 days, 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.

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.

Seniors are allowed two college visits as excused absences.  Signed official documentation from the school must be returned to the WHS Attendance Office (located in the Main Office) in order for the absence to be documented.  Request documentation of the visit in the College Admissions Office.  College visit approval form

• 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(LOCAL).
• 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. 

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 a six-month period in the same school year, or
• Is absent on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period. 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).

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.

1. The student is responsible for asking teachers about assignments missed and making arrangements for the make-up work. This must be done 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.
2. If work or make-up work is turned in on time, the student will be eligible for gaining full credit.
3. 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 the late work in 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.
4. 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).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Students on field trips or school trips must have their assignments ready when they return to class.
8. 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.