Compulsory Attendance Law

State law (Texas Education Code Section 25.085) requires that all students at least 6 years of age and not yet 19 attend school each day. Compulsory attendance also applies to students who are younger than six who have been voluntarily enrolled in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten.

90% Rule

Students earn course credits by meeting the course requirements AND attending classes 90% of the time, whether the absences are excused or unexcused. Your student may not earn course credit nor be promoted to the next grade level if they are not meeting the 90% rule. In order to receive credit for a final grade for a class, the student must go through the Attendance Recovery Process at your campus.

Submission of the attendance appeal must occur within 30 school days of the end of the semester in which the credit was denied. The campus attendance committee then meets and renders a decision based on the circumstances as presented by the student and parent within 30 school days of the end of the semester in which the credit was denied. See Austin ISD Board Policies FEC (LEGAL) and FEC (LOCAL). 

There will be no remote learning options for attendance funding, per the State of Texas.

Parents and guardians play a very important role regarding their children’s attendance.

Here are a few tips to consider:

• Have your student arrive to school on time and attend every class period, especially the OAT—official attendance-taking period (10:30 AM middle schools and high schools; and, homeroom for elementary).
   
• A student who is tardy to class will be subject to the consequences established at each campus in accordance with the possible consequences in the AISD Student Code of Conduct.
   
• What happens if your student needs to see a doctor/dentist/therapist? If possible, we encourage you to schedule appointments outside of school hours. Obtain and submit a medical note for documentation to provide to your student’s campus Attendance Specialist. Documentation is needed so the absence will be coded correctly.
   
• When you receive an absence notification, please follow up with your student and the campus attendance specialist. If you have documentation for your student’s absence, please submit as early as possible (it is recommended to submit within 48 hours). If you believe a teacher has marked a student incorrectly, please have your student reach out to the teacher of the marked period.
   

Visit our FAQ page for additional Attendance Information.