Attendance is a vital step in our student’s education. Students
are expected to be on time and present in school every day. HISD’s
attendance policy requires that a student must not have more than four
unexcused absences nor more than ten total absences to be considered
for promotion. When a student is absent, the parent or guardian
must send a dated, written notice to the teacher. Notes are to be
submitted to the attendance clerk at the end of each nine-week
period.
A student with a medical / dental appointment who is out of class
at the time ADA attendance is taken, may be counted present provided
that he/she has been in attendance sometime during the school day.
The student must be here either before the medical/dental
appointment or return after the appointment. The appointment should
be supported by a document such as a note from the health care
professional.
An unexcused absence will be given when a student
does not bring a written excuse within three (3) days.
More than eight (8) unexcused absences will result in
failure for the student even though, they have passing grades.
Unexcused absences will be reviewed by the School Attendance
Committee in the Spring to determine whether or not to grant a
student credit for a class in which the student had more than eight
(8) unexcused absences but who met all other academic requirements
for passing.
Students are tardy after 7:50 a.m. and must bring a written
excuse to explain the tardiness.
The Absence / Tardy note from the parent must include:
- date(s) of absence or tardy
- reason for absence or tardy
- signature of parent / guardian
- date of note
The only acceptable excuses for absences or tardies are:
- Personal illness
- Illness or death in the family
- Quarantine
- Weather or road conditions which make travel hazardous
- Participation in school activities with permission of the
principal
- Emergencies or any unusual circumstances recognized by the
principal or person designated
- Observance of religious holy days (written request sent in
advance)
- Suspension
NOTE: "Out of Town" is considered an unexcused
absences.
Supervision of student attendance will be the responsibility of
the teacher. If a student has five (5) or more tardies during any
nine-week period, he/she will not qualify for a Perfect Attendance
award.
The role of the teacher is to:
- Encourage students to attend school daily
- Take attendance at the officially designated time
- Maintain accurate attendance records
- Communicate absences to the office in a timely manner
- Implement the school-wide attendance management system
- Ensure that opportunities are provided for all students to
make up work for excused absences
Compulsory attendance rules now apply to Pre-K and K students
once they have enrolled in the program.
Daily classroom attendance is taken at 10:30 a.m. each day. CAR’s
(with absences marked on the attached slip) are to be returned to
the office no later than 11:00 a.m. If a student arrives after
10:30 a.m., the student is counted absent for the day. If a student
arrives at school and leaves after 10:30 a.m., the student is
counted present for ADA purposes, but absent for grading purposes
for all subjects missed.
Homeroom teachers are to keep track of each student’s
attendance for each nine-week period.
Absences and Attendance Referrals
Students are not permitted to leave campus grounds at any time
after they arrive. Teachers must immediately report any student who
fails to return to the classroom during the school day.
When a student is absent, teacher should try to determine the
reason for the absence and should be alert for patterns of absence.
An attendance referral should be written after three (3) consecutive
absences, if the office staff does not know why the student is
absent or if the school questions the validity of the reason(s)
given for the absences. However, it is not necessary to wait until a
student has missed three (3) consecutive days to write a referral.
It is important to notice patterns of irregular attendance and to
refer these students early, so that, proper action can be taken to
improve attendance. Please ask the attendance clerk for assistance
(if needed) in completing an attendance referral.
