• TRUANCY 

     

    Texas School Law states that students must be in attendance at least 90% of the time to receive credit for a course. 

     

    Students may not miss more than eight (8) absences in the Fall and ten (10) absences in the Spring or 18 days for a year-long course. This includes both EXCUSED and UNEXCUSED absences. A student will NOT receive credit for a course if he/she exceeds the number of allowable absences.   

     

    Please be advised that if a student is absent without an excuse for 3 or more days or parts of days in a four-week period, or 10 or more days within a six-month period, the student’s parents and/or the student are subject to prosecution under the Texas Education Code after a Truancy Warning Notice is issued.  

     

    TEXAS COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAWS 

     

    Texas requires a child who is at least 6 years of age, or who is younger than 6 years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached his/her 19th birthday to attend school unless exempt by Sec. 25.086. Upon enrollment in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, a child shall attend school. A person who voluntarily enrolls in school or voluntarily attends school after the person’s 19th birthday shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is offered and is subject to the same requirements for compulsory attendance for students under 19 years of age. TEC Sections 25.085, 25.086. 

    A parent/guardian commits an offense of Parent Contributing to Non –Attendance under TEC Sec. 25.093, if, after having been warned in writing, a child has unexcused voluntary absences from school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a 6-month period. An offense under the Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor, punishable by fine only, in an amount not to exceed: 

     

    1. $100.00 for a first offense 
    2. $200.00 for a second crime 
    3. $300.00 for a third offense 
    4. $400.00 for a fourth offense
    5. $500.00 for a fifth or subsequent offense. TEC 25.093/Family Code 65.003(a) 


     

    EXCUSED ABSENCES  


    Student illness, family funerals, medical appointments (doctor's note preferred), court appointments with a subpoena, religious holidays (approved by NISD) with documentation, are absences considered as excused. The submission of notes is required. (Excused absences DO COUNT towards the student’s attendance under the compulsory attendance law) 

      

    UNEXCUSED ABSENCES 

     

    Car trouble/flat tire, missing the bus/ride, oversleeping, caring for a family member or taking them to a Dr. appointment, family or personal business, busy traffic, court appointments for traffic violations, notes without all pertinent information, a confirmed truancy are considered as unexcused. (Unexcused absences DO COUNT towards the student’s attendance under the compulsory attendance law) 

     

    For truancy questions or concerns regarding Vines High School, please email Monica.Chavez@pisd.edu

     

    1. For further explanations of attendance, refer to your Student/Parent Handbook. 
    2. https://www.pisd.edu/cms/lib/TX02215173/Centricity/Domain/460/22-23%20PISD%20Student%20Handbook_ENG.pdf