ABSENCE CLASSIFICATIONS

Students will be considered absent from class if they miss more than 15 minutes of the class period.

Excused Absences     TEC 25.087

All absences must be verified by a parent with either a written note or a telephone call to the office within two days if the absence is to be excused.

·        Student Illness – Five days or longer requires a doctor’s note to be excused.

·        Death of a Family Member

·        Health Care Appointments – The principal shall require a note signed by the parent/guardian requesting that a student be released for a health care appointment. Students are required to bring a note signed by the health care professional upon return from the appointment.

·        Religious Holy Days – Any child of an established religious faith will be excused if his/her absence is for the purpose of observing a religious holiday, consistent with his/her creed or belief. The parent/guardian must submit, to the office, a written request for an excused absence.

·        Authorized School Sponsored Activities

·        Approved College Visitation

·        Court Appearance – The principal shall require the presentation of an appropriate court document, subpoena, etc. which indicates a student should appear in court.

·        Student Illness – Five days or longer requires a doctor’s note to be excused.

·        Death of a Family Member

·        Health Care Appointments – The principal shall require a note signed by the parent/guardian requesting that a student be released for a health care appointment. Students are required to bring a note signed by the health care professional upon return from the appointment.

·        Religious Holy Days – Any child of an established religious faith will be excused if his/her absence is for the purpose of observing a religious holiday, consistent with his/her creed or belief. The parent/guardian must submit, to the office, a written request for an excused absence.

·        Authorized School Sponsored Activities

·        Approved College Visitation

·        Court Appearance – The principal shall require the presentation of an appropriate court document, subpoena, etc. which indicates a student should appear in court.

Unexcused Absences

An absence for any reason other than those listed above shall be classified as unexcused. Absences that ate classified as excused shall not be excused if the parent fails to notify the office of the reason for the absences within two school days of the absences. The building principal may review reasons other than those listed above and determine that they, too, may be excused.

Truancy

Absence from school or class without prior knowledge and approval from the parents, guardians, or school officials will be considered truancy. Each absence due to truancy will result in a grade of zero for any activity, test, or assignment missed if all members of the class are assigned grades for the same work. Further disciplinary action may be taken if deemed necessary by the principal. In addition no Alternative Learning Activities ( ALA ) will be given for truancy.

Arriving Late to Class/School (Tardy)

Excused tardiness is defined as arriving to class with an acceptable excuse or admit during the first fifteen (15) minutes of the period. Excused arrival at a class after more than fifteen (15) minutes of the class period shall be regarded as an excused absence.

Unexcused tardiness is defined as arriving to class without an acceptable excuse or admit during the first fifteen (15) minutes of the period. Unexcused arrival at a class after more than fifteen (15) minutes of the class period shall be regarded as an unexcused absence.

GUIDELINES FOR A REFERRAL

School personnel will send written referrals on student absence to the Spring Branch ISD Police Department using the following guidelines. Referrals for failure to attend school will be investigated by the Spring Branch ISD Police Department .

• One (1) day or part of a day for truancy
• Three (3) days or parts of days for unexcused absence
• Five (5) consecutive days of absence without illness verification being provided by a parent or guardian or a health care provider.
• Ten (10) absences

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING ACTIVITY ( ALA )              TEC 25.092

In accordance with the law, students must attend class at least 90% of the days each class is offered in order to receive credit for the class.  In addition to completing the make-up assignments, any student who is absent after the allotted number of absences may be required to complete an alternative learning activity(ies) as specified by the school’s attendance committee in order to regain credit.  Alternative learning activities given by the principal or attendance committee may include, but are not limited to, tutorials, additional assignments, research projects, oral reports, library activities, lab activities, summer school, peer tutoring, and community/campus service.