Texas Attendance Requirements

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Attendance Requirements in Texas Schools
Having good attendance is important for several reasons. Students receive the maximum benefit of education by being in school every day, and numerous studies show a strong link between academic performance and consistent attendance. Because attendance is so critical for the quality of your child’s education, Texas has a Compulsory Attendance Law (Attendance
Requirements).
Guidelines Compulsory Attendance Law in Texas
The State law requires school students to attend school each day that instruction is provided. The law applies to children ages six to eighteen. If you willingly register your child in pre-k or kindergarten before age 6, school attendance laws apply to your child, too.
There are some exceptions
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The Texas Education Code describes these reasons in greater detail and lists additional statutorily excused absences. Your school has its own criteria for determining what else is
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considered an excused absence. Generally, an absence may qualify as excused in cases of
Personal illness, death of an immediate family member and medical treatment.
Both the child and parent are held responsible for unexcused absences. Yes, even if your child is 16 years old and skips class without you knowing, you are considered responsible.
Disciplinary Proceedings
After too many unexcused absences, the school must notify the parent. A compulsory attendance notification will be sent to the parent if a student has unexcused absences on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period or three days or parts of days without an excuse during a four-week period. Notice it says “parts of days.” That means that leaving school early, or arriving after the first bell has rung, even if the child attended for some of the day, can count as an
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The parent, or person standing in parental authority, might contract with outside
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sources in order that the student receives additional instruction; for example, a private tutor, co- op class, or a college class; however this source or sources do not circumvent the parent’s role in determining the overall success or failure of the student.
Texas State Law Requirements Regarding Home Schooling
To home school legally in Texas, you must follow three state law requirements:
 The instruction must be genuine
 The curriculum must be in visual form such as books, workbooks or video monitor
 The curriculum must include reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship (State Requirements).
Legal & Problem Situations
One of the primary benefits of membership with the Texas Home School Coalition
Association is free legal assistance. Home schools in Texas have been determined by the