Report An Absence

Parent/guardian should complete the “Report an Absence” form provided by their campus and any documentation should be submitted as soon as possible (recommended within 48 hours after the absence has occurred). Documentation must support the reason for the absence to be coded correctly.

Austin ISD is required to submit its attendance to the Texas Education Agency reflecting student attendance at a specific time each day. Please try to schedule appointments for your student after school, but if that is too difficult, try and schedule medical appointments after 10:30 A.M.

Note: Phone calls are not required to report an absence in advance, per policy we can’t address absences in advance. Phone calls also cannot count as documentation. 

You will receive an automated phone call/text/email from AISD that your student was absent.

Your student’s campus, CANNOT accept phone calls or voicemail messages as documentation for a student's absence. 

Parent/guardian notes may be used to excuse a total of 8 absences for the school year. If exceeding 8 parent/guardian notes, parent/guardian encouraged to communicate with your campus principal to discuss the reason(s) for absences and whether future parent/guardian notes will be accepted.

Examples of Documentation

• Letter example of a truancy court hearing from precinct 3 signed by Judge Holmes
  • This documentation example is a governmental office provided letter that would include the date of the court-mandated visit and includes the Student's Full Name. The document is on official government letterhead and signed by the government official. The example shown here is one of a truancy court hearing from precinct 3 and signed by Judge Sylvia Holmes.
• Example of an electronically signed note by the Medical Doctor
  • This documentation example is an electronic note provided by the medical office. This documentation would include the date of the medical visit and includes the Student's Full Name. The document is on the medical office letterhead and signed by the doctor or dentist. The example shown here is one for a clinic visit to Austin Region Clinic and it says when the patient should return and is electronically signed by the Medical Doctor.

Dos and Don'ts

• Do not falsify documentation. Falsifying documents is a criminal offense. Penalties for falsifying medical records in the state of Texas is a misdemeanor, a sentence up to one year in jail and a fine up to $4000. Penalties for tampering with government records can range from a misdemeanor to a Second Degree Felony offense; up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
   
• Excessive absences may result in a violation of compulsory attendance laws* and the Student Code of Conduct. Such violations may result in the loss of course/grade credit, court action, and/or monetary fines. 10 to 20 consecutive full-day unexcused absences can lead to withdrawal of your student and filing of “Parent Contributing to Nonattendance.”
  
  *The Texas Compulsory Attendance Law indicates that a child who is required to attend school, must attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided. If a student is absent from school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six month period, or on 3 or more days or parts of days within a four week period- the parent is subject to prosecution for "parent contributing to nonattendance" and the student is subject to prosecution for "failure to attend school."

Visit our FAQ page for additional Attendance Information.