As families prepare for another school year, parents in Dallas ISD and Crandall ISD should understand how absences are recorded, when documentation is needed and how missed days can affect a student’s grades or course credit.
Although the districts have different procedures for submitting absence notes, both follow Texas compulsory-attendance laws and the state’s 90-percent attendance requirement.
Students Must Attend the Full School Day
Texas compulsory-attendance requirements generally apply to students who are at least 6 years old and have not yet reached their 19th birthday. Students who voluntarily enroll in prekindergarten or kindergarten are also expected to attend regularly.
Attendance requirements cover the entire school day. Arriving late, leaving early or missing individual class periods can be recorded as a partial-day absence.
An Excuse Note Does Not Automatically Excuse an Absence
Parents should provide an explanation whenever a student misses school, but submitting a note does not guarantee that the absence will be classified as excused.
Some absences are protected by state law when proper documentation is provided. Examples may include religious holy days, required court appearances, certain health-care appointments and activities related to obtaining U.S. citizenship.
Other absences are reviewed by the campus. Vacations, non-school activities and absences without acceptable documentation may be recorded as unexcused.
Dallas ISD Documentation Requirements
Dallas ISD parents should submit a signed written explanation to the campus attendance office. The note should include:
The student’s name and identification number, the date of the absence, the reason for the absence, a parent or guardian’s signature and a telephone number.
Dallas ISD encourages parents to submit the note within three school days after the student returns. Under the district’s current policy, an acceptable note may still be submitted before the end of the semester in which the absence occurred.
Without an acceptable note, the absence may remain unexcused.
Crandall ISD Documentation Requirements
Crandall ISD asks parents or guardians to notify the school before 9:30 a.m. on the day of an absence.
A signed excuse should be submitted within three days. It should include the student’s name, the dates missed, the reason for the absence and the parent or guardian’s signature. Crandall ISD also permits an email to serve as an absence note when submitted through the appropriate campus procedure.
Doctor, dental and court-related absences should include documentation from the provider or court. Parents should contact the campus attendance clerk when an illness lasts several days because additional medical documentation may be required.
Returning After an Appointment Can Protect Attendance
Parents should schedule appointments outside school hours whenever possible.
When a student must attend a health-care appointment, the student may be counted as present for the day when the student attends school for part of the day, returns on the same day and provides documentation from the health-care provider.
Crandall ISD specifically instructs families to bring students back to school after appointments when possible.
The 90-Percent Rule Includes Excused Absences
A major point for parents to remember is that an excused absence can still count against the state’s attendance-for-credit requirement.
Students generally must attend at least 90 percent of the days a class is offered to receive course credit or a final grade. This requirement applies from kindergarten through 12th grade.
When attendance falls below 90 percent but remains at least 75 percent, a passing student may be able to regain credit or a final grade by completing an approved attendance-recovery plan. Students with lower attendance may have to petition a campus attendance committee.
When Unexcused Absences Become a Truancy Concern
Three unexcused absences—or parts of days—within a four-week period can result in a warning notice, a parent conference and truancy-prevention measures.
Ten or more unexcused absences or parts of days within a six-month period during the same school year can lead to additional legal action or a truancy-court referral, depending on the student’s age and circumstances.
A Simple Checklist for Parents
Notify the campus as soon as your child will be absent. Keep copies of parent notes, medical records and court documents. Submit documentation promptly, monitor attendance through the district’s parent portal and contact the attendance office immediately when a record appears incorrect.
Parents should also ask teachers about missed assignments. Completing makeup work protects a student’s grades, but makeup work alone does not erase an absence from the 90-percent attendance calculation.
