When you receive an automated message indicating that your child missed one or more class periods on a certain day, you will need to contact your campus Student Data Specialist or attendance clerk.

Please do not send your child to school or to any in-person school activity if the child is showing symptoms of any illness, some of these are: fever of 100 degrees or higher, sore throat, uncontrolled cough, difficulty breathing, new onset of headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting. If your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, please keep them home or the nurse will have to reach you to pick up your child.

To excuse this absence, a note or email from the parent or guardian with the reason for the absence must be provided within three days of your child’s return to school. Emails to excuse absences should be directed to the school student data specialist for elementary students, her email is maria.islas@risd.org.

The specific reasoning for the absence is needed to appropriately code the absence according to guidelines established in the Texas Education Code.  If no documentation is provided, the absence is considered unexcused. 

Every three (3) unexcused absences you will be contacted by our team to have a conversation and remind you of the importance of school attendance, by Texas Law. if your child accumulates ten (10) or more unexcused absences the School district refers the child to truancy court for truant conduct.

 Absences that are considered EXCUSED (with a parent or doctor’s note):

• Personal illness of the student

• Healthcare appointment (doctor, dentist, etc.) with appropriate documentation

• Death of an immediate family member with appropriate documentation

• School official sent student home from school (Nurse, Counselor, LSSP, Administrator)

• School-sponsored curricular or extracurricular activities 

What is an Unexcused Absence?

An unexcused absence is an absence that does not meet state or district guidelines. Unexcused absences also occur when the parent cannot produce any documentation that explains the absence or if the parent presents documentation that does not meet criteria for excused absences.

Absences that are considered UNEXCUSED:

• Part of Day Absence (POD) without an accompanying note from a health care provider (this includes arriving more than 49 minutes late or leaving more than 49 minutes early)

• Being absent without parental consent or knowledge

• Being absent without written notification from a parent or legal guardian

• Religious festivals, ceremonies, or other events not celebrated or recognized by the international religious calendar

• Weddings

• Graduations not for the student

• Family reunions

• Vacations/Cruises

• International Travel

• Being in an unauthorized area of the school or campus without permission

• Willfully refusing to attend school

• Oversleeping/Alarm failure

• Needed at home for babysitting, chores, etc.

• Car trouble

• Missing the bus

• Any other absence that is not covered under the law

More information regarding attendance polices can be found in the Texas Education Code or the Attendance FAQ from TEA