Attendance

WELCOME

Welcome to the Harmony Public Schools Attendance page. We care about your child’s education. Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his or her education.  Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, students and parents should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences.

The state compulsory attendance law requires that a student between the ages of 6 and 19 must attend school and school-required tutorial sessions unless the student is otherwise legally exempted or excused. School employees must investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance law. A student absent from school without permission – including absence from any class, required special programs, such as SAT/PSAT classes, or required tutorials – will be considered truant and subject to disciplinary action.

Under Texas Education Code § 25.095(a), you are hereby notified that if a student is absent from school on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in any one school year or is absent for three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period, the parent is subject to prosecution under Texas Education Code § 25.093 and the student is subject to prosecution under Texas Education Code § 25.094 or to referral to a juvenile court in a county with a population of less than 100,000 for conduct that violates that section.

A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after his or her 18th birthday is required to attend each school day. If a student 18 years of age or older has more than five unexcused absences in a semester, the school may revoke the student’s enrollment. A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after his or her 18th birthday is required to attend each school day. If a student 18 years of age or older has more than five unexcused absences in a semester, the school may revoke the student’s enrollment. The student’s presence on school property thereafter would be unauthorized and may be considered trespassing.

90% Rule Chart

90% Rule: Excused/Unexcused Absences

Truancy: Unexcused Absences

TEC 25.092 (Minimum Attendance for Class Credit) States that a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90% of the days the class is offered regardless of excused or unexcused absences.     What are considered excused absences? Personal illnesses that do not exceed three consecutive days.  Illnesses that extend beyond three days will require a doctor’s note. Medical, dental, or other appointment (need doctor’s note) Death of a relative Observing religious holy days For more excused absences, see Handbook page ____ How can I notify the school of my child’s absences? Send a written note signed by parent/guardian or a doctor’s note to the attendance office by the next school day. If absent more than three days in a row due to illness, we must receive a doctor’s note to excuse all the days.   ·         Notes must be received through Skyward or at the FRONT OFFICE within three days of the absence, or the absence will be unexcused. How am I notified of the school’s 90% process? Warning letter: sent when a student falls below 10% TOTAL absences Parent Conference: held when a student falls below 10% TOTAL absences  Attendance Recovery Program: a student is enrolled when he/she falls below 10% TOTAL absences  Attendance Review Committee: End of Each Quarter

Truancy is by definition, staying away from school or class without permission of parent or in violation of State Attendance Law.   TEC 25.094 (Failure to Attend School) States than an individual commits an offense if the individual fails to attend school on three (3) or more days or parts of days within a four-week period or ten (10) or more days or parts of days within a six-month period.  TEC 25.093 (Parents Contributing to Non-Attendance) States that the parent/guardian of a truant student can also be prosecuted, after receiving a warning, for Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance. The parent/guardian must take the necessary measures to make sure that their child is regularly attending school. How am I notified of the school’s truancy process? Automated phone calls (calls the number listed as home in Skyward Warning letters:  after 3 unexcused days or parts of days, 5 unexcused days or parts of days, 7 unexcused days or parts of days, and after 10 unexcused days or parts of days. Conference is scheduled after the 5th, 7th and 10th days unexcused absence or parts of days. After the 10th unexcused absent or parts of days, a Court Subpoena is filed. Truancy Prevention Program

TEC 25.092 (Minimum Attendance for Class Credit)

• States that a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90% of the days the class is offered regardless of excused or unexcused absences.  

 To receive credit in a class, a student must attend at least 90% of the days the class is offered. These include both excused and unexcused absences. A student who attends for at least 75 percent, but fewer than 90% of the days the class may be referred to a campus Attendance Review Committee to determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit.

90% Rule Chart

90% Rule: Excused/Unexcused Absences

Truancy: Unexcused Absences

TEC 25.092 (Minimum Attendance for Class Credit) States that a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90% of the days the class is offered regardless of excused or unexcused absences.     What are considered excused absences? Personal illnesses that do not exceed three consecutive days.  Illnesses that extend beyond three days will require a doctor’s note. Medical, dental, or other appointment (need doctor’s note) Death of a relative Observing religious holy days For more excused absences, see Handbook page ____ How can I notify the school of my child’s absences? Send a written note signed by parent/guardian or a doctor’s note to the attendance office by the next school day. If absent more than three days in a row due to illness, we must receive a doctor’s note to excuse all the days.   ·         Notes must be received through Skyward or at the FRONT OFFICE within three days of the absence, or the absence will be unexcused. How am I notified of the school’s 90% process? Warning letter: sent when a student falls below 10% TOTAL absences Parent Conference: held when a student falls below 10% TOTAL absences  Attendance Recovery Program: a student is enrolled when he/she falls below 10% TOTAL absences  Attendance Review Committee: End of Each Quarter

Truancy is by definition, staying away from school or class without permission of parent or in violation of State Attendance Law.   TEC 25.094 (Failure to Attend School) States than an individual commits an offense if the individual fails to attend school on three (3) or more days or parts of days within a four-week period or ten (10) or more days or parts of days within a six-month period.  TEC 25.093 (Parents Contributing to Non-Attendance) States that the parent/guardian of a truant student can also be prosecuted, after receiving a warning, for Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance. The parent/guardian must take the necessary measures to make sure that their child is regularly attending school. How am I notified of the school’s truancy process? Automated phone calls (calls the number listed as home in Skyward Warning letters:  after 3 unexcused days or parts of days, 5 unexcused days or parts of days, 7 unexcused days or parts of days, and after 10 unexcused days or parts of days. Conference is scheduled after the 5th, 7th and 10th days unexcused absence or parts of days. After the 10th unexcused absent or parts of days, a Court Subpoena is filed. Truancy Prevention Program

EXCUSED ABSENCES

Students may be excused for temporary absence resulting from any cause acceptable to the Principal or staff designated by the Principal. Students must provide written explanation for the absence and the absence must be approved by the Principal or designated staff to be excused. The excuse will be filed in the attendance office and become part of the student’s record.

List of acceptable excused absences are shown below.

1.   Personal illnesses that do not exceed three consecutive days. Illnesses that extend beyond three days will require a doctor’s note.
2.   Family emergency or illness. **
3.   Quarantine of the home. (Medical Note Needed)
4.   Bereavement of a family member. **
5.   Observing religious holy days.
6.   Juvenile court proceeding documented by a probation officer.
7.   Appearing at a governmental office to complete paperwork required in connection with the student’s application for United States citizenship.
8.   Student participation in a United States naturalization oath ceremony.
9.   Documented health care appointments, if the student begins classes or returns to school on the same day as the appointment.
10. Serving as an election clerk.
11. Required screening, diagnosis, and treatment for Medicaid-eligible students.
12. Documented college visits by junior or senior students. A student will not be excused for this purpose for more than two days during the student’s junior year and two days during the student’s senior year.
13. Temporary absence resulting from any cause acceptable to the student’s teacher, Principal, or Superintendent.

Please note that the number of days allowed is at the discretion of the Principal or designated school administrator.

The school will also excuse a student from attending school for travel under the following circumstances:

1.   Observing religious holy days;
2.   Attending a required court appearance;
3.   Appearing at a governmental office to complete paperwork
4.   required in connection with the student’s application for
5.   United States citizenship;
6.   Taking part in a U.S. naturalization oath ceremony; or
7.   Serving as an election clerk.

Any student participating in an activity listed above will be allowed one day’s excused absence for travelling to the activity and one day’s excused absence for returning from the activity.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Examples of unexcused absences include, but are not

limited to:

•         Failure to bring a written note within three school days following an absence;
•         Leaving school without the permission of the Principal/
•         Assistant Principal;
•         Walking out of class; and
•         Receiving a pass to report to a certain school area and failing to report.

The school’s tardy policy has been developed to emphasize the importance of each student arriving on time to school every day and remaining in the classroom for the entire period.

Tardiness interrupts instructional time. Students should be inside the classroom by the school’s announced start time. If a student is more than 20 minutes late to any class, he/she will be counted absent for the period. A student arriving after this time must first report to the front office and obtain a tardy slip. Tardiness to school will be unexcused, unless the student arrives to campus late for one of the following reasons:

1.   Attendance at a required court appointment
2.   Appointment with a doctor, dentist, or other professional
3.   Inclement Weather (Principal’s Approval Needed).

During the first few days of school, the school will be working with the students, focusing on getting organized and arriving to class on time. This Tardy Policy will become effective on the 10th day of school.

Consequences for Arriving Late to School for Students Whose Parents Drive to School

Number of Tardies	Consequences
1-3	Verbal warning to parent
4-5	Written warning to parent
6-9	Conference with parent
For every 10	After the 10 tardies, the parent must meet with the school principal or designee and submit a letter explaining the reason(s) for the excessive tardiness. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the school filing a case with Child Protective Services.

Consequences for Arriving Late to School for Students Who Drive Themselves to School

Number of Tardies	Consequences
1-3	Verbal warning
4-5	Morning or After-School Detention
6-9	1 Day In-School Suspension
For every 10	Student will be required to perform 1 hour of community service. School will provide the community service options to the parent/student. Parent will be responsible for the student’ fulfillment of community service hour. Failure to attend will result in a 1 Day Out-of-School Suspension.

Consequences for Tardiness to Class

Number of Tardies	Consequences
5-9	Warning notice sent to parent informing of class tardy
10-14	Saturday school or after school detention
15-19	Student will be required to perform 1 hour of community service. School will provide the community service options to the parents/guardian/student.
20 and Above	In-school suspension

TRUANCY AND TRUANCY PREVENTION MEASURES

Truancy is by definition, staying away from school or class without permission of parent or in violation of State Attendance Law. Harmony Public Schools has measures that are set in place, as required by law, to assist parents and prevent the filing with the court for compulsory attendance.

TEC 25.094 (Failure to Attend School)

• States than an individual commits an offense if the individual fails to attend school on three (3) or more days or parts of days within a four-week period or ten (10) or more days or parts of days within a six-month period.

 

TEC 25.093 (Parents Contributing to Non-Attendance)

• States that the parent/guardian of a truant student can also be prosecuted, after receiving a warning, for Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance.
• The parent/guardian must take the necessary measures to make sure that their child is regularly attending school. 

Please notify the Attendance Office if your child will be absent. The Attendance Office must receive an absence request form or hand written note from the parent within 3 days of the absence. Students under the age of 18 may not submit an absence request form or absence excuse note. 

Absence Request Form

Please login to your Skyward account and fill out the absence request form. Documentation for doctor’s appointments, college visits, religious holidays, and court dates are required and may be uploaded to your absence request form. Once you have filled out this form and submitted for review, the campus attendance clerk will review and either accept or deny the request. If the absence is denied, the attendance clerk will be in contact with you via email or phone.

If you are not able to login to your Skyward account, you may submit an absence note to the FRONT OFFICE. This note should include:

•         Student first and last name
•         Grade
•         ID number (if known)
•         Date of absence
•         Reason for the absence

How can I notify the school of my child’s absences?

• Send a written note signed by parent/guardian or a doctor’s note to the attendance office by the next school day or fill out on an online attendance note
• If absent more than three days in a row due to illness, we must receive a doctor’s note to excuse all the days. 
•  Notes must be received at the FRONT OFFICE within three days of the absence, or the absence will be unexcused.

 How am I notified of the school’s 90% process?

• Warning letter: sent when a student falls below 10% TOTAL absences
• Parent Conference: held when a student falls below 10% TOTAL absences
•  Attendance Recovery Program: a student is enrolled when he/she falls below 10% TOTAL absences
•  Attendance Review Committee: End of Each Quarter

 How am I notified of the school’s truancy process?

• Automated phone calls (calls the number listed as home in Skyward
• Warning letters:  after 3 unexcused days or parts of days, 5 unexcused days or parts of days, 7 unexcused days or parts of days, and after 10 unexcused days or parts of days.
• Conference is scheduled after the 5th, 7th and 10th days unexcused absence or parts of days.
• After the 10th unexcused absent or parts of days, a Court Subpoena is filed.