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Attendance and Absences

Attendance

Regular and punctual school attendance is essential for school success.

Attendance increases student achievement and improves the quality of their educational experience. It prepares them for college, good careers, and successful adulthood. Texas Compulsory Attendance Law requires students to attend school regularly, unless otherwise exempted by law. It is the responsibility of the parent and student to cooperate and communicate with the school on all attendance matters.

See PfISD Student Handbook for complete attendance policy.

Official Attendance-Taking Time (All Grade Levels)

The district will take official attendance every day at:

All of these times fall within the designated 2nd instructional hour of the day as required by state rule.

A student absent for any portion of the day, should follow the procedures below to provide documentation of the absence.

  • Elementary School Campuses: 9:30 a.m.
  • Middle School Campuses: 9:30 a.m.
  • High School Campuses (Varies)
    • Connally High School: 11:45 a.m.
    • Hendrickson High School: 11:55 a.m.
    • Pflugerville High School: 11:55 a.m.
    • Weiss High School: 11:55 a.m.
    • Provan Opportunity Center: 10:00 a.m.

 

 

Absences

Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Pflugerville ISD is reinstating parent-documented absences. This means that, for a defined set of reasons, a parent or guardian note will once again be accepted to excuse your student’s absence, without requiring a doctor’s note for every occurrence.

What a Parent Note Can Excuse

You may submit a note to excuse up to five school days per semester, per student, for:

  • Your student’s illness, injury, or health-related condition
  • A medical, dental, or behavioral health appointment
  • The serious illness, hospitalization, or death of an immediate family member

There is no change to excused absences related to certain religious, military, or legal proceedings, college visits, and driver’s license appointments, and those don’t count against your five days. Please see the Student Handbook for details. 

What a Parent Note Cannot Excuse

To keep this policy fair and consistent for every family, a parent note cannot be used for:

  • Family vacations or trips
  • Personal errands that could be scheduled outside school hours
  • Oversleeping, missed rides, or traffic
  • Work, babysitting, or non-District activities



     

How to Submit a Note

Send your note to your campus attendance office within three school days of your student returning to school. Notes can be submitted in writing, emailed (this is the best way for tracking), or submitted through the method your campus provides. Each note should include:

  • Your student’s full name and student ID
  • The date(s) of the absence
  • The specific reason for the absence
  • Your name, signature (or electronic submission), and a phone number where the campus can reach you

Good to Know

A parent note is reviewed, not automatically approved. Your campus will confirm the reason meets District guidelines.

After five parent-documented days in a semester, a note from a licensed health-care provider will be required for future illness-related absences.

This is separate from absences the District is already required by law to excuse (such as certain religious, military, or legal proceedings), those don’t count against your five days.

Why This Matters

Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success, and we want every absence, excused or not,  to come with the support your student needs to catch up. Reinstating parent notes gives families more flexibility while keeping our attendance standards clear and consistent.

If you have questions about this policy or a specific absence, please contact your campus attendance office or the Office of Student Affairs.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep every PfISD student in school and on track.