Aldine I.S.D. Teacher Handbook - Aldine Independent School District

Absences from school shall be of two types, excused and unexcused. Excused absences can be made
up and credit for make-up work recorded. Missed work for unexcused absences can be made up but
the maximum grade will be a 70. Excused absences are granted for the following reasons:
a. Personal illness
b. Serious illness or death in the student's immediate family
c. Emergency medical or dental attention
d. Absences approved by the principal in advance
e. Observance of religious holy days that require the student's participation.
A student whose absence is excused under this reason may not be penalized for that
absence and will be counted as if the student attended school.
A student whose absence is excused under this reason will be allowed a reasonable
time to make-up schoolwork missed on those days.
f. Weather or road conditions making travel dangerous
g. Quarantine
h. Temporary absence resulting from health care appointments, if that student commences
classes or returns to school on the same day of the appointment.
A student whose absence is excused under this reason may not be penalized for that
absence and will be counted as if the student attended school.
A student whose absence is excused under this reason will be allowed a reasonable
time to make up schoolwork missed on those days.
Students must bring a note from the parent or guardian requesting an excused absence for one of
these reasons. In the case of an absence due to a health care appointment, a note from the health care
professional's office and signed by that professional, must be brought to the school. These notes will
be kept on file in the attendance office. Unexcused absences include but are not limited to truancy,
missing the bus, over-sleeping, any excused absence without the required notes, and absences not
excused in advance by the principal. If a student is in attendance fewer than 160 days for grades K-
6, the student will not receive credit.
An attendance committee may grant exceptions for extenuating circumstances.
Participation in school sponsored activities will not be counted as an absence.
Attendance is taken at a set time during the second instructional hour of the day for all grades.
Students will be marked tardy if they arrive after school starts and prior to the official attendance
time. Students not at school at official attendance time will be marked absent. Students will receive
a perfect attendance certificate for being present each day of the school year.
TEC§ Sec. 25.085 states that “a child shall attend school each school day for the entire period
the program of instruction is provided”.
A school day shall be at least seven hours each day, including intermissions and recesses
(TEC§ Sec. 25.082).
A child shall not have unexcused absences on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six month
period in the same school year or on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period
from school (Family Code Sec. 51.03). A student must attend school a minimum of 160 days.
Failure to comply with these laws will result in legal prosecution and will subject the parent/guardian
to a fine at the recommendation of the principal. Each day the child remains out of school after a
warning is issued will constitute a separate offense.
When students quit attending school without formally withdrawing, they are to be withdrawn BACK
TO THE FIRST DAY OF NON-ATTENDANCE after 10 days of absences AND no successful
contacts with the family. School MUST make attempts to contact the students/families and should
involve the attendance and police officers as appropriate. Attendance officers can file on withdrawn
students to involve the courts in helping to enforce compulsory education laws.
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