Updated District Attendance Policy 22-23 School Year

Please refer to pages 28-32 in the Student Handbook.

PFISD will only excuse an absence with a doctor's note. Students sent home from school by the school nurse are also excused and may not return until the 24-hour rule is met. (See Illnesses on pages 68-75 in the Student Handbook.)

Documentation should be provided when a student is absent for any portion of the day.

 

Parent Notes will be recorded, but will not be an excused absence.

 

The 90 percent rule - Compulsory Attendance Law

In addition to compulsory attendance law, districts are required to enforce the 90 percent rule, which states that students in grades K-12 must attend class for 90 percent of the time it is offered to receive credit or a final grade. The 90 percent rule applies to most absences, including excused absences. If the student doesn’t meet this requirement, an attendance committee may grant the student credit or a final grade, depending on the circumstances.

 

Absences excused by law

Although perfect attendance is the goal, it’s not always possible. School districts are required to excuse a student’s absence for reasons listed in state law, such as to:

• Observe a religious holy day
• Attend a required court appearance
• Serve as an election clerk

The Texas Education Code describes these reasons in greater detail and lists additional statutorily excused absences.