Frequently Asked Questions About Attendance

District policy requires campuses to send parents a written notification once a student reaches their 3rd unexcused absence in a 4-week period or their 6th unexcused absence in a school year. You may also receive a letter if your child has excessive tardiness or excessive absences in a semester / trimester.

The reasons could include the following:

• The parent or student or physician (if sent via fax by the doctor’s office) did not submit the documentation within 72 hours of the absence in question.
• The absence in question was due to a reason not considered excused per District policy. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for guidelines.
• The absence in question may have required a doctor’s note in order to be excused due to excessive absences resulting in a violation of the 90% rule (State law). Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for guidelines.

If you still have questions, please contact the campus attendance office. All attendance records are entered and maintained by the campus administration. Changes to your child’s attendance record cannot be made by the attendance department.

A notice is left on your door to inform you that an attendance officer has attempted to visit with you at your residence regarding a referral from your child’s school. Please call the number listed on the notice for the attendance officer responsible for your child’s campus or you can call 817-399-2609 to speak to the administrative assistant.

If you received a summons from the court for Truant Conduct or Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance, it means the attendance officer has filed a case in court regarding the violation of Texas compulsory attendance laws.

Once a case is filed in truancy court, you will need to contact the court for information regarding court date, fines, warrants and plea information. You may contact the court at the number listed below or visit in person to speak to a court clerk:

Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Court
Precinct 2
Judge Mary Tom Cravens Curnutt
700 E. Abram, Ste. 200
Arlington, TX 76010
817-548-3925
Website for Justice of the Peace Court 2

Once charges have been filed in court, you will need to contact the court for information on court dates, fines, warrants and plea information. You may contact the court at the number listed below or visit in person to speak to a court clerk:

Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Court
Precinct 2
Judge Mary Tom Cravens Curnutt
700 E. Abram, Ste. 200
Arlington, TX 76010
817-548-3925
Website for Justive of the Peace Court 2

Parent conferences are normally conducted at the child’s campus but can also be done at your home or in our office. If you wish to schedule a parent conference at the campus, please call the campus administration and schedule a conference and inform them that you would like the attendance officer to be present. If you wish to schedule a parent conference with the attendance officer at your home or in our office, please contact the attendance officer responsible for your child’s campus or call the administrative assistant at 817-399-2609 for more information.

After hours conferences via home visit or telephone are made by appointment on a case by case basis. Please contact the attendance officer responsible for your child’s campus to schedule or contact the administrative assistant at 817-399-2609.

The Attendance Department hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily Monday – Friday, excluding holidays.

State law requires a person to attend school until they are 19 years of age or have earned a high school diploma or GED, whichever comes first. Texas Education Code, Sec. 25.085