GISD attendance guidelines

See below for district attendance guidelines.

For campus specific attendance procedures, see the Policies & procedures page.

Attendance and the law

Under the Texas State Compulsory Attendance Law, all students age 6-19 must attend school each day for the entire school day unless exempt by law.  This includes students voluntarily enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten as well as students 19 years or older.

Unexcused voluntary absences for 10 days or more within 6 months (whether in full days or parts of days) violates state law. This may lead to a court referral against the parent, guardian or student.

About the Law Why it matters

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE  IS THE LAW (TEC §25.085): Children ages 6–19 must attend school. Missing too many days can lead to fines or court proceedings. 

 School attendance is legally required—every day your child is there helps them succeed.
EVERY DAY COUNTS (SAAH Section 3.6): Students must attend at least 90% of the school year to earn credit or be promoted.  Too many absences—excused or unexcused—can mean repeating a class or grade.
LATE ARRIVALS AND EARLY PICKUPS ADD UP (TAC §129.21): Coming late or leaving early can count as partial-day absences.  Every minute matters—try to keep full school days intact.
SICK DAYS MUST BE EXCUSED (TEC §25.087): Illness, funerals, religious holidays, and medical visits (with proper documentation) can be excused.  Without a note within 3 days, it becomes unexcused—even if your child was sick.
DOCTOR VISITS ARE OKAY—IF YOU RETURN (TEC §25.087(b)(2)): Medical appointments don't count as absent if your child returns the same day with documentation.  Schedule appointments early/late in the day when possible and return to school.
WATCH FOR ATTENDANCE LETTERS (TEC §25.095): You'll receive a warning letter after 3 unexcused absences in 4 weeks.  These are early warnings to help you take action before legal steps.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TALK WITH THE SCHOOL (TEC §25.0915): Schools must contact you before truancy charges and offer support first.  Don't wait—ask for help early. We want to support your family.
COMMUNICATE WITH THE CAMPUS  (TEC §25.0915): Communicate with office staff and administrators about attendance issues.  Campus administrators are there to help, and building relationships with staff supports student success.

Why attendance matters

Attendance is beneficial to your student’s success. According to research, attending school every day possible:

  • Helps students stay on track for learning and recover any lost momentum from absences
  • Promotes student learning and increases chances of graduation
  • Helps students feel better about school and themselves
  • Improves mental health through socializing, developing friendships, and building empathy
  • Allows for a more personalized learning experience that keeps them from falling behind

Submitting absence notes

Submit documentation within 3 school days, either through Skyward Family Access or a written note to the campus.

For parent notes, please include:

  • The student’s full name and ID number
  • Date(s) of absence and specific reason
  • Parent signature and phone number for contact

For healthcare absences, a certified health professional must write the excuse note. This can include Doctors, Dentists, Behavior Analysts, Speech Therapists, and Occupational Therapists.

Religious holy days are always excused absences. A parent note is fine.

Consequences for multiple absences

Consequences include:

  • Behavior plan
  • Student or parent conference
  • Loss of class credit
  • Referral to truancy court

Parents are encouraged to speak to a school administrator regarding special situations or circumstances.

Not returning to school or withdrawal

When students leave our district and begin school somewhere else, enrollment in another educational setting must be verified and documented.

If you are leaving the district, completing the withdrawal form is important so your child isn’t considered truant.

If a student hasn’t returned to school or enrolled somewhere else, district staff will work with the family for re-enrollment options.