Regular and punctual attendance is the greatest single factor in school success.

Texas Compulsory Attendance Law requires students to attend school regularly, unless otherwise exempted by law. Chronic absence — missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason—excused, unexcused absences and suspensions—can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third-grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school. Read this research summary for more details. The key to high school graduation is strong school attendance and parental involvement. Proper documentation must be provided by the student and/or parent/guardian upon the student’s return to school after an absence. See the Student Handbook for more information.

Students absent without permission are truant. Truancy is an unexcused absence and may be cause for disciplinary action. Repeated truancy may be cause for legal action against the student and his/her parent or guardian. A court of law may also impose penalties against the student and his or her parents if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. A complaint against the parent and or student may be filed in court if the student:

Is absent unexcused from school on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year.
Students are truant if they are absent from school without proper permission.

Research Attendance Works